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With 2018 NCAAs wrapped up on both the women's & men's side, reckon it's time to look ahead to some serious swimming in the big pool (well, the metres version of the little pool too, with Short Course Worlds in Dec), as we approach the midpoint of the quad leading up to Tokyo 2020.
Will get this rolling with a peek at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which is scheduled to kick off on 5 April down @ Gold Coast, AUS...
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COMMONWEALTH COUNTDOWN: BRITISH WOMEN LOOKING TO DEFEND MEDLEY TITLES
WOMEN'S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
The Canadians come in with a solid trio of Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson, Sarah Darcel, and Kayla Sanchez. Seltenreich-Hodgson, a semi-finalist in both Rio and Budapest, was the 2nd fastest of anyone in the field last year in 2:10.97, and is coming off a 5th straight Canadian University title in the event. She'll battle with Miley for silver, while Darcel and Sanchez will be also be in the hunt having gone bests of 2:12.3 and 2:12.6 in 2017.
TOP 8 PREDICTIONS
PLACE | SWIMMER | COUNTRY | 2017 BEST | ALL-TIME BEST
1 | Siobhan Marie O'Connor | England | 2:09.72 | 2:06.88
2 | Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson | Canada | 2:10.97 | 2:10.97
3 | Hannah Miley | Scotland | 2:11.20 | 2:09.46
4 | Kayla Sanchez | Canada | 2:12.64 | 2:12.64
5 | Blair Evans | Australia | 2:12.99 | 2:11.14
6 | Aimee Willmott | England | 2:12.05 | 2:10.60
7 | Abbie Wood | England | 2:12.49 | 2:12.49
8 | Sarah Darcel | Canada | 2:12.32 | 2:12.32
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WOMEN'S 400M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Behind those two, the top billed swimmers in this event are Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey and Australian Blair Evans. Harvey, just 18, swam sub-4:40 five times in 2017, with her best showing coming at the Sette Colli Trophy in June where she went 4:36.48. A month later she failed to follow up, adding ten seconds and missing the World Championship final. She's gotten some international experience recently competing for the Energy Standard team, and will challenge for a medal here.
Both Meg Bailey and Sarah Darcel will make the tough transition from NCAAs to a LC Championship meet, both earning All-American status in this event last month. Though the Australian finished one spot ahead of the Canadian in Columbus, Darcel has historically been better long course with a best of 4:39.29.
PLACE | SWIMMER | COUNTRY | 2017 BEST | ALL-TIME BEST
1 | Hannah Miley | Scotland | 4:34.12 | 4:31.33
2 | Mary-Sophie Harvey | Canada | 4:36.48 | 4:36.48
3 | Aimee Willmott | England | 4:36.82 | 4:33.01
4 | Blair Evans | Australia | 4:41.46 | 4:35.26
5 | Abbie Wood | England | 4:37.25 | 4:37.25
6 | Sarah Darcel | Canada | 4:39.29 | 4:39.29
7 | Rosie Rudin | England | 4:38.74 | 4:38.74
8 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 4:43.61 | 4:39.14
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With 2018 NCAAs wrapped up on both the women's & men's side, reckon it's time to look ahead to some serious swimming in the big pool (well, the metres version of the little pool too, with Short Course Worlds in Dec), as we approach the midpoint of the quad leading up to Tokyo 2020.
Will get this rolling with a peek at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which is scheduled to kick off on 5 April down @ Gold Coast, AUS...
-------
COMMONWEALTH COUNTDOWN: BRITISH WOMEN LOOKING TO DEFEND MEDLEY TITLES
WOMEN'S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
The Canadians come in with a solid trio of Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson, Sarah Darcel, and Kayla Sanchez. Seltenreich-Hodgson, a semi-finalist in both Rio and Budapest, was the 2nd fastest of anyone in the field last year in 2:10.97, and is coming off a 5th straight Canadian University title in the event. She'll battle with Miley for silver, while Darcel and Sanchez will be also be in the hunt having gone bests of 2:12.3 and 2:12.6 in 2017.
TOP 8 PREDICTIONS
PLACE | SWIMMER | COUNTRY | 2017 BEST | ALL-TIME BEST
1 | Siobhan Marie O'Connor | England | 2:09.72 | 2:06.88
2 | Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson | Canada | 2:10.97 | 2:10.97
3 | Hannah Miley | Scotland | 2:11.20 | 2:09.46
4 | Kayla Sanchez | Canada | 2:12.64 | 2:12.64
5 | Blair Evans | Australia | 2:12.99 | 2:11.14
6 | Aimee Willmott | England | 2:12.05 | 2:10.60
7 | Abbie Wood | England | 2:12.49 | 2:12.49
8 | Sarah Darcel | Canada | 2:12.32 | 2:12.32
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WOMEN'S 400M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Behind those two, the top billed swimmers in this event are Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey and Australian Blair Evans. Harvey, just 18, swam sub-4:40 five times in 2017, with her best showing coming at the Sette Colli Trophy in June where she went 4:36.48. A month later she failed to follow up, adding ten seconds and missing the World Championship final. She's gotten some international experience recently competing for the Energy Standard team, and will challenge for a medal here.
Both Meg Bailey and Sarah Darcel will make the tough transition from NCAAs to a LC Championship meet, both earning All-American status in this event last month. Though the Australian finished one spot ahead of the Canadian in Columbus, Darcel has historically been better long course with a best of 4:39.29.
PLACE | SWIMMER | COUNTRY | 2017 BEST | ALL-TIME BEST
1 | Hannah Miley | Scotland | 4:34.12 | 4:31.33
2 | Mary-Sophie Harvey | Canada | 4:36.48 | 4:36.48
3 | Aimee Willmott | England | 4:36.82 | 4:33.01
4 | Blair Evans | Australia | 4:41.46 | 4:35.26
5 | Abbie Wood | England | 4:37.25 | 4:37.25
6 | Sarah Darcel | Canada | 4:39.29 | 4:39.29
7 | Rosie Rudin | England | 4:38.74 | 4:38.74
8 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 4:43.61 | 4:39.14
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