Nikoletta Padar Claims Second Title at European Juniors; David Popovici Set to Chase Euro Record in 100 Freestyle
The Hungarian duo of Nikoletta Padar and Dora Molnar topped the field in the final of the women’s 100-meter freestyle, one of the most-anticipated events on the schedule at the European Junior Championships in Bucharest. For Padar, the title was her second individual crown of the competition, complementing an earlier gold medal in the 200 freestyle.
Padar was the only athlete to crack the 55-second barrier in the event, as she touched the wall in 54.69 to finish a half-second ahead of Molnar (55.20). Padar was third at the turn, off an opening lap of 26.64, but her closing leg of 28.05 enabled her to pull away from Molnar. The final spot on the medals stand was claimed by Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk, who went 55.34 to edge France’s Mary-Ambre Moluh (55.45).
Later in the session, Moluh qualified first for the final of the 100 backstroke, going 1:00.97, and was followed by Molnar (1:01.64) and Vanotterdojk (1:01.76).
World champion David Popovici, the rising teenage star from Romania, cruised through the semifinals of the 100 freestyle with a clocking of 48.31. That effort handed him the top seed for the final, ahead of Great Britain’s Jacob Whittle (48.68). Popovici has already won the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle titles this week.
David Popovici: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
In the final, Popovici will take aim at the European record in the 100 freestyle, which is held by Russian Kliment Kolesnikov at 47.11. Popovici has been sub-48 on several occasions during the meet while leading off Romanian relays, including a 47.34 effort in the mixed freestyle relay. Popovici’s career-best is a 47.13 from the semifinals at the World Championships.
While Popovici is the heavy favorite in the 100 freestyle, Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk is the overwhelming choice for gold in the 100 backstroke, an event in which he finished sixth at the recent World Champs. Masiuk clocked 53.11 in the semifinals to earn the top seed and is seeking to complete a sweep of the backstroke events, having already won the 50 and 200 distances.
Bosnia’s Lana Pudar was the runaway victor in the women’s 200 butterfly, as her time of 2:08.92 was more than three seconds clear of silver medalist Tabatha Avetand of France, who went 2:12.06. The bronze medal went to Italy’s Anna Porcari (2:12.20). The gold was a step up the podium for Pudar, who was the silver medalist at last summer’s edition of Euro Juniors.
Turkey’s Merve Tuncel dominated the women’s 800 freestyle, checking in at 8:28.32 to win by almost 10 seconds over France’s Alexa Reyna (8:38.04). Italy’s Giulia Vetrano won bronze in 8:40.71.
In semifinal action, Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova went 1:07.37 for the top seed in the women’s 100 breaststroke while the No. 1 slot in the men’s final went to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Lisovets in 1:01.50. Jana Pavalic of Croatia (26.50) and Denmark’s Casper Puggaard (23.84) led the way into the finals of the 50 butterfly. Great Britain’s Leah Schlosshan (2:14.43) will be the top seed in the final of the women’s 200 individual medley.