The withdrawal of Australia's James Magnussen has ensured one of the most open 100m freestyle fields seen at a world swimming championships, Olympic champion Nathan Adrian says.
Australia's reigning Pan Pacific champion Cameron McEvoy had loomed as the favourite in the absence of dual defending world titles gold medallist Magnussen (shoulder).
However, American gun Adrian wasn't sure what to think ahead of the blue riband event, with the likes of French powerhouse Yannick Agnel (pleurisy) also out.
What has also kept Adrian guessing is that the Americans have not had a selection trial meet ahead of the event in Kazan in Russia.
The US used last August's Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast as their selection meet.
Technically, unheralded Canadian Santo Condorelli boasts the fastest 100m time of 2015 (47.98 seconds) ahead of Russian hometown favourite Vladimir Morozov (47.98) and McEvoy (48.06).
"The field is wide open," Adrian said.
"It's kind of a weird year honestly.
"It's interesting because there is so many people out, James for instance.
"It's hard to narrow it down to one (but) this field is going to be really, really fast."
McEvoy upstaged Adrian and Magnussen at last year's Pan Pacs in a meet record 47.82 to stake an early claim for world titles favouritism.
It marked McEvoy's third win in four races over London Olympic silver medallist Magnussen.
And he defied Magnussen again to defend his national 100m title in April, clocking 48.06 in what was the fastest time of 2015.
But Adrian believed McEvoy's best was yet to come at Kazan.
"Cam got me last year. There is no doubt that he is a threat to win it all," Adrian said.
"I think Cam wasn't necessarily at his best at your trials.
"He didn't need to be but he will be here."
Adrian may be scratching his head over the 100m field but he was certain the 48 second mark would have to be shattered to bring home gold at Kazan ahead of what he expected to be an even faster Rio Olympic field.
"I think 2016 it's going to take faster than a 47.5 to win it," he said.
"That glass ceiling is not quite there, it hasn't been reached yet.
"I am not satisfied with times I was doing leading into 2012 when I went 47.5 and I believe that probably everybody else should be aiming higher."
US head coach David Durden agreed.
"He is not looking at what he did in 2012 to be the standard, he has gone beyond that in the past year," he said.
Share
