DODRECHT, The Netherlands, July 11. ANOTHER handful of world-class swims were produced at the European Junior Championships in The Netherlands tonight.
Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi blasted his way into the top 15 in the world in the men’s 200-meter fly with a sterling 1:56.74 in the event. That swim pushed him to 15th overall in the SwimVortex world rankings, just ahead of Yuki Kobori’s 16th-ranked 1:56.85 from the Australian Aquatic Super Series earlier this year. Switzerland’s Nils Liess had paced Kenderesi throughout the first 150 meters, trailing just 1:26.37 to 1:26.74, but Kenderesi had way more in the tank with Liess placing second in 1:58.51. Germany’s Alexander Kunert grabbed third overall in 1:58.92.
Russia’s 15-year-old backstroke sensation Daria K Ustinova blasted the women’s 50-meter back finale in 28.18. That swim matched her 10th-ranked season best from Russian Nationals. She’s the second-fastest teenager in the world in the event with Mie Nielsen, 17, in second in the rankings with a 27.76 from the Eindhover Swim Cup. Russia’s Maria Kameneva placed second in 28.48 to move up to 18th in the world, while Croatia’s Ema Sarar placed third in 29.18.
Poland’s Jan Holub clipped Germany’s Damian Wierling for the men’s 100-meter freestyle title, 49.49 to 49.57. Meanwhile, Hungary’s Peter Holoda rounded out the top three in 49.74. Russia went 1-2 in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke. Maria Astashkina won in 2:26.61 with teammate Daria Chikunova placing second in 2:27.78. Great Britain’s Emma Cain wrapped up the top three in 2:29.17.
Great Britain’s Duncan Scott continued to be one of the most well-rounded swimmers here at the EJC meet with a 2:01.57 to win the men’s 200-meter IM. Hungary’s Norbert Szabo (2:02.00) and Ben Gratz (2:02.21) finished second and third in the medley finale.
Although Israel’s Itay Goldfaden had the fastest men’s 50-meter breaststroke of the day with a 28.30 in semis, he couldn’t replicate that swim in the finale with a seventh-place 28.86. Belarus’ Stanislau Pazdzeyeu picked up the title at night with a 28.34, while Poland’s Krzysztof Tokarski took second in 28.57. Russia’s Anton Chupkov placed third in 28.60.
Germany’s Henning Muehlleitner (1:51.14), Konstantin (1:51.16), Damian Wierling (1:49.29) and Alexander Kunert (1:49.66) won the men’s 800-meter free relay in 7:21.25, while Russia’s Daria K Ustinova (1:00.25), Alexandra Chesnokova (1:00.89), Maria Astashkina (1:07.60) and Arina Openysheva (56.90) dominated the women’s 400-meter medley relay with a 4:05.64.
Italy’s Simona Quadarella won the women’s 1500-meter freestyle finale with a 16:30.37, while Spain’s Laura Rodriguez Cao took second in 16:34.04. Hungary’s Melinda Novoszath earned third-place honors in 16:42.65.
In semifinal action, Russia’s Arina Openysheva continued her tear on the meet with a 2:00.67 for the top seed in the women’s 200-meter free. Teammate Daria Mullakaeva qualified second in 2:00.88. Greece’s Apostolos Christou, who has set the World Junior Record in the 100-meter back already this week, led men’s 200-meter back semis with a 1:59.77. Great Britain’s Amelia Clynes and Slovakia’s Barbora Misendova then tied for the top spot in the women’s 100-meter fly semis with a 1:00.29.