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Dressel, Seto clock world records in swim league final
LAS VEGAS, Dec 21, 2019 (/BSS/AFP) – Daiya Seto and Caeleb Dressel clocked
short course world records Friday as the International Swimming League
brought its high-octane brand to Las Vegas for the season one series finale.
Japan’s Seto, who figures to be a star of the Tokyo Olympics next year,
made a splashy ISL debut, clocking 3min 54.81sec to win the 400m individual
medley — breaking the previous record of 3:55.50 set by American Ryan Lochte
at the short course world championships in Dubai in 2010.
“I was going for it,” said Seto, who said the time confirmed his
preparations for Tokyo are right on track.
Dressel, whose eight medals at last July’s long course world championships
included six golds, clocked 20.24sec in the 50m free to break the previous
record of 20.26 set by France’s Florent Manaudou at the 2014 short course
worlds in Doha.
Manaudou, who returned from retirement this year in a comeback aimed at the
Tokyo Games, settled for second on Friday in 20.69.
Seto, swimming for the Energy Standard team, was making his first
appearance in the series, which was launched this year with eight teams
swimming in six meets — the top four teams advancing to the final.
Vegas, the US gambling haven known for glitz and risk-taking, was hailed as
the perfect venue for a league aiming to shake up the sport, stepping out
from under the umbrella of international governing body FINA and offering
significant prize money in a quick-paced format aimed at exciting swimmers
and fans alike.
“I think what is noticeable about this league is how much chatter it’s
creating. It’s a disruptive force,” said London Roar’s Cate Campbell of
Australia. “I have had people who don’t follow swimming come up and talk to
me.
“And I think that really is the first step, getting the name out there and
spreading the word and telling people it’s swimming reinvented, it’s a
different way of looking at swimming.
“It’s bringing swimming into the 21st century.”
The finals are unfolding steps from the Mandalay Bay casino, in a high-tech
temporary pool erected for the occasion.
“I remember going to basketball games as a kid and I’d be like ‘Man, why
can’t we have the jumbotron? Why can’t we have the lasers and the light show
going on?'” said US Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian, calling the addition
of such elements “awesome.”
With a $100,000 prize to be shared by the team that tops the final points
standings — and double points on offer on the final weekend — Dressel’s
Cali Condors roared off the blocks, winning the first five events before
Seto’s dominant victory.
“We knew we were coming in hot,” said Cali’s Nic Fink, who beat world
champion Adam Peaty of London Roar in the 50m breaststroke.
Dressel opened his day with a victory in the 100m butterfly, with Cali
teammate Kelsi Dahlia upsetting Energy Standard’s Sarah Sjostrom in the
women’s 100m fly.
Cali’s Lily King maintained her perfect record in ISL, winning the 50m and
200m breaststrokes to improve to 11-0 in the series.
Dressel would add a runner-up finish in the 4x100m free to lead the meet
Most Valuable Player standings heading into the final day on 52 points ahead
of Cali teammate Fink, who also won the 200m breaststroke and headed into
Saturday with 41 points.
Sjostrom was in third on 37, but she still led the season MVP race — which
carries a prize of $50,000 — with 188.5 points. Dressel was second on 171.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0855 hrs