Epson World Cup Hong Kong - Day 2
1998-02-22
Nick Thierry

HONG KONG - The second night of competition produced the best performance of this the second stage of the 1998 FINA World Cup in the men's 100 butterfly with Denis Siantiev's time of 52.37.

Individual event highlights: Sandra Volker (GER) won the 100 freestyle with a comfortable swim of 55.53.

After taking the lead at the mid point (26.18) she had over a body length lead on the field and eased into the finish, saving herself for her second swim later in the session the 100 back which she handily won with a 1:00.98.

Volker is tied for the lead in the backstroke category with 20 points with Antje Buschschulte (GER) who competed in Sydney, and also tied for the sprint free category, again with 20 points with Katrin Meissner (GER).

In the men's 200 freestyle Jacob Carstensen (DEN) took control of the race at mid point and held of a challenge from Christian Keller (GER) in the final phase of the race. Carstensen's winning time was 1:47.18 to Keller's 1:47.48. Williman Kirby (AUS) took third with a 1:47.69.

In the women's 50 breaststroke, Svetlana Bondarenko (UKR) was touched out at the finish by Sylvia Gerasch (GER) with 31.52 to 31.57. In the 200 breaststroke Brigitte Becue (BEL) took first with 2:28.85 as she took the lead in the last 50 from Federica Biscia (ITA) 2:29.40 for second and Karin Bremond (FRA) third with 2:30.76.

The overall points leader in the women's breaststroke category is Becue with 29 and Bondarenko second with 27.

In the men's 100 breaststroke Mark Warnecke (GER) lead the race throughout the four lengths touching in 1:00.65 with Alexander Goukov (BLR) second with 1:01.18 and Patrik Isaksson (SWE) third with 1:01.53. Warnecke leads the points race in this category for the world cup with 37 points.

In the women's 400 IM Nicole Hetzer (GER) was first with 4:42.72, and was never challenged as she lead throughout the four strokes. Helen Norfolk (NZL) was second 4:46.92 and Laura Porchianello (ITA) third with 4:50.30.

Tomoko Hagiwara (JPN) won the 100 IM with 1:02.75, with Hetzer second in1:04.41 and Anna Robson (NZL) third with 1:04.61. Hetzer now leads this category with 34 points.

Mette Jacobsen (DEN) won the 200 butterfly with a 2:09.89, giving her 32 points in the women's fly category after two competitions.

In the women's 50 butterfly Johanna Sjoberg (SWE) won with 27.28 over Jacobsen 27.31 and Yan Chen (CHN) 27.97.

Michael Jacobson (SWE) won the 200 IM with 2:02.18, but Christian Keller (GER) who did not swim, leads the IM points category with 20 points, Jacobson shares second with 17 points with two swimmers not competing in Hong Kong.

Julie Greville (AUS) won the women's 400 free with 4:11.84 over Sarah Colling (GBR) with 4:13.77 and Petra Banovic (CRO) in third with 4:15.47.

Greville lead troughout the race, with Collings, winner of the 800 free yesterday unable to close the gap. Greville now moves into the ead with 24 points in the distance category.

The men's 50 freestyle had Alexander Popov (RUS) in lane three, having posted only the third fastest time in the prelims. However he was all business in the final winning at every stage of the race, the start, reaching the 25 in first, coming out of the wall with a half-a-body lead and picking up his rhythm to touch first with 22.08 ahead of Lorenzo Vismara (ITA) with 22.29, Geoff Huegill (AUS) was third with 22.67. Popov leads the men's freestyle sprint category with 37 points.

In the men's 800 free Jorg Hoffmann (GER) took the lead from the start and was never challenged winning with 7:44.39. Jacob Carstensen (DEN) was second with 7:59.15 and Matthew Martin (NZL) third with 8:09.21. Carstensen leads the men's distance free category with 25 points after competing in the first two world cups.

In the men's 200 backstroke Ralf Braun (GER) won with 1:57.87, with Rogerio Romero (BRA) in second with 1:59.24 and Raymond Hass (AUS) in third with 2:00.19. Earlier in the program Tomislav Carlo (CRO) won the 50 back 25.42 with Braun third.

Hong Kong ASA swimmers had a very successful comeptition with seven new records.

On the first day four records were bettered as Sherry Tsai Hiu Wai accounted for two in the women's 50 backstroke with 29,97, and the 200 backstroke with 2:18.93. Billy Kwok Sze Wai bettered the men's 100 IM with 58.79 and Tam Chi Kin the men's 200 breaststroke with 2:19.10.

On the second day Alex Fong bettered the 200 backstroke record with a 2:04.85 in the prelims, lowering the 2:03.85 in the final.

Sherry Tsai bettered the 100 backstroke record with 1:03.89, and the 100 IM with 1:05.90.