Russian Junior Championships
- May 13-17
- Penza, Russia
- Long Course Meters (LCM)
- Results
- Live broadcast found on All-Russian Swimming Federation website
The Russian Junior Championships kicked off in Penza, Russia on Thursday. The first day of the meet featured a variety of events, beginning with the women’s 50 breaststroke and concluding with the men’s 400 freestyle. The women’s age group spans from 15-year-olds to 17-year-olds while the men’s age range includes just 17 and 18-year-olds Click on the events below to view full results (from finals):
- Women’s 50 breaststroke
- Men’s 50 butterfly
- Women’s 100 freestyle
- Men’s 400 freestyle
- Women’s 200 butterfly
- Men’s 100 backstroke
- Men’s 200 breaststroke
- Women’s 200 backstroke
- Men’s 400 freestyle relay
- Women’s 400 freestyle relay
15-year-old breastroker Elena Bogomolova opened the finals session with a 31.51 50 breaststroke, just out-touching Yana Shakirova, who finished in a 31.82. The only other swimmer to break 32 was Julia Beznosova, who slid just under the 32-second mark with a 31.92.
Bogomolova competed in the 50 breaststroke at the Russian National Swimming Championships in early April and took sixth place with a time of 31.59, just eight-hundredths slower than her time from finals on Thursday night. Her best time, however, is even faster than either of the times she has posted recently. Bogomolova was entered with a time of 30.39, which she swam at the Vladimir Salnikov Cup.
Later that evening, Daria Trofmovia captured a victory in the 100 free with a time of 55.65. Trofmovia also claimed the 100 free title during the Russion Junior Championships in December of 2020, where she posted her best time of 54.89.
Touching in second was Alexandra Kurilkina with a 55.71. She was the only other swimmer with a time still in the 55-second range. Finishing in 56.16 seconds, Alexandra Sabitova came in third.
The men’s events featured several impressive swims, beginning with Ivan Morgun’s 400 freestyle. Morgan held splits at mostly 29s and 30s to achieve his time of 3:56.08. He finished almost two seconds ahead of the second place competitor Dmitry Koch, who finished in a 3:57.90.
Alexey Tkachev and Mikhail Lymar battled it out in the 100 back to take first and second place, respectively. They touched within a half-second of each other, with Tkachev’s time of 55.34 and Lymar’s 55.71.
At the Russian National Swimming Championships in early April, Tkachev took third in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.36. Although the meet was an Olympic-qualifying event, Tkachev’s time fell just short of the Fina ‘A’ cut, and his placement kept him from making the Olympic team.
The men’s 200 breaststroke demonstrated Russia’s junior breaststroke dominance. Alexey Sudarev took the win with a time of 2:14.71, followed by Dmitry Askhabov with a 2:15.41, and Mark Urantsev, who touched in a 2:16.29.
At the last Russian Junior Championships back in December, Sudarev went home with three gold medals, including one in the 200 breast.
Friday’s events will feature the men’s 100 freestyle, women’s 400 freestyle, men’s 200 butterfly, women’s 200 breaststroke, men’s 200 IM, the mixed 400 freestyle relay, and the men’s 1500. Results can be found here.