Impressive men’s 100 freestyle on Day 4 of Russian Championships

In the race of the evening, the men’s 100 freestyle semi-final six men went under the FINA A standard and broke the top eight in times done this year. Nikita Lobintsov, who placed second in the 200 freestyle was the fastest qualifier posting a time of 48.18, which currently the second fastest time in the world.

He was followed by Danila Izotov, the winner of the 200 freestyle, who finished in a time of 48.23, which puts him third in the world. Vladimir Morozov finished in a time of 48.49, which is good enough for the third best in the world before the race this evening, Andrey Grechin finished in a time of 48.51 (third fastest time in the world before the race), Sergei Fesik recorded a time of 48.63 (sixth fastest in the world before the race) with Alexander Sukhorukov posting a time of 48.80 (good enough for eighth in the world before the race).

This should be a phenomenal final with the eighth place qualifier putting up a 49.30.

Vyacheslav Sinkevich had an incredible swim in the semi-final of the 200 breaststroke setting a new Russian record of 2:08.62, which is also the fastest time swum this year. He was not able to match his semi-final swim in the finals, but still posted an impressive time of 2:09.00. He was followed by 19 year old Marat Amaltdinov who went a best time by over a second to finish under the FINA A standard recording a time of 2:11.57.

Anastasia Zueva, who chose to bypass the 200 backstroke because of a foot injury, was healthy enough to win the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:00.24. It was not an easy win for the Olympic silver medalist, she was challenged Mariya Gromova who turned at the 50 ahead of Zueza and finished second in a time of 1:00.84.

14 year old Daria Ustinova, who won the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:08.39, finished third posting a time of 1:01.38. Going into the meet Ustinova’s best time in the 100 was 1:02.94.

Nikolay Skvortsov, who swum a very pedestrian 1:59.17 in the semi-final, won the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:55.70. His time is under the FINA A standard and is also the fastest time in the world this year. Skvorstov was the lone qualifier in the event.

Vlad Morozov broke the Russian record in the 50 backstroke in the semi-final posting a time of 24.80, was not able to match that swim but won the event in a time of 24.83. Vitaly Melnikov finished second just ahead of Arkady Vyatchanin, who got the best of Morozov in the 100 meter backstroke. Melnikov finished in a time of 25.10 while Vyatchanin posted a time of 25.18.

Victoria Andreeva, winner the 100 freestyle, took the 200 IM in a time of 2:12.21. National record holder Daria Belyakin finished second in a time of 2:14.62 with Victoria Mayutina finishing third posting a time of 2:14.83. Both Belyakina and Mayutina’s times were under the FINA A standard.

Elizaveta Gorshkov took the women’s 1500 freestyle in a time of 16:38.56.

In the women’s 100 butterfly semi-final Veronika Popova qualified first in a time of 58.65 followed by Irina Bespalov who qualified second in a time of 58.99.

Irina Novikova qualified first in for the women’s 200 breaststroke final followed by Olympic bronze medalist Yuliya Efimova who posted a time of 2:29.67.

Full, live meet results available here.