Mare Nostrum – Monaco: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2019 MARE NOSTRUM – MONACO

• June 8-9, 2019
• Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Psych sheet
• Prize money
• Meet central
• Mare Nostrum Records
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Records
• Results

Men’s 400 Free Timed Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 3:41.71, Ian Thorpe (AUS), 2001
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 3:41.71, Ian Thorpe (AUS), 2001

1. Martin Malyutin, RUS, 3:47.47
2. Aleksandr Krasnykh, RUS, 3:49.28
3. Henrik Christiansen, NOR, 3:49.66

Russian Martin Malyutin put together a very strong swim to win the men’s 400 freestyle in a time of 3:47.47, less than a second off his best time of 3:46.67 set in April at the Russian Championships. Malyutin is currently the #1 ranked swimmer in the world in the 200 free with his 1:45.46 from that same meet.

His countryman Aleksandr Krasnykh snagged second in 3:49.28, edging out Norwegian Henrik Christiansen (3:49.66). Krasnykh currently sits sixth in the world with a 3:45.55 this year, and Christiansen is 10th in 3:46.96.

Women’s 400 IM Timed Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 4:30.75, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2016
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 4:33.80, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2014

1. Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 4:32.87
2. Madisyn Cox, USA, 4:37.80
3. Zsuzsanna Jakabos, HUN, 4:43.62

Katinka Hosszu started off her busy session with a phenomenal swim in the women’s 400 IM, producing a season-best time in 4:32.87 for the decisive victory. The Hungarian not only lowers her 2019 PB of 4:33.06 set in April but also breaks her own Mare Nostrum – Monaco meet record set in 2014 of 4:33.80.

Yui Ohashi of Japan still holds the world’s top time at 4:32.00 for the 2018-19 season (done in November), but Hosszu is the fastest in 2019.

American Madisyn Cox threw down a new personal best to claim second, clocking 4:37.80 to take out her previous mark of 4:38.52 set at the U.S. Winter Nationals last November. That moves her into 10th in the world for the 2018-19 season.

Men’s 200 Breast Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 2:07.46, Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 2:07.56, Ippei Watanabe (JPN), 2018

1. Shoma Sato, JPN / Marco Koch, GER, 2:10.31
2. –
3. Kirill Prigoda, RUS, 2:10.76

In an incredibly tight final, it looked like it was going to be a race between Japanese teammates Shoma Sato and Yasuhiro Koseki, but a huge push on the last 50 brought German Marco Koch and Russian Kirill Prigoda up into the mix.

At the wall, it was Sato and Koch deadlocked in first in a time of 2:10.31, with Prigoda touching third in 2:10.76. Koseki ended up missing out on the podium, fourth in 2:11.03, and American Nic Fink had a strong last 50 as well to finish just back of Koseki in fifth (2:11.06).

Koch is currently tied for 12th in the world this year in 2:08.72, while Koseki was the top-ranked swimmer in the field at 2:08.05 for sixth.

Women’s 100 Breast Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 1:04.82, Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 1:05.20, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013

1. Yuliya Efimova, RUS, 1:05.77
2. Maria Temnikova, RUS, 1:07.80
3. Alina Zmushka, BLR, 1:08.08

Yuliya Efimova out-split the field by a significant margin on both the opening (31.87) and closing 50s (33.90) to win the women’s 100 breast by over two seconds in 1:05.77. She was less than six-tenths off the Monaco Meet Record of 1:05.20, and just over two-tenths outside of her season-best (1:05.51) that ranks her second in the world.

Her countrymate Maria Temnikova placed second in 1:07.80, a new best, and Belarusian Alina Zmushka was just over a tenth off her PB for third (1:08.08).

Men’s 100 Free Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 48.08, Nathan Adrian (USA), 2014
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 48.21, Alexander Popov, 1994

1. Vladislav Grinev, RUS, 48.58
2. Andrey Zhilkin, RUS / Maxime Grousset, FRA, 49.24
3. –

Russian Vladislav Grinev successfully defended his top seed in the men’s 100 free, using his quick opening 50 of 23.29 to get out ahead and give him a lead he would hold coming home for a final winning time of 48.58. Grinev is the top-ranked swimmer in the world this year with a 47.43.

Maxime Grousset of France and Andrey Zhilkin of Russia tied for the runner-up spot in 49.24, while Mikhail Vekovishchev, who was the fastest closer in 25.26, just ran out of room to make the podium as he was fourth in 49.28.

Women’s 200 Free Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 1:54.66, Camille Muffat (FRA), 2012
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 1:55.21, Camille Muffat (FRA), 2012

1. Siobhan Haughey, HKG, 1:56.05
2. Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 1:57.72
3. Valeria Salamatina, RUS, 1:57.83

Michigan grad Siobhan Haughey pulled away down the stretch to win the women’s 200 free in a blistering time of 1:56.05, the second-fastest swim of her career. The only time Haughey was quicker was at the 2017 World Championships, where she set her Hong Kong National Record in 1:55.96. This swim puts her fifth in the world for the season.

The victory by Haughey was also the first gold medal for Hong Kong in the history of the Mare Nostrum Tour.

Swimming in her second event of the session, Katinka Hosszu took second in 1:57.72, just over half a second off her season-best 1:57.18.

Valeria Salamatina of Russia made her way onto the podium for third in 1:57.83 after placing eighth in the preliminaries. That gave her a new best time, lowering her 1:58.23 from last year.

Men’s 200 Fly Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 1:54.42, Chad Le Clos (RSA), 2016
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 1:54.68, Daiya Seto (JPN), 2015

1. Bence Biczo, HUN, 1:58.09
2. David Verraszto, HUN, 1:58.98
3. Tomoru Honda, JPN, 1:59.04

Bence Biczo closed in 29.96 on the last 50 to pull away from Hungarian countryman David Verraszto to win the men’s 200 fly in a time of 1:58.09, taking off nearly three seconds from the heats.

Verraszto, who led the way this morning in 2:00.56, was 1:58.98 for second, narrowly holding off Japan’s Tomoru Honda (1:59.04).

Women’s 100 Fly Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 55.76, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 56.20, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017

1. Anastasiya Shkurdai, BLR, 57.78
2. Béryl Gastaldello, FRA, 58.20
3. Svetlana Chimrova, RUS, 58.24

Belarusian junior standout Anastasiya Shkurdai turned at the 50 in a dead heat with France’s Béryl Gastaldello in 27.15, but closed in a blazing 30.63 to pull away and win the women’s 100 fly in a time of 57.78. That falls just .03 off of her lifetime best 57.75, which she went back in April at the Belarusian Championships.

Gastaldello, who has been as fast as 57.69 this year (ranking her 11th in the world) was the runner-up in 58.20, holding off top seed from prelims Svetlana Chimrova (58.24) of Russia.

In fourth, American Natalie Hinds scored her second consecutive best time today in a time of 58.86.

Men’s 100 Back Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 53.08, Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 2014
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 53.08, Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 2014

1. Michael Andrew, USA, 53.84
2. Apostolos Christou, GRE, 54.25
3. Bernhard Reitshammer, AUT, 54.51

After Apostolos Christou of Greece used his front-end speed to open up a slight lead early in the men’s 100 back from one of the outside lanes, Michael Andrew flew by him over the last 15 metres to win by four-tenths in a time of 53.84.

That time is Andrew’s third-fastest ever, only trailing his prelims and finals swims from the 2018 Pan Pacs. He lowers his season-best of 53.98 and moves up from 21st to 18th in the world in 2018-19.

Christou, who has been 53.77 this year, held on to be the runner-up in 54.25, and Bernard Reitshammer of Austria claimed third in 54.51. Reitshammer went a career-best 53.90 back in April.

Women’s 200 Back Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 2:06.66, Emily Seebohm (AUS), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 2:07.02, Kathleen Baker (USA), 2018

1. Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:10.74
2. Jessica Fullalove, GBR, 2:12.15
3. Africa Zamorano Sanz, ESP, 2:13.53

Trailing Great Britain’s Jessica Fullalove by close to three-tenths at the 150, Katinka Hosszu turned on the jets with a 32.56 final 50 to win the women’s 200 back in a time of 2:10.74. This was Hosszu’s second win of the session in and her third swim.

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist in this event currently ranks sixth in the world in 2019 with her 2:06.94 performance from the FINA Champions Series in Indianapolis last weekend.

Fullalove ended up over a second back but was still a comfortable second in 2:12.15, and Spain’s Africa Zamorano Sanz took third in 2:13.53. Both women hold season-bests in the 2:09-range.

Men’s 200 IM Final

• Mare Nostrum Record: 1:56.82, Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2015
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 1:57.79, Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2015

1. Daiya Seto, JPN, 1:57.60
2. David Verraszto, HUN, 2:01.58
3. Noe Ponti, SUI, 2:03.09

Daiya Seto put on a clinic in the men’s 200 IM, out-splitting the field on all four 50s to win decisively in a time of 1:57.60. With that swim, he breaks countryman Kosuke Hagino‘s Monaco Meet Record of 1:57.79 set in 2015. His splits were: 25.03/30.09/33.69/28.79.

David Verraszto moved into second with a solid 34.24 breast leg, touching almost four seconds back of Seto in 2:01.58. Switzerland’s Noe Ponti rebounded from the slowest breast split in the field to get himself on the podium with a 28.86 final 50 for a time of 2:03.09.

SPRINT TOURNAMENT – QUARTERFINALS

The ‘Sprint Tournament’ features all four stroke 50s with the top-16 advancing out of the opening round, top-8 out of the round of 16, and so on until two will go head-to-head after tomorrow night’s finals.

The athletes completed the first round during prelims and the second prior to tonight’s finals, so this will be the round of eight, where the top-4 advance to tomorrow’s semis.

MEN’S 50 FLY

• Mare Nostrum Record: 22.53, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 22.53, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018

1. Andrii Govorov, UKR, 23.43
2. Szebasztian Szabo, HUN, 23.62
3. Roland Schoeman, RUS, 23.65
4. Mikhail Vekovishchev, RUS, 23.76

World record holder Andrii Govorov leads the men’s 50 fly field into the semis in a time of 23.43, with South African legend Roland Schoeman throwing down a very impressive 23.65 to qualify third.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY

• Mare Nostrum Record: 24.76, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 24.90, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017

1. Beatrix Bordas, HUN, 26.64
2. Kimberly Buys, BEL, 26.66
3. Anna Surkova, RUS, 26.74
4. Anastasiya Shkurdai, BLR, 26.92

It ended up being necessary to break 27 to advance to the next round in the women’s 50 fly, led by Hungarian Beatrix Bordas in 26.64.

MEN’S 50 BACK

• Mare Nostrum Record: 24.61, Jeremy Stravius (FRA), 2013
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 24.61, Jeremy Stravius (FRA), 2013

1. Michael Andrew, USA, 24.82
2. Sergey Fesikov, RUS, 25.06
3. Evgeny Rylov, RUS, 25.15
4. Apostolos Christou, GRE, 25.33

Michael Andrew followed up his impressive 100 back victory with the top time in the 50 in 24.82, the only man sub-25. Andrew, who is slated to swim this race at the World Championships, sits fourth in the world with a season-best of 24.66.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK

• Mare Nostrum Record: 27.37, Anastasia Fesikova (RUS), 2018
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 27.37, Anastasia Fesikova (RUS), 2018

1. Stephanie Au, HKG, 27.98
2. Caroline Pilhatsch, AUT, 28.08
3. Mimosa Jallow, FIN, 28.28
4. Zhang Wenwen, CHN, 28.79

Stephanie Au leads the way in the women’s 50 back in a time of 27.98, breaking her Hong Kong National Record of 28.33 which she had gone both in 2013 and in April of this year.

MEN’S 50 BREAST

• Mare Nostrum Record: 26.68, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2016
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 26.94, Yasuhiro Koseki (JPN), 2018

1. Felipe Lima, BRA, 26.79
2. Ilya Shymanovich, BLR, 27.01
3. Nic Fink, USA, 27.34
4. Yasuhiro Koseki, JPN, 27.64

Felipe Lima leads the men’s 50 breast in a blistering 26.79, breaking Yasuhiro Koseki‘s Monaco Meet Record of 26.94.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST

• Mare Nostrum Record: 29.88, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2015
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 30.11, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013

1. Yuliya Efimova, RUS, 30.59
2. Jhennifer Conceicao, BRA, 31.07
3. Alina Zmushka, BLR, 31.08
4. Jessica Vall, ESP, 31.22

Yuliya Efimova continued her strong showing here in Monaco with the top time in the women’s 50 breast quarters in 30.59.

MEN’S 50 FREE

• Mare Nostrum Record: 21.58, Cullen Jones (USA), 2009
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 21.58, Cullen Jones (USA), 2009

1. Kristian Gkolomeev, GRE, 21.81
2. Bruno Fratus, BRA, 21.89
3. Shinri Shioura, JPN, 22.09
4. Ari-Pekka Liukkonen, FIN, 22.16

Kristian Gkolomeev equalled his season-best time from the second round of 21.81 to advance first in the men’s 50 free, followed by world #1 Bruno Fratus in 21.89. Michael Andrew was eighth in 23.37 after the quick turnaround after the 50 back.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

• Mare Nostrum Record: 23.85, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• Mare Nostrum – Monaco Record: 23.95, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017

1. Maria Kameneva, RUS, 24.41
2. Beryl Gastladello, FRA, 25.12
3. Siobhan Haughey, HKG, 25.21
4. Rika Omoto, JPN, 25.26

Maria Kameneva blasted a 24.41 to qualify first into the semi-finals of the women’s 50 free, just two-tenths outside of her Russian Record of 24.21 set last summer.