Kirk Wins a Pair During World Cup Stop in Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia, January 26. THE World Cup Series finished its European leg on Thursday with the American contingent packaging a solid performance. That fact bodes well since the tour will move to the United States next week for action in New York. That event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday on Long Island and will feature a star-studded field.

The winner of the 100 breaststroke on the first night of competition in Moscow, Tara Kirk doubled up on the second day as she completed her breaststroke sweep with victories in the 50 and 200 distances. The 2004 Olympian prevailed in the sprint with a time of 30.79 and claimed top honors in the 200 distance with a mark of 2:22.91.

After winning the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle on Wednesday, Rachel Komisarz added her third title of the meet when she defeated her opposition in the 200 fly with a time of 2:09.24. Komisarz also placed third in the 400 freestyle, an event that was won by France’s Alena Popchanka in 4:05.19. Popchanka, who switched her nationality from Belarus to France last year, also won the 50 fly, as her 26.57 was slightly quicker than the 26.61 of Komisarz.

The United States was also carried by Jason Lezak, who won the 50 freestyle in decisive fashion. Lezak blasted through the two-lap sprint in 21.73, well ahead of the 22.25 registered by Alegeria’s Salim Iles. Meanwhile, Randall Bal was the victor in the 50 backstroke (23.95) and finished second in the 200 back (1:53.41). The distance dorsal was taken by Russia’s Arkady Vyatchanin in 1:53.01.

Russia enjoyed a strong showing on its home turf as World Championship medalist Yuri Prilukov earned gold in the 1,500 freestyle (14:44.12) and Anastasya Ivanenko touched the wall first in the women’s 400 individual medley (4:34.85). Evgeni Korotyshkin was triumphant in the 100 fly (51.30) and Igor Berezutskii won the 200 I.M. in an effort of 1:56.43.

Other winners from the final stop on the European leg were France’s Malia Metella in the 100 freestyle (54.57), Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski in the 200 free (1:46.24), the Ukraine’s Oleg Lisogor in the 100 breast (58.26) and Katerina Zubkova in the 100 back (1:00.11) and Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia in the 100 I.M. (1:00.99).

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