BUDAPEST, Hungary: American Caeleb Dressel led a series of electric times at the Duna Arena as the world’s top sprinters described Friday morning’s world championship heats as “crazy”.
Dressel, fresh from his sizzling gold in the 100 metres freestyle, posted the third fastest time ever with a punchy 50.08 seconds in the men’s 100m butterfly.
Dressel touched 0.26 seconds outside Michael Phelp’s world record set at the 2009 championships and 1.01 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Piero Codia of Italy.
The semi-finals was set to take place later on Friday.“I thought I was reading the board wrong, it’s the craziest thing,” the 20-year-old told reporters.
In-form Dressel showed no signs of fatigue some 30 minutes earlier as he posted the second fastest time in qualifying for the 50m freestyle semi-finals.
Dubbed the “splash and dash”, Dressel clocked 21.61 seconds, 0.10 seconds behind leading qualifier Bruno Fratus of Brazil.
“It was the best race I could pull off at 9:30 in the morning. I’m pretty glad with that,” said Fratus.Meanwhile, Simone Manuel of the United States won the women’s 100m freestyle final to add to her Olympic gold from Rio de Janeiro.
Manuel touched the wall at 52.27 seconds with Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, the world-record holder, at 0.04 back while Pernille Blume of Denmark took bronze at 0.42.
“It was tough. My legs were burning, I really had to dig deep and get my hands on the wall first,” said Manuel, 20, who actually shared Olympic gold with Canada’s Penny Oleksiak last year.
“I always think I have a shot — that’s what makes me the swimmer I am.
“I know how to rest and try to get my hand on the wall first.
“I had confidence in the training I had done and in my performance going into the race.”
Sweden’s Sjostrom, who won the 100m butterfly world title on Monday, the day after breaking the women’s 100m freestyle record in the 4x100m relay, was disappointed with silver.
“It’s sad when I can’t do it,” said Sjostrom.
“I went out fast, it felt really good in the first 50m, but I’m totally destroyed — now there’s so much pain in my muscles.”
There was little joy for Australia in the final as defending champion Bronte Campbell was seventh at 0.91 while compatriot Emma McKeon was last at 0.94.
Sjostrom had earlier looked in commanding form as the super Swede advanced to the women’s 50m fly semi-finals, recording 25.25 seconds to take top spot in qualification.
Kathleen Baker of the United States qualified fastest ahead of local hope Katinka Hosszu in the women’s 200m backstroke semis.
Baker’s compatriot Katie Ledecky had plenty of energy to spare in the women’s 800m freestyle preliminaries as the indefatigable American recorded eight minutes 20.24. Leah Smith of the US was second fastest, 0.55 seconds back.Australia qualified ahead of Britain for the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final.
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