Budapest World Short Course: Day 6 Heats Wrap

TWO members from the “little relay team that could” will line up in tonight’s final of the women’s 200m freestyle of the World Short Course Championships in Budapest with chances of a podium sign off.

Lani Pallister and Leah Neale, part of the Dolphins 4x200m freestyle team that stepped up for a bronze three nights ago, have qualified third and fourth after stopping the clock at 1:53.01and 1:53.48 respectively.

USA’s Claire Weinstein set a World Junior record to claim the middle lane touching in 1:52.51. Mary-Sophie Harvey from Canada 1:52.81 qualified second for the final.

Pallister has already collected a full set of medals this meet, including gold in the 800 free, silver in the 400m free and women’s 4×100 freestyle relay and a 4×200 freestyle relay bronze while veteran Neale has wound back the clock and is in PB form.

Neale, a Tokyo Olympic medallist, has had a standout meet with her return to the international arena after missing the team for Paris. Neale has been an integral part of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay, swimming under world record pace and as a heat swimmer for the 4×100 freestyle team.

Paris Olympian Max Giuliani has earned a spot in the men’s 200m freestyle final with his qualifying time of 1:42.67. Rookie Ed Sommerville, who won silver alongside Giuliani in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, is first reserve touching in at 1:42.87.

The Australian men’s 4x100m medley relay team, consisting of Isaac Cooper, Josh Yong, Matt Temple and Harrison Turner, secured their lane in the final tonight touching in fifth at 3:23.45.

Team Australia will wrap up the meet by lining up for five finals at Duna Arena:

• Sprinter and Paris Olympic Games silver medallist Meg Harris in the women’s 50m free;
• Backstroker Iona Anderson, also a Paris Olympian, in the women’s 200m back;
• Pallister and Neale in 200m free;
• Freestyle specialist Max Giuliani, who swum a PB to lead off Australia’s 4x200m World Short Course bronze, in the men’s 200m free;
• Australia’s men’s 4x100m medley relay team that qualified via Isaac Cooper, Josh Yong, Mat Temple and Harry Turner.

The Dolphins currently boast a haul of 2 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze. Watch all the action live and free with the final session from 3.30am AEDT on Nine.

World Short Course Day 6 Heats Results (Q = qualified for finals)

Women’s 200m Freestyle
Lani Pallister 1:53.01 Q #3
Leah Neale 1:53.48 Q #4

Men’s 200m Freestyle
Max Giuliani 1:42.67 Q #7
Ed Sommerville 1:42.87 (first reserve)

Women’s 200m Backstroke
Iona Anderson 2:03.57 Q #7
Bella Grant 2:05.65 (did not qualify)

Men’s 200m Backstroke
Enoch Robb 1:51.39 (did not qualify)
Josh Edwards-Smith 1:52.05 (did not qualify)

Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay
Iona Anderson, Tara Kinder,  Lily Price & Milla Jansen 3:53.82 (did not qualify)

Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
Isaac Cooper, Josh Yong, Matt Temple & Harrison Turner 3:23.45 Q #5