More Fast Times on Day Two of Barcelona Meet
By Phillip Whitten
BARCELONA, June 15. THERE were no world records today, but there was plenty of fast swimming including three world-leading times for 2003.
Finland's Hanna Seppala, 19, vaulted to the top of the world lists with her NR 54.50 in the 100m free. Yesterday, the Flying Finn won the 50 in 25.56.
In today's 100, Holland's Marleen Veldhuis was second in 55.70 while Britain's Melanie Marshall was third in 55.82.
Ukraine's Yana Klochkova, the world record-holder, 2000 Olympic and 2001 World champion in the 400 IM, posted this year's top time in her favorite event. Klochkova clocked a swift 4:38.26. Hungary's Eva Risztov was second in 4:41.77, which is the world's second-fastest time this year. Romania's Beatrice Caslaru was more than four seconds back in third (4:46.08).
Slovakia's Martina Moravcova, who won the 200 free and 50 fly yesterday, today lowered her own world-leading time in the 100 fly with a sparkling 58.31. The Dallas-based Moravcova was chased to the wall by Sweden's Johanna Sjoberg, 59.62, and Holland's Chantal Groot, who cracked the minute barrier with a 59.90.
In other women's highlights, Eva Risztov ouyt-touched Romania's Simona Paduraru in the 400 free, 4:11.49 to 4:11.53. Australia's Kasey Giteau, who clocked a PR 4:10.45 less than a week ago, was third in 4:12.06.
Spain's Nina Zhivanevskaya won an exciting 100 back, beating two teens on the rise. Zhivanevskaya touched in 1:01.80, just ahead of 17 year-old Louise Ornstedt of Denmark (1;02.28) and 16 year-old Stanislava Komarova of Russia (1:02.66).
Another tough 16 year-old, Mirna Jukic, remained undefeated on the mare Nostrum tour, clocking in at 1:08.80 to take the 100 breast, with Sweden's Emma Igelstrom second (1:09.14).
Eighteen year-old Laszlo Cseh appears to be ready to carry on Hungary's great tradition in the 400 IM as he posted a PR 4:15.39 to win the men's race by almost six seconds. Cseh's time ranks him third in the world this year. Second place went to South Africa's Terence Parkin, who overtook Romania's Cezar Madita on the final lap to grab the silver, 4:21.27 to 4:21.37.
Britain's James Gibson, who won the 50 breast yesterday in 27.71, made it a double today, edging fellow Brit, Chris Cook, in the 100 breast, 1:01.64 to 1:01.74. In prelims, Gibson clocked a much faster 1:01.11.
Ukraine's Lisogor was third another tenth of a second behind (1:01.84), while Russia's Dmitri Komornikov, who set a WR yesterday in the 200 breast (2:09.52), settled for fourth in 1:02.26.
Russia's Alex Popov, who won the 50 yesterday in 22.22, took the century today in 49.35. Second place, in 49.66, went to Sweden's Lars Frolander, making his first major international foray of the year.
Another Russian, 19 year-old Yuri Prilukov, cruised to victory in the 400 free with a 3:49.60, more than three seconds ahead of Romania's Dragos Coman.
In a tight battle, Ukraine's Andriy Serdinov took the 100 fly in 52.79 to Russian Igor Marchenko's 53.17. Another Russian, however got to the wall first in the 100 back: Arkady Vyatchanin clocked 55.97, ahead of Romania's Razvan Florea in a NR 56.30.