Ryk Neethling wins - again
2004-11-27 14:33
Melbourne - South African Olympic relay gold medallist Ryk Neethling continued his domination of the World Cup shortcourse swimming meet on Saturday with two more victories.
Neethling is heading for swimmer of the meet honours after wins in the 200-metre freestyle and 50m butterfly on the second night of competition.
Neethling, who with Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Darian Townsend set a world record in winning the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at this year's Athens Olympics, claimed the 100m freestyle and 100m individual medley on Friday.
Neethling, who lives in Arizona, won the 200m freestyle in one minute 43.79 seconds from American Nick Brunelli and Germany's Michael Schubert.
Could win more races
He then claimed the 50m butterfly in 23.44secs from Russian Nikolay Skvortsov and Britain's James Hickman.
Neethling has the chance of winning three more races on Sunday's final day.
American Olympic triple gold medallist Aaron Peirsol broke through for his first win at the meet in the 200m backstroke in 1:52.29 from compatriot Randall Bal.
Australia's Olympic champion Libby Lenton added the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle crowns to her Friday night wins in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.
Lenton won the 100m butterfly in 57.87secs, before accounting for a quality 50m freestyle field including fellow Australian gold medallists Alice Mills (second) and Jodie Henry (fifth) in a slick 24.58secs.
Lenton is aiming for six wins at the meet, competing in the 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle on Sunday.
Australian Leisel Jones whipped her rivals for the second time in two nights, beating fellow Australian Sarah Katsoulis by nearly five seconds in the 200m breaststroke.
After falling just 0.11sec short of the world shortcourse record in the 100m on Friday, Jones was again on world record pace for most of Saturday's race.
But she couldn't sustain the effort in the final 50m to clock 2:19.08 -1.33sec outside the world mark she set at this meet last year. - AFP
- SAPA