Most Popular Sports
All Sports
Show All

Katinka Hosszu fastest in 400m individual medley heats, Miley makes final

ByReuters

Updated 09/08/2015 at 12:07 GMT

Hungary's Katinka Hosszu was the standout performer in the women's 400 metres individual medley heats as the final morning session at the world championships concluded at the Kazan Arena.

Hosszu Katinka

Image credit: Eurosport

Chasing her third world title in the event since 2009, Hosszu recorded four minutes 32.78 seconds to easily qualify fastest for the final later on Sunday as she looks to add to her 200m individual medley title.
Barbora Zavadova, of the Czech Republic, qualified second quickest, 2.82 seconds behind, with Canada's Emily Overholt in third, while Britain's Hannah Miley made the final.
However, Olympic champion Ye Shiwen, who also holds the world record at 4:28.43, failed to advance. The Chinese, who finished eighth in the 200m individual medley final, could only finish in 15th place, a disappointing 10.18 seconds behind Hosszu.
"World records are something we always look at and I have been chasing them all the time," said Hosszu. "It is the ultimate goal and let's see how much faster I can go tonight. Hopefully I will be faster than I was this season.
"It's going to be really tough later and there have been swimmers who have been waiting for this day but I think I will be focused and ready to go."
Miley was thrilled to make the final and said she would hope to earn a medal.
"Hopefully I can put in another really solid swim tonight and see if I can stand on that podium," said 26-year-old Miley, who won silver in the event four years ago.
"It would be wonderful if I could. I tried to race Maya DiRado in the lane next to me but made sure it was easy and relaxed so I could save something and hopefully go quicker tonight."
In the men's 400 individual medley, Chase Kalisz, of the United States, posted the fastest time of 4:11.83, ahead of European champion David Verraszto, of Hungary. Japan's current world champion Daiya Seto was third.
"I will have a crucial race of this championship tonight," said Seto. "I have to do my best to fight for the medals and to confirm my title as world champion in this distance."
Britain's Dan Wallace was delighted to make the top eight.
"It was a good race this morning," he said.
"It was never going to be easy at the end of a long week. But I was happy to come out in the top eight and tonight I'll lay it out there and see what happens."
[LEDECKY UNSTOPPABLE: ]
The men's 4x100m medley relay saw the United States take bragging rights into the final as fastest qualifier. The U.S quartet, looking to regain the title from France, posted 3:31.06, with the defending champions in third.
In the women's 4x100m, China topped qualifying with 3:57.04. The United States finished second, with Missy Franklin set to return for the final.
The championships will close later on Sunday with Sun Yang of China attempting to win his third world title of the week in the men's 1500m freestyle. He has already won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle.
Sun will face in-form Gregorio Paltrinieri, of Italy, who finished over four seconds ahead of the Chinese in qualifying Paltrinieri revealed that the pair had talked together following the Italian's heat win.
"He (Sun) thinks I can do very well in the 1500," Paltrinieri told reporters. "So I think he's a bit afraid of me. I've got the pace."
Russia's controversial star Yuliya Efimova, returning from a doping ban, and Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte will also go head-to-head in the women's 50m breaststroke final.
Sunday morning session - Medley final qualifiers
Women's 400m Individual Medley qualifiers
1. Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 4:32.78
2. Barbora Zavadova (Czech Republic) 4:35.60
3. Emily Overholt (Canada) 4:35.86
4. Maya DiRado (U.S.) 4:36.11
4. Hannah Miley (Britain) 4:36.11
6. Sakiko Shimizu (Japan) 4:36.16
7. Aimee Willmott (Britain) 4:36.82
8. Lara Grangeon (France) 4:38.20
Men's 400m Individual Medley qualifiers
1. Chase Kalisz (U.S.) 4:11.83
2. David Verraszto (Hungary) 4:11.99
3. Daiya Seto (Japan) 4:12.17
4. Tyler Clary (U.S.) 4:12.22
5. Dan Wallace (Britain) 4:13.07
6. Jacob Heidtmann (Germany) 4:13.62
7. Roberto Pavoni (Britain) 4:13.91
8. Yang Zhixian (China) 4:15.47
Men's 4 x 100m Medley Relay qualifiers
1. U.S. 3:31.06
2. Australia 3:31.86
3. France 3:32.51
4. Japan 3:32.82
5. Germany 3:32.94
6. Britain 3:33.37
7. Poland 3:33.50
8. Russia 3:34.02
Women's 4 x 100m Medley Relay qualifiers
1. China 3:57.04
2. U.S. 3:57.12
3. Sweden 3:57.29
4. Australia 3:57.95
5. Denmark 3:58.38
6. Canada 3:59.02
7. Britain 4:00.02
8. Japan 4:00.43
Join 3M+ users on app
Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports
Download
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement