The fourth day of the 2023 World Junior Championships kicked off with a full slate of events.
The women’s 50 backstroke starts the day, followed by the men’s 50 butterfly, the women’s 400 free, the men’s 200 breaststroke, the women’s 200 IM and the men’s 4×200 free relay.
All the action from the fourth day of prelims competition in Netanya, Israel:
Women’s 50 Backstroke
The fourth day kicked off with the women’s 50 backstroke heats and eight swimmers went sub-29 as the top 16 qualified for the semifinals in the event.
Australia’s Iona Anderson took the top seed in 28.16, three tenths of a second ahead of USA’s Erika Pelaez, who reached the wall in 28.48.
Japan’s Miri Sasaki took the third spot (28.69), followed by a tie between Italy’s Giada Gorlier and Australia’s Jacklyn Barclay (28.84).
USA’s Teagan O’Dell took the eighth spot in 28.96.
Men’s 50 Butterfly
Denmark’s Casper Puggaard was the only swimmer to go sub-24 in the heats of the men’s 50 butterfly and will take the top seed into the semifinals.
Austria’s Lukas Edl took the second spot (24.14), followed by Kazakhstan Maxim Skazobtsov (24.17) and Australia’s Enoch Robb (24.22).
World Junior Championships: Women’s 400 Free
Canada’s Ella Jansen closed the 400 free in a 31.13 to get to the all in 4:09.48 to earn the top seed in the event heading into finals.
USA’s Addison Sauickie claimed the second seed in 4:09.64 setting up a highly anticipated final between the duo, the only two in the field who broke 4:10 in prelims.
Australia’s Jamie Perkins took the third spot in 4:10.54, followed by USA’s Madi Mintenko (4:11.12).
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
USA’s Jordan Willis used a strong back half of the race to claim the top seed in the 200 breaststroke. He touched the wall in 3:13.41.
Hong Kong’s Sai Ting Adam Mak took the second stop in 2:13.74, the only other swimmer in the field to break 2:14.
Japan’s Riku Yamaguchi took the third seed in 2:14.22, followed by USA’s Josh Bey (2:14.60).
Women’s 200 IM
USA’s Leah Hayes took the top seed in the 200 IM, well ahead of the field at 2:12.19.
She was nearly two seconds ahead of Ella Jansen, who was swimmer her second event of the session. Jansen got to the wall in 2:14.11.
USA’s Haley McDonald took the third end in 2:14.80, setting up an intriguing finals.
Men’s 4×200 Free Relay
USA took the top seed at 7:20.45 behind Ryan Erisman, Jacob Wimberly, Nathan Szobota and Norvin Clantz.
China took the second seed in 7:21.85, followed by Canada (7:23.48).
