Day 2
Day 2 of the Russian Swimming Cup saw further success for the Moscow swimming club. Just like day one the first event saw Moscow take the gold with Egor Sokolov taking the 1500m in 15.33.70. Not far behind, Daniil Smirna, was second in a 15.35.95. Sokolov’s time was a new personal best of nearly 10 seconds from his 15.42.66 set last year at this same meet in July and he went about it in style, negative splitting the race going out in 7.48.78 at the 750m mark and coming back in a 7.44.92.
The most impressive final of the night was the men’s 100m butterfly with six competitors going under 53 seconds. Ultimately, Daniel Pakhomov took the win in 52.27 just edging out Nikita Konovalov, the 100m freestyle winner from day one, in 52.32 and Prudinkinov Vyacheslav rounded off the podium in 52.59. This showing of Russian butterfly is an impressive way to show to the world of Russia’s intentions to dominate the medley relay at the upcoming World Championships.
Day 2 was certainly one of close finishes as the women’s 100m backstroke once again proved the case. Daria Ustinova however came out the winner swimming a 1.00.62 out touching Irina Prikhodko who swam a 1.00.66.
Ustinova’s time was still a fair way off her 59.78 best set in May 2014 but Prikhodko’s time was a new improvement of nearly half a second from her previous best of 1.01.08 set in April. Both girls, however, are only 17 years old and definitely are ones to look out for the future.
Other solid performances came from Artem Lobuzov winning the 200m freestyle in 1.47.59, Vsevolod Zanko winning the 100m breaststroke in 1.00.93 and Veronika Popova winning the 100m freestyle in 54.76. Although Popova’s time was still nearly a second from her 53.94 best set at last year’s European Championships.