Day 6 Relay Lineups: Curzan Set For Four Races On Final Night In Abu Dhabi | SwimSwam

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, December 16th – Tuesday, December 21st
• Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• SCM (25m)
• Prize Money
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• FINA Live Results
• Omega Live Results

A trio of relays will run on the final night of competition from the 2021 Short Course World Championships in Abu Dhabi, with finals in the women’s 4×50 free, men’s 4×100 medley and women’s 4×100 medley relays.

Women’s 4×50 Free Relay Lineups

In the women’s 4×50 free, there aren’t any major surprises in terms of lineup changes. The top-seeded Americans move out Torri Huske in exchange for Claire Curzan, who is set up for a busy night of racing with the individual 100 fly and 50 free final to go along with her relay duties.

The Dutch reload in bringing on Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Kira Toussaint, while the Swedes will also be a player for medals after adding Louise Hansson to the anchor leg.

The Canadians lurk out in Lane 1, and haven’t switched out any of their swimmers but are expected to be significantly quicker than the 1:40.45 they posted in the prelims.

Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay Lineups

The most noteworthy change in the men’s 4×100 medley might be one that didn’t happen, as the U.S. has opted to keep Trenton Julian on the fly leg over Tom Shields. Julian split a quick 49.25 in the prelims, the field’s only sub-50 leg, while Shields placed sixth individually in a time of 49.80.

The Russians will move out all four of their prelim swimmers for an entirely new squad, while the Italians, like the U.S., change three of four legs.

Women’s 4×100 Medley Relay Lineups

In the women’s medley relay, the number one seeds from Sweden have reorchestrated their lineup from the prelims, giving them the same daunting foursome that won gold and tied the world record in the 4×50 medley: Louise Hansson, Sophie Hansson, Sarah Sjostrom and Michelle Coleman.

Coleman is the only swimmer in the same spot as the prelims, while Louise Hanssons swam fly in the morning and Hanna Rosvall and Emelie Fast swam back and breast.

The Canadian women have switched out the bottom half of their lineup, a no-brainer move to bring in Maggie MacNeil and Kayla Sanchez, and the Americans have moved out three of their morning swimmers.

Joining Katharine Berkoff for the U.S. will be Emily Escobedo, Claire Curzan and Abbey Weitzeil. This will give Curzan four swims in a little over two hours for the session.

After Lydia Jacoby dropped out of the meet, the Americans used Kate Douglass as the breaststroker on the prelim relay, splitting 1:05.06 compared to Escobedo’s 1:04.81 flat-start semi-final swim (Escobedo placed eighth in the individual final in a time of 1:05.14).

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