Nandor Nemeth was just 0.03 outside his national 100 freestyle record as he went top of the world rankings in the third heats session of the Hungarian Nationals in Budapest.
Peter Bernek and David Verraszto rattled the 400IM rankings as did Katalin Burian over 200 back at the Duna Arena.
Nemeth – who won silver behind Ivan Girev at the 2017 World Junior Championships – split 23.39/24.72 to book lane four and topple Katsumi Nakamura at the head of the rankings, the Japanese having gone 48.34 earlier in March.
It was just shy of his Hungarian mark which he set in December 2020.
Kristof Milak – who won the 400 free in Thursday morning’s final – was second home in 48.89 with Péter Holoda third through in 49.34.
The future is bright for Hungary in the pool with Nemeth (1:46.67) and Milak (1:44.86) both in the 4×200 quartet which set a national record of 7:07.67 on Wednesday evening.
Petra Senánszky was fastest in the women’s race in 55.41 ahead of the fast-finishing Fanni Gyurinovics (55.46) with the 2006-born Nikolett Pádár next in 56.26.
Bernek And Verraszto In 400IM Tussle; Hosszu Leads The Way
Peter Bernek: Photo Courtesy: Foto Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia /Insidefoto
Peter Bernek rattled the world rankings after a 58.86 freestyle leg guided him past David Verraszto in the 400IM.
The pair were separated by a sliver throughout with Verraszto – winner of the last three European titles – 0.05 ahead going into the final 100.
Bernek forged ahead and got the touch in 4:12.60 with Verraszto clocking 4:12.98 with the pair going third and fifth respectively in the rankings headed by Wang Shun in 4:11.85 in January.
A final leg of 58.26 steered Daniel Sos past Hubert Kos – who had scratched from the 200IM final – in 4:16.97.
Katinka Hosszu returned from winning the 200IM title on Thursday morning to post the fastest time in the longer medley heats.
The Olympic champion stopped the clock at 4:41.89 with Viktóri Mihályvári-Farkas in 4:43.14 also booking a centre lane for Friday’s final.
It was a youthful field with only Hosszu and Anna Olasz born before the start of the 21st century and three born in 2008, one of whom – Vivien Jackl – through in fifth in 4:53.95.
Burian Goes Third In Rankings In 200 Back
Katalin Burian: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Burian – who had booked her spot for Tokyo 2020 in the 100 back – went 2:08.20 in the four-length event.
It catapulted her to third in the rankings behind only Kaylee McKeown (2:05.66) and Kathleen Baker who clocked 2:07.54 at the TYR Pro Series earlier this month.
Adam Telegdy went 1:57.30 in the 200 back ahead of Benedek Kovacs who clocked 1:58.48.
Eszter Békési led the way in the women’s 200br in 2:26.96 with David Horvath and Máté Kutasi booked lanes four and five in the men’s race in 2:13.42 and 2:13.92 respectively.
Advertising: Shop At Swim360