China's swimming star Sun Yang set season's world second fastest time of the men's 800-meter freestyle at the National Championships in Zhengzhou on Thursday, and Olympic champion Ye Shiwen stunned the home crowd by winning the women's 200-meter freestyle final as it was not her major event.
Sun Yang, the Shanghai Worlds champion of the event, established an early lead and won the event in seven minutes 48.60 seconds, which was the second best time so far this year. Olympic 1,500m runner-up Ryan Cochrane just timed a world best 7:43.61 on Wednesday's Canadian world-title trials.
Zhong Guixu of Tianjin placed second in 8:00.26, while Gao Xuelei of Hebei ranked third in 8:02.37.
"I'm not on my best, but the time was OK," said Sun, who was quite on track in Zhengzhou by winning the 200m, 400m free in world best results. "I just swam under my rhythm and I hope I can make better result at the Worlds."
In women' s 200m freestyle, Olympic champion Ye Shiwen made a strong sprint in the last 50m to win the final in one minute 57.54 seconds, which reached the A stardard of the World Championships.
Shen Duo from Jiangsu took the silver in 1:58.37, while Qiu Yuhan brought Liaoning a bronze in 1:58.50.
"My average time of 100m is 57 to 59 seconds, and the best time is 56.8, but today I am a little slower," said the modest Ye.
"Normally I don't take part in the 200m free, so my technique is not stable," she said.
In women' s 200m butterfly, London Olympic champion Jiao Liuyang and Beijing Olympic champion Liu Zige both entered the final slated for Friday.
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