Popova Breaks Into The Top Five In The 200 Freestyle With A New Russian Record

On day three for the Russian National Championships Veronika Popova posted a 1:56.39 in the semi-final of the women’s 200 freestyle, setting a new national record and put herself into the fifth place position in the world rankings. Popova broke her own national mark of 1:56.84, which she put up at the 2012 Olympics and is now tied with Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands in the world rankings.

This is a very positive sign for Popova who had a down year in 2013 recording a season’s best of 1:57.40. 

She was the fastest qualifier on the day beating the next competitor by almost four seconds.

Yesterday Vladimir Morozov put up a 48.25 in men’s 100 freestyle semi-final to take over fifth place in the world rankings. Tonight Morozov was not quite able to match his performance from the semi-final, but took the event in a time of 48.31. He was followed by Alexander Sukhorukov who finished in a time of 48.66 and Sergey Fesik who hit the wall in a time of 48.76.

Danilla Izotov and Andrey Grechin tied for fourth in a time of 48.80.

The Russian 4 x 100 freestyle relay team should be in good shape to give the French a run for their money in Berlin.

Morozov then went on to tie for the win in the men’s 50 breaststroke. Morozov and Andrei Nikolayev both touched in a time of 27.78. Igor Golvin finished third in a time of 28.00.

Daria Ustinova, who broke the Junior World Record in the women’s 200 backstroke yesterday, completed her sweep of the women’s backstroke events winning the 50 in a time of 28.18. Alexandra Papusha finished second in a time of 28.71 followed by 14 year old Maria Kamenev who hit the wall in a time of 29.11.

Nikolay Skvortsov took the men’s 200 butterfly in a time of 1:56.98. He was followed by Alexander Kudashov who posted a time of 1;57.42 and Artem Lazarev who finished in a time of 1:59.40.

Earlier in the week when Yuliya Efimova‘s punishments were handed out Vitalina Simonova was elevated to the silver medal position from the European Short Course Championships December. Today she took advantage of her opportunity to win the national championship in the 200 breaststroke recording a time of 2:24.93 beating her lifetime best of 2:26.58 which she posted in 2006.

Ivan Trofimov took the men’s 200 IM in a time of 1:59.87. Dmitry Gorbunov finished second in a time of 2:00.39 followed by Alexander Tikhonov who touched in a time of 2:00.66.

Anna Belousova finished second in a time of 2:27.67 followed by Anastasia Chaun who posted a time of 2:28.48.

Svetlana Chimrova was the fastest qualifier in the women’s 100 butterfly posting a time of 58.68 while Andrey Shabasov was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 200 backstroke recording a time of 1:59.54.

Full results can be found here