The start lists are out for the first meet of the 2014 Monaco stop of the 2014 Mare Nostrum Series, and even more big names will be in attendance than those previously announced.
See the full start lists here.
In addition to the big American and Russian contingents previously announced, countries like Japan, Brazil, Hungary, New Zealand, Israel, Spain, France, and Great Britain will also be heavily represented.
The meet will be held Friday and Saturday, June 7th and 8th, and is the first of three meets in the Mediterranean series.
Among the biggest races will be the men’s 200 IM, where despite Ryan Lochte being a scratch while continuing to deal with lingering knee problems, the field is deep. South African Chad le Clos, Denmarks Daniel Skaaning, Hungarians Laszlo Cseh and David Verraszto, and Israel’s Gal Nevo will lead the way.
The men’s 50 free shapes up to be a great race just on the basis of the top-three-seeded Americans, Anthony Ervin, Nathan Adrian, and Cullen Jones. That race goes much deeper, with the Japanese Record holder Shinri Shioura and Russian A-relay swimmer Andrey Grechin also entered.
Further down those lists are a handful of very fast Brazilians, like Nicholas Santos and 100-200 NCAA double champ in 2014 Joao de Lucca.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu will have her typical loaded schedule. She’s entered in the 200/400 freestyles, the 100/200 backs, the 100/200 flys, and the 200/400 IM’s, for 8 races over two days. Though these big schedules are familiar to her, this might be the most challenging field we’ve seen her race against in a while, even after a couple of stops on the U.S. Grand Prix circuit. She’ll be challenged by names like Mie Nielsen, Daryna Zevina, Jeanette Ottesen, and another swimmer with a penchant for being race-tough, Mireia Belmonte-Garcia of Spain.
We will have a full preview, including storylines, links to follow the meet, and a breakdown of prize money, later in the meet.