Anton Chupkov of Russia succeeded in lowering his own World Junior record and setting a new Championship Record in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke during prelims after posting a time of 1:00.12 This replaces his World Junior record of 1:00.84 from 2014, as well as, Ilya Khomenko’s meet record of 1:00.88 from 2013.
Reece Whitley of the USA claimed the second-place seed with a time of 1:01.48, adding slightly to his time of 1:01.06 that he posted earlier this summer at the US National Championships. Teammate Michael Andrew joins him at third with a qualifying time of 1:01.54.
Australia’s Matthew Wilson was a close fourth, turning in a time of 1:01.55 from heat seven.
Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi finished fifth overall in prelims with a qualifying time of 1:01.90, making him the last qualifier under the 1:02 mark.
Charlie Attwood of Great Britain turned in a 1:02.06 to earn the sixth-place seed, while Australia’s Grayson Bell finished seventh overall with a time of 1:02.33. Lithuania’s Andrius Sidlauskas joins them in the top eight with a time of 1:02.40.
Japan’s Ippei Miyamoto (1:02.77), China’s Shen Hao (1:02.92), Russia’s Egor Suchkov (1:03.00), China’s Liu Yunsong (1:03.03), Belgium’s Basten Caerts (1:03.05), Poland’s Jacek Arentewicz (1:03.10), Austria’s Christopher Rothbauer (1:03.30), and Canada’s Warren Mayer (1:03.55) round out the top sixteen finishers.
