By Maria Dobysheva
Polina Egorova won her first title after returning home from European Games where she won six gold medals. At Russian Junior Nationals, the meet for boys aged 17-18 and girls 15-16, Egorova has had a solid collection of medals yet lacked the gold until her main event, 50 fly. Her result 27.19 was only 0.4 slower than her Games winning time. Natalia Mozhina finished second with 27.87 and Alexandra Chesnokova was third, 27.98.
15 years old Darya Gutova from Saratov won trio of backstroke events. On first day she got gold in 200 backstroke (2:17.41), finished ahead of Frolova Svetlana (2:18.37) and Khisyamova Darina (2:19.32). Than she added 50 backstroke title where she tied for gold with Valeria Dudina, 16 years old representing Republic of Tatarstan (29.91). Natalia Mozhina finished third with 30.21. Then Gutova won 100 back with 1:03.48, with Anna Udalova for the second (1:04.38) and Xenia Vasilenok for bronze (1:04.47).
15 years old Olesya Chernyatina won 100 and 200 freestyle. Her rapid last 50 in 100 free where she showed the best speed in the whole final, helped her to disappoint Vasilissa Buynaya (56.41 to 56.43). Polina Egorova left with bronze (57.19). In 200 free Chernyatina again produced the best last split and won with 2:02.51, while Varvara Simonova (2:03.63) and Polina Egorova (2:04.12) completed the podium.
Another multiple European Games medalist, 17 years old Vladislav Kozlov from Samara won gold in 100 fly with 53.43. Shevlyakov Roman finished second (53.81) and Pavel Pakhomov was third (54.37). He also won the 100 free with 50.21, only 0.1 slower than his bronze-winning time from Baku. Elisey Stepanov came in second (50.38) and Dmitry Belolipetsky was third, 50.39. Kozlov also won silver in 50 butterfly, finished behind Roman Shevlyakov (Saint-Petersburg) 24.06. Mark Chernov from Moscow got bronze 24.60.
16 years old Darya Chikunova from Saint Petersburg celebrated three victories in women’s breaststroke. First Chikunova won 50 breast, posted 32.47. Anastasia Borina finished second with 33.02 and Darya Tokareva was third, 33.12. Then Chikunova doubled her title account with a win in 200 breast. Her result 2:29.00 brought her to gold medal, while Darya Tokareva (2:29.93) and Karina Dunaeva (2:33.04) got silver and bronze. In 100 breast Chikunova, a bronze medalist from Baku, posted 1:09.52 to win the final, with Darya Tokareva for silver (1:10.98) and Victoria Maryina for bronze (1:11.20)
In women’s 200 fly, 14 years old Darya Andreychuk from Volgograd brought gold to her team, 2:15.47. She managed to touch out Marina Namazova (2:15.92). Natalia Kartseva finished third with 2:16.61.
18 years old Igor Shadrin from Saint Petersburg, who also won three medals in Baku, got his title with 1:50.58. It was a solid win against silver and bronze medalists Alexey Rtischev (1:52.22) and Vitaly Lebanin (1:52.28).
18 years old Mark Nikolaev from Saint Petersburg won gold in men’s 100 backstroke with 56.09. Bodrov Nikita and Nikolay Snigirev completed the podium (56.72, 56.84).
17 years old Nikolay Snegirev from team Moscow came in first in men’s 400 free with 3:56.33. Lebanin Vitaly got silver (3:57.47) and Alexey Rtyschev won his second medal, bronze (3:58.37).
18 years old Dmitry Malkov from Khanty, won his 200 butterfly title with 2:00.66. Malkov was absolutely dominant on the lanes with almost three seconds lead, left his rivals far behind – Egor Subbotin (2:03.70) and Mikhail Isaev (2:03.95).
17 years old Nikolay Sokolov who won gold in 400 individual medley at European Games in Baku, maintained his all-round ability and won the final with 4:24.08. While result he posted wasn’t as good as his Baku winning time (4:19.44) it still was strong and confident win over Alexander Izotov who finished second (4:26.19) and bronze finished Dmitry Nikiforov.
14 years old Petrova Marianna from Moscow doubled up with long distance events. She won 800 free with 17:06.23, with Oksana Loginova got silver (8:58.81) and Sofia Nesterova for bronze (9:05.92). Next she won 1500 free with 17.06.23, left silver medalist Sofia Nesterova 22 seconds behind (17:28.89), Antonina Konovalova finished third (17:33.79).
Other results:
Men’s 1500 free
1. Druzhinin Ilya (Volgograd) 15:31.12
2. Drobotov Evgeny (Krasnoyarsk) 15:43.03
3. Samedov Kyamran (Moscow) 15:54.65
Women’s 400 IM
1. Sheludchenko Diana (Rostov) 4:50.38
2. Varvara Simonova (Perm) 4:52.82
3. Alexandra Panova (Saint-Petersburg) 4:55,11
Men’s 200 back
1. Sergey Gulyaev (Khanty) 2:02.92
2. Kirill Titov (Lipetsk) 2:03.10
3. Kirill Shvedov (Saint-Petersburg) 2:04.54
Men’s 200 breast
1. Arkady Grigoryev (Moscow) 2:14.09
2. Kirill Mordashev (Penza) 2:14.25
3. Rustam Gadirov (Omsk) 2:14.32