Morozov Puts Up Second Fastest 50 Backstroke

Russian star Vlad Morozov followed his 100 freestyle win by taking the men’s 50 backstroke on day four of the Russian National Championships in Moscow. Morozov posted a time of 24.52 breaking his own national record of 24.80 which he set last year. His time also puts him second in the world rankings with only Frenchman Camille Lacourt having been faster in 2014. Lacourt recorded a time of 24.37 in April.

Morozov’s time would have been good enough for the silver at last summer’s World Championships with once again only Lacourt having posted a faster time. With both men on top of their game at this point of the season it should shape up to be a great event in Berlin.

Veronika Popova continued her assault on the record book winning the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:55.93. Popova broke her own national record of 1;56.39, which she set yesterday in the semi-finals.

Popova’s time also moves her up in the world rankings putting her into the four place position.

Victoria Andreyeva finished second in a time of 1:58.55 followed by Arina Openysheva who posted a time of 1:59.73.

The final national record to be taken down on the evening was in the women’s 50 freestyle. Rosalia Nasretdinova won the event in a time of 24.95 breaking her own national record of 25.00, which she set last year. Elizabeth Bazarova finished second in a time of 25.14 followed by Ekaterina Kudinovo who touched in a time of 25.78.

Andrey Shabasov took the men’s 200 backstroke in a time of 1:56.97. This is an incredibly successful swim considering that coming into the competition his lifetime best was a 1:59.99. Shabasov’s time puts him eighth in the world rankings right behind Arkady Vyatchanin who recorded a 1:56.95 in February. Vyatchanin did compete for the Russian national team, but made the decision last year that he would no longer represent his home country and currently not representing a country on the international stage.

In the men’s 100 butterfly semi-final Vyacheslav Prudnikov was the third Russian to put up a world’s top 10 time recording a time of 52.17.

Svetlana Chimrova won the women’s 100 butterfly recording a time of 58.23. Chimrova was followed by Anna Polyakova who finished in a time of 59.68 and Anastasia Lyazeva who touched in a time of 59.71.

In the other final of the evening Yevgeny Kulikov took the men’s 800 freestyle in a time of 8:01.95.

Alexander Krasyikh posted the fastest time in the semi-final of the men’s 200 freestyle touching in a time of 1:47.70. Artem Lobuzov hit the wall in a time of 1:47.92 followed by Nikita Lobinstov who finished in a time of 1:48.04.

World Championships bronze medalist Danila Izotov did swim the event in the posting the sixth fastest time of 1:50.48, but did not take part in the semi-finals of the event.

Daria Ustinova qualified for the final with the fastest time in the women’s 100 backstroke recording a time of 1:00.34.

In the women’s 100 breaststroke Vitalin Simonova was the fastest qualifier posting a time of 1:08.90 while Andrei Nikoayev was the fastest qualifier in the men’s event finishing in a time of 1:01.16.

Full results can be found here