Allison Schmitt wins Women’s 200m freestyle heats: Day One – 2011 Swimming World Cup, Moscow
Olympic Bronze medallist, Allison Schmitt of USA proved her eligibility for fastest qualification spot in preliminary rounds of the Women’s 200m freestyle on the first day of 2011 Swimming World Cup in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, October 18.
Moscow is the third leg of seven-stage World Cup series supervised by the international aquatics sports controlling body, Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA).
USA’s Schmitt showed her cards to her challengers by outshining them in the qualifying rounds of the 200m event. The American experienced a neck-to-neck battle from her team-members, Chelsea Chenault and Melissa Franklin, who dominated the initial part of
the swim, but failed to answer Schmitt’s smothering effort in the final lap.
Franklin emerged as the top contender for finest qualification in the start of the race, where she completed her first round in a time of 27.00 seconds. She was followed by Chenault, who remained 0.70 seconds slower than her and clocked a time of 27.70 seconds.
Similarly, Schmitt remained the third fastest swimmer in the first round as she submitted a 28.14 seconds effort. The American triumvirate demonstrated their gruelling effort in the next two rounds of the swim, where the sustained their respective spots
in the freestyle discipline.
Nevertheless, Schmitt lifted up her efforts in second half of the race and outperformed her competitors with a magnificent timing of 1 minute and 57.09 seconds. She was trailed by Chenault, who remained just 0.05 seconds slower and secured the second finest
qualification spot by producing a wonderful time of 1 minute and 57.14 seconds.
The third spot of the race was obtained by Franklin, who remained only 0.18 seconds slower than her former finisher and reached the final round with an effort of 1 minute and 57.32 seconds.
The session ended after the completion of all scheduled events while the spectators acknowledged breathtaking efforts of top finishers.
Furthermore, the final of the respective freestyle event will take place in today’s second session, where the winners will be awarded podium for their tremendous efforts.
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