World Championships, Day 8 Prelims (Men): David Johnston Heads 400IM; China, Australia Miss Medley Relay Final
The eighth and final day of prelims got under way at the World Championships on Sunday in Doha.
400m Individual Medley
David Johnston of the USA booked lane four after coming through in the final metres of the second heat.
The 22-year-old – who won bronze with the US 4×2 quartet, clocked 4:12.51, 0.03 ahead of Great Britain’s Max Litchfield.
Daiya Seto, winner of five world medals in the eight-length event dating back to the Barcelona World Championships in 2013, was third through in 4:13.06 with 2IM silver medallist Carson Foster next in 4:13.24.
4×100 Medley Relay
The medley relay embodied the unpredictability of the 2024 World Championships.
China have won both men’s relays in Doha and were the silver medallists in Fukuoka last year but they won’t be making an appearance in this year’s final after finishing 12th in prelims.
Eighth after a 56.44 backstroke leg by Xu Yifan, there was no way back and they finished 12th overall in 3:36.48.
Neither have Fukuoka bronze medallists Australia qualified, locked out by one place in ninth in 3:35.55 as Ireland claimed the eighth and last spot in 3:34.97, the first Irish quartet to reach a world long-course relay final.
Olympic silver medallists Great Britain didn’t enter the event.
The USA topped the prelims in 3:32.53, featuring a 50.99 fly split by Shaine Casas, ahead of the Netherlands (3:32.89) and Spain (3:33.57).
Also through: Poland (3:33.79), Canada (3:34.16), Italy (3:34.20), Austria (3:34.29) and Ireland (3:34.97).
