Mykhailo Romanchuk pulled away from Daniel Wiffen on the final 100 to take the 1500 title on day one of the Euro Meet in Luxembourg.
It was Wiffen’s first competition of the year following a superb conclusion to 2022 where he became the first Irishman to set a European record when he went 7:25.96 for the 800 free short-course mark at the Irish Winter Nationals.
Just 0.08 separated Wiffen, Mahmoud Ahmed and Romanchuk at the 200m mark with the Ukrainian ahead by 300m, a lead he maintained until 1000m when a 59.91 100 propelled the Irishman into pole position.
Wiffen was still at the head of the field at the 1300m mark only for Romanchuk – the European champion – to wrest back control and forge a 0.50secs lead with 100m to go.
A final 100 of 57.01 – compared to Wiffen’s 57.57 – guided him home in 14:59.28 ahead of Wiffen (15:00.34) and Ahmed (15:14.52).
Elsewhere, Louise Hansson won two titles in as many races despite the tightest of turnarounds and Ben Proud took the men’s 50 fly.
The Swede won the women’s 100 back in 1:00.48 before appearing in the next women’s race – sandwiched only by the men’s 100 back – to take the 50 fly in 26.08 ahead of Silvia di Pietro (26.61).
Proud won the men’s race in 23.50.
Denys Kesil was the only man inside 2mins in the 200 fly, winning in 1:57.83.
The field also featured Thomas Ceccon, the 100 backstroke world record holder, who finished fifth in 2:02.04.
In the Italian’s absence, Cornelius Jahn won the 100 back in 55.91.
Alina Baievych – born in 2009 – cranked out a 33.67 final 50 to erase a 1.13ecs deficit and tie for first with Lilou Ressencourt in the women’s 200 fly, the pair both clocking 2:13.33.
Paula Juste Sanchez won the women’s 400IM in 4:46.24 with three-time European champion David Verraszto taking the men’s race in 4:19.34.
Ainhoa Campabadal led the way in the women’s 800 free in 9:07.67.