AFP, Budapest :
Defending champion Bronte Campbell is braced for a “fist-fight” in the 100m freestyle semi-finals after a flurry of fast times from top names in the heats on Thursday.
Just as in the men’s race, the women’s blue riband event is shaping up to be a fierce scrap in the pool at the world aquatics championships.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who set a new world record of 51.71secs in Budapest on Sunday, was fastest in the morning heats, clocking 53.01secs.
Australia’s Campbell, the world gold medallist in the 50m and 100m freestyle in Kazan two years ago, was eighth fastest, but just 0.55 behind Sjostrom.
“It’s nice not to have to go at maximum speed, but tonight it’s going to be a fist fight to get into the final,” said Campbell.
Sjostrom, who won the 100m butterfly gold on Monday, was happy to be back competing “after two days off”.
“I had the speed from the start, but there’s no point in going for it, so I just kept the momentum up,” she said.
Simone Manuel of the United States and Canada’s Penny Oleksiak, the joint Olympic gold medallists from the Rio Olympics, were at 0.71 and 0.79 back respectively.
Dutch sprinter Ranomi Kromowidjojo, the 2012 Olympic champion, was sixth fastest at 0.44, while Australia’s Emma McKeon was at 0.46.
