Australia, United States 1-2 in Women’s 800 Freestyle Relay Qualifying

LONDON, England, August 1. AUSTRALIA and the United States set up a battle this evening in the women’s 800-meter freestyle relay as the two clocked the top two times in the morning session at the 2012 London Olympics.

Australia’s Brittany Elmslie (1:57.50), Angie Bainbridge (1:57.70), Jade Neilsen (1:57.25) and Blair Evans (1:56.99) won the first heat with a 7:49.44. The Aussies are looking to defend their title after winning the event in 2008 ahead of China and the U.S. Before 2008, the U.S. had won the first three iterations of the event in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

“I was more nervous for this than I was for my IM (individual medley),” Evans said. “I love swimming relays. I love representing my country with three other girls. I love going last and did the best I could. Two days ago. After my 400 IM (individual medley) I was not really happy with not making the final but I had a really strong freestyle leg and so I think they decided to give me a chance in the heat.”

No one could touch the U.S. in the second heat as Lauren Perdue (1:58.07), Shannon Vreeland (1:57.04), Alyssa Anderson (1:57.33) and Dana Vollmer (1:58.31) won their heat in 7:50.75 for the second seed. Canada’s Barbara Jardin (1:57.76), Samantha Cheverton (1:57.38), Amanda Reason (1:58.51) and Brittany Maclean (1:57.19) picked up the third seed out of heat one with a 7:50.84.

“It was awesome as we had three rookies out there,” Vollmer said. “It’s different. Having three amazing women look up to me is just incredible. The USA have some really good rookies coming through the set-up, so it’s exciting for the future.”

Italy enjoyed a powerful anchor leg from Federica Pellegrini, who posted a 1:56.46 to help Alice Mizzau (1:57.95), Alice Nesti (1:59.80) and Diletta Carli (1:58.54) to fourth in 7:52.75. Camille Muffat, however, produced the most impressive split of the morning with a 1:55.57 anchor for France as Ophelie-Cyrielle Etienne (1:58.42), Margaux Farrell (2:00.06) and Mylene Lazare (1:58.82) combined with Muffat for a fifth-place 7:52.88.

“It’s my last day, I told the girls that I counted on them and that they were ready,” Muffat said. “I hope that if we get to the final we will have a good relay. I will do my best this afternoon and we have been calming each other and cheering each other up.”

China (7:53.66), Great Britain (7:54.31) and Japan (7:54.56) also made their way into finals, with Hungary just missing with a ninth-place time of 7:54.58.

2012 Canadian Olympic Swim Team

Men:

• Joe Bartoch- 100m butterfly
• Ryan Cochrane- 400 and 1500m freestyle
• Scott Dickens- 100 and 200m breast    
• Andrew Ford- 200m IM 
• Charles Francis- 100m back
• Thomas Gossland- 400m relay
• Brent Hayden- 50 and 100m free, 400m relay 
• Richard Hortness- 400m relay
• Tobias Oriwol- 200m back  
• Alec Page- 400m IM
• Colin Russell- 400m relay    
• David Sharpe- 200m butterfly
• Blake Worsley- 200m free                        

Women:

• Hilary Caldwell- 200m back
• Samantha Cheverton- 200m free, 400 and 800m relay
• Stephanie Horner- 400m IM
• Barbara Jardin- 200m free, 800m relay   
• Savannah King- 400 and 800m freestyle    
• Alexa Komarnycky- 800m free    
• Audrey Lacroix- 200m butterfly  
• Brittany MacLean- 400m free, 400 and 800m relay 
• Martha McCabe- 200m breast  
• Erica Morningstar- 200m IM     
• Victoria Poon- 50m free, 400m relay     
• Amanda Reason- 800m relay
• Sinead Russell- 100 and 200m back     
• Katerine Savard- 100m butterfly      
• Jillian Tyler- 100m breast  
• Tera Van Beilen- 100 and 200m breast    
• Julia Wilkinson- 100m free, 100m back, 200m IM, 400m relay