Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova Shatters World Jr Championship Record in Girls 50 BR with 30.19

2023 WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• September 4 – 9, 2023
• Netanya, Israel
• Wingate Institute
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• How To Watch
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims Heat Sheet (Start List)

GIRLS 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Junior Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato, Italy (2021)
• Championship Record: 30.60 – Benedetta Pilato, Italy (2019)
• Time for 16th at 2022 World Jr Champs: 33.47

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Eneli Jefimova (Estonia) – 30.19 (Championship Record)
2. Alexanne Lepage (Canada) – 30.82
3. Monique Wieruszowski (New Zealand) – 31.06
4. Piper Enge (United States) – 31.18
5. Halle West (Canada) – 31.38
6. Jimena Ruiz (Spain) – 31.44
7. Morgan Cope (South Africa) – 31.63
8. Irene Mati (Italy) – 31.77
9. Kiia Metsakonkola (Finland) – 31.86
10. Simone Moll (South Africa) – 31.91
11. Sieun Park (South Korea) – 31.93
12. Kotomi Kato (Japan) – 31.95 (TIE)
13. Molly Sweeney (United States) – 31.95 (TIE)
14. Maria Ramos (Spain) – 32.02
15. Julia Christen (Argentina) – 32.04
16. Chiara Della (Italy) – 32.08

The first girls event of the 2023 World Junior Championships in Netanya, Israel saw the Championship Record broken. Truthfully, broken isn’t the correct word in this case, as Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova obliterated the record by 0.41 seconds. Her time of 30.19 led the field by well over half a second as well.

It was a great swim for the 16-year-old Jefimova, coming in just off her personal best of 30.08, which she set last summer at the 2022 World Championships and stands as the Estonian Record in the event. On top of the margin by which Jefimova broke the record, the previous Championship Record itself was actually notable as well in that it was held by Benedetta Pilato, who is the World Junior Record holder in the event (29.30), as well as the former World Record holder.

Jefimova is coming off a great summer, in which she qualified for the final of the women’s 50 breast at the World Championships in Fukuoka a little over a month ago.

Not only did Jefimova shatter the Championship Record this morning, 5 other swimmers in the field came in under the time it took to win gold last year (31.55). Canadian Alexanne Lepage swam a 30.82 in heat 4 of 6, which at that time was the fastest time of the morning and made her the first swimmer under 31 seconds.. In the same heat, American Piper Enge clocked a 31.18.

The following heat, heat 5, saw New Zealand’s Monique Wieruszowski win in 31.06, clearing the 2022 winning time as well. Canadian Halle West (31.38) and Spain’s Jimena Ruiz (31.44) were also under that 31.55 from last year.