DODRECHT, The Netherlands, July 12. ANOTHER day, another World Junior Record at the European Junior Championships in The Netherlands.
Italy’s Simone Sabbioni pulled a bit of an upset against Greece’s Apostolos Christou in the men’s 50-meter back with a 25.22 to 25.33 win. Christou has been setting World Junior Records in the backstroke events all weekend, and Sabbioni trumped him in the sprint back finale. That 25.22 stands as the World Junior Record, and pushes Sabbioni to 19th in the world rankings. Notably, Latvia’s Janis Saltans took third in 25.54.
FINA only just began recognizing World Junior Records this year with times dating back to last summer’s World Junior Championships being accepted. Ryan Murphy of the U.S. owns the top time ever in the event by a junior with a 25.04, but that time was not officially recognized by FINA.
Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Romanchuk posted a meet record time of 7:54.81 to win the men’s 800-meter free. That performance shot him to 11th in the world rankings. Poland’s Wojciech Wojdak took second in 7:57.48 for 18th in the world as well. Norway’s Henrik Christiansen also broke 8:00 with a third-place 7:58.72.
Russia’s Arina Openysheva remained on a roll here in Dodrecht as she claimed yet another freestyle title. This time, she dropped a 2:00.18 in the 200-meter free for the victory. Her teammate Daria Mullakaeva finished second in the finale with a 2:00.60, while Germany’s Leonie Kullmann claimed third in 2:01.02.
Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank captured the men’s 200-meter back title in 1:58.05, while Greece’s Apostolos Christou finished second in 1:59.93. Italy’s Emanuel Turchi earned third in the finale with a 2:00.57.
A pair of swimmers broke 1:00 in the women’s 100-meter fly with Germany’s Lisa Katharina Hoepink winnin gin 59.93. Great Britain’s Amelia Clynes finished just behind with a second-place 59.96. Slovakia’s Barbora Misendova raced into third with a 1:00.00.
Daria S Ustinova, not to be confused with the backstroke star Daria K Ustinova, won the women’s 50-meter free tonight in 25.39. Teammate Maria Kameneva finished second in 25.57 with The Netherlands’ Valerie van Roon checking in with a third-place time of 25.69.
In semifinal action, Daria K Ustinova led the way in the women’s 100-meter back with a 1:01.21, while teammate Ekaterina Tomashevksaia finished second in semis with a 1:01.74. Austria’s Felix Auboeck touched out Italy’s Nicolangelo Di Fabio, 1:49.75 to 1:49.77, for the top seed in the men’s 200-meter free finale.
In another close call, Germany’s Maxine Wolters posted the top time in the women’s 200-meter IM semis with a 2:16.40. Great Britain’s Georgia Coates (2:16.87) and Spain’s Africa Zamorano Sanz (2:16.89) finished second and third. Russia’s Aleksandr Sadovnikov raced to a 53.38 for the top seed in the men’s 100-meter fly. Switzerland’s Nils Liess clinched the second seed in 53.55.
Russia’s Maria Astashkina just missed the top 20 in the world in the women’s 100-meter breast with a 1:07.94. Her compatriot Daria Chikunova qualified second in 1:09.81. Russia’s Anton Chupkov followed with a 1:02.30 to lead the men’s 100-meter breast. A total of five swimmers popped 1:02s to set up a battle in tomorrow’s finale.