Canada’s McIntosh wins 200m free at Knoxville Pro Swim

AFP, Washington :
Canadian Summer McIntosh cruised to victory in the women’s 200m freestyle on Friday, clocking 1min 55.41sec to notch her second win in two days at the Pro Swim meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The 17-year-old made an aggressive start and was briefly ahead of Australian Mollie O’Callaghan’s world record pace on the way to a comfortable win.

American Erin Gremmell was second in 1:58.23 and Simone Manuel was third in 1:58.87.

McIntosh, a four-time individual medley world champion who took 200m free bronze at last year’s worlds, followed up her victory in the 200m butterfly on Thursday.

She called the 200m free her “favorite event” but was noncommittal when asked if it would feature on her Paris Oympics program.

“Right now I’m just focused on the next few meets,” the versatile teenager told broadcaster NBC. “After this meet I’m going to be doing a really big training block, so just kind of focusing on where I am in training and kind of figuring out what events to prep for the Games,” she said.

Canada’s Tess Cieplucha won the women’s 400m individual medley, clocking 4:41.54.

She held off a final-leg challenge from US freestyle great Katie Ledecky, who took second in 4:44.82 in an event she rarely swims in competition.

In men’s competition, Austrian Felix Auboeck also notched a second victory in as many days, following up his 400m free triumph with a win in the 200m free in 1:46.70.