By Sharon Robb
SINGAPORE, August 16, 2019—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Alia Atkinson held off a surging American Breeja Larson to win the 100-meter breaststroke Friday on Day Two of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2019 at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
The four-time Jamaican Olympian won her signature event in 1:07.35 ahead of Larson in 1:07.55. Atkinson was slower than last week’s 1:07.0 in China. Both are Texas A&M alums and NCAA champions.
She was seeded second after prelims behind top seed Larson, 1:07.53-1:09.19.
Atkinson is already qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 breaststroke. She qualified by .01. The qualifying standard is 1:07.06.
Russian Vladimir Morozov broke two world records in the 50-meter backstroke in 24.40 that would have won gold at the FINA World Championships and 100-meter freestyle in 47.88
Atkinson competes Saturday in the 50-meter breaststroke on the third and final day and third and final leg of the opening series cluster. A total of $314,000 in bonuses is available as the cluster ends in Singapore. Atkinson is fifth in the point standings with 36.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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