The 2019 Mare Nostrum Series kicked off its second day of competition on Sunday, as some of the world’s best swimmers convened in Monaco for a healthy international showdown.
The athletes will compete next week in Canet for the second stop in the series, showcasing their talents as a teaser for the upcoming World Championships.
Prior to this weekend, Hong Kong had never earned a gold at the meeting in Monaco. Siobhan Haughey had an answer for this, as she nabbed two golds and two national records for the country in two days, courtesy of her stellar 100 and 200 free swims.
Order of Events
Men’s 400 IM
Women’s 400 Free
Men’s 100 Fly
Women’s 200 Fly
Men’s 200 Back
Women’s 100 Back
Men’s 100 Breast
Women’s 200 Breast
Men’s 200 Free
Women’s 100 Free
Women’s 200 IM
Men’s 400 IM
Japan seized the win and the Monaco record as IM stalwart Daiya Seto cruised to a 4:10.30 finish, bettering David Verraszio’s (4:13.61) second-place mark by over three seconds. Verraszio’s teammate, Gergely Gyurta nabbed third for Hungary with a time of 4:17.31.
Women’s 400 Free
Delfina Pignatiello of Argentina stole the show in the women’s 400 free, as she unknowingly held off Japan’s Miyu Namba (4:08.44) in the far lane.
Valeria Salamatina of Russia managed to break into the top three with a time of 4:08.54, putting distance between herself and Veronika Andrusenko (4:09.79) in the final 50.
Men’s 100 Fly
Andrey Zhilkin of Russia held off Britain’s James Guy (52.31) for the gold, turning in a time of 52.18.
Belarusian athlete Yauhen Tsurkin was close at their heels, as he crashed the pads with a 52.65 to seize his position on the medal stand.
Women’s 200 Fly
Katinka Hosszu took it all in the women’s 200 fly, crashing the pads with a 2:07.56 to edge out Russia’s Svetlana Chimrova (2:08.73).
Hosszu’s compatriot Zsuzsanna Jakobos tallied more points for Hungary with an impressive time of 2:09.25.
Men’s 200 Back
South Africa’s Martin Binedell took the 200 back by a wide margin, turning in a 1:59.18 for the championship win.
France’s Christopher Brun surged in to a 2:00.47 finish for second, edging out Austria’s Bernhard Reitshammer (2:00.93) for the silver.
Women’s 100 Back
Katinka Hosszu nabbed her third gold of the meet with a stellar 1:00.22 in the 100 back, as she went stroke for stroke with Russia’s Mariia Kameneva (1:00.41) for the win.
Hoi Shun Stephanie (1:00.93) of Hong Kong managed to get her hand on the wall third, the last of the sub-1:01’s of the heat.
Men’s 100 Breast
Belarusian swimmer Ilya Shymanovich (59.43) ran away with the men’s 100 breast, posting the only time under 1:00 in the meet.
Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki chased him with a time of 1:00.00, as America’s Michael Andrew edged out compatriot Nic Fink (1:00.82) with a time of 1:00.80.
Women’s 200 Breast
Russia’s Yuliya Efimova (2:24.09) appears to be in good form for the upcoming World Championships, as she stole the women’s 200 breast with ease.
Argentina’s Julia Sebastian stayed at her hip, turning in a 2:26.78 of her own to take down Russia’s Maria Temnikova (2:27.44).
Men’s 200 Free
Malyutin Martin tallied more points for Russia with an impressive 200 free swim, as he surged to a 1:46.49 to edge out Britain’s James Guy (1:46.90) in the final 50.
Martin’s compatriot Aleksandr Krasnykh reserved his spot on the medal stand, as he took the bronze with a time of 1:47.44.
Women’s 100 Free
In one of the most climactic races of the weekend, Siobhan-Bernadette Haughey cinched another national record for Hong Kong with a time of 53.32. It was a decisive victory over America’s Natalie Hinds, who turned in a 54.68 to share the silver with Czechia’s Barbora Seemanova (54.68).
Women’s 200 IM
Katinka Hosszu went three for three this morning, as she proceeded to manhandle the competition in the women’s 200 IM. Finishing a full stroke ahead of the field, Hosszu posted a 2:09.19 for the win.
Madisyn Cox went 2:10.18 to cinch second for the States, gaining a healthy lead over Britain’s Siobhan Marie O’Connor, who secured her bronze with a time of 2:11.57.
SPRINT TOURNAMENT
Finals
In the climax of the meet’s sprint tournament, the final two athletes in each event took their places behind the block for an intense duel in the pool, with the winner receiving 600 Euros and a gold medal.
In the men’s 50 fly, Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo proved victorious with a time of 23.27, as he finished on a beautiful full stroke for the win. The Ukraine’s Andrey Govorov fell to him with a time of 23.41.
In the women’s 50 fly, Belarusian swimmer Anastasiya Shkurdai managed to get her hand on the wall first, throwing up a 26.06 to beat Russia’s Arina Surkova (26.26).
In the men’s 50 back, Michael Andrew flexed his sprinting skills with a 24.45 finish, surging ahead of Evgeny Rylov (24.78).
In the women’s 50 back, Caroline Pilhatsch of Austria came out on top, as she surged to a 27.85 finish. Mimosa Jallow just conceded the win with a time of 27.94, settling for the silver.
In the men’s 50 breast, Felipe Lima of Brazil surged to a decisive victory, dropping a 26.33 for the win. Belarusian swimmer Ilya Shamanovich secured second with a time of 27.00, just eclipsing the sub-27.00 mark.
In the women’s 50 breast, Yuliya Efimova shattered the Monaco record and doubled her money with a time of 30.04, gaining a decent lead on Jhennifer Conceicao’s 30.42.
In the men’s 50 free, Brazil’s Bruno Fratus seized his second Mare Nostrum record of the day with a time of 21.31; while Kristian Gkolomeev secured a silver for Greece with a time of 21.54.
In the women’s 50 free, Russia’s Mariia Kameneva rounded out an impressive individual schedule with a 24.51 win. Siobhan-Bernadette Haughey showcased her versatility with stellar 24.85 of her own for the silver.
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