The 2018 Russian Swimming Championships began today and will serve as the selection meet for this year’s European Championships which will be held August 3-12 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Two Russian national records were broken to highlight the first day of competition, which takes place April 20-25 in Moscow.
Women’s 400 IM
Irina Krivonogova began the 2018 Championship meet with a win in the 400 IM. She stopped the clock in 4:47.46, using her strong breaststroke leg to out-touch the runner-up.
Two 17-year-olds followed: Sophia Chichaykina finished a close second in 4:47.99 and Alexander Denisenko took third in 4:48.53.
Men’s 400 Free
Alexander Red broke away from the field halfway through the race to finish first with a time of 3:45.84. His final time was two seconds off the National record set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Vyacheslav Andrusenko (3:47.25) and Martin Malyutin (3:48.46) wound up third.
Women’s 800 Free
Anna Egorova dominated the women’s 800 free, using consistent splits throughout to finish nearly ten seconds ahead of the field. She posted a final time of 8:30.66.
Anastasia Kirpichnikova finished second with a time of 8:40.49 and 16-year-old Yana Kurtseva Kurtseva touched the wall in 8:44.29 for third.
Men’s 50 Back
The first National record broken of the championship meet came from Olympian and former NCAA Champion Vlad Morozov. In the 50 back final, he got his hand to the wall first in a quick 24.35 to break the old mark.
Clement Kolesnikov wasn’t too far behind and finished second in 24.46. Sergey Fesikov placed third in 24.79.
Men’s 50 Fly
Shortly after Morozov’s record-breaking performance in the 50 back, Oleg Kostin set a new national mark in the men’s 50 fly. He snuck under the old record with a final time of 23.14.
Nikita Korolyov swam to second in 23.42 while Alexander Sadovnikov and Andrey Minakov both tied for third with a time of 23.59.
The second day of competition will see finals in the men’s 1500 free and 100 breast as well as the women’s 100 fly, 50 free and 200 back.
Morosovs backstroke jeez 24.3 how Joe Stott
Alexander Red, LOL.
Krasnykh.