European Junior Championships: Bence Biczo, Yannick Agnel Clock Swift Times in Semis

HELSINKI, Finland, July 15. THE semifinal heats proved to have some of the fastest swimming on offer during the second day of action at the European Junior Championships. The meet is taking place in long course meter format.

Hungary's Bence Biczo continued to march up the men's 200 fly world rankings with a leading time of 1:57.13 in semifinals. That performance improved upon his 25th-ranked season best of 1:57.82 from last month, pushing Biczo up to 18th in the world. Greece's Konstantinos Markozis qualified second in 1:58.73.

France's Yannick Agnel, the early star of the meet, posted the quickest men's 100 free in semis with a 49.51. He has room for much improvement in the finale as he's already clocked an 11th-ranked 48.83 at the Paris Open in June. Russia's Andrey Ushakov was the closest other qualifier with a second-seeded 50.41.

Israel's Yakov-Yan Toumarkin claimed the men's 100 back title in 55.20, while Hungary's Peter Bernek placed second in 56.16. Israel went 1-3 when David Gamburg hit the wall in 56.58, touching out Germany's Christian Diener (56.59) for the final podium spot.

Sweden's Henrietta Stenkvist earned the women's 400 free crown in 4:13.69, while Denmark's Amalie Emma Thomsen finished second in 4:14.61. Ireland's Sycerika McMahon wound up third overall in the middle distance event with a 4:15.92.

Spain's Judit Ignacio Sorribes won the women's 200 fly in 2:12.30, while Great Britain's Rachael Kelly placed second in 2:13.43. Russia's Alisa Trukhanovich grabbed third in 2:15.03. Austria's Eva Chavez-Diaz missed the podium with a fourth-place 2:15.53.

Germany's Silke Lippok touched first in the women's 100 free with a 55.31. She's been a bit faster already this year with a 12th-ranked season best of 54.74 that is tied with Jessica Hardy of the U.S. France rounded out the rest of the podium with Mathilde Cini finishing second in 56.41 and compatriot Alizee Merdy placing third in 56.55.

Germany's Christian vom Lehn emerged from the men's 200 breast finale with a victorious 2:12.93. Norway's Sverre Naess placed second in 2:13.77, while Italy's Flavio Bizzarri completed the podium with a third-place 2:13.93.

Great Britain's Karley Mann hit the wall in 2:11.48 in the women's 200 back for the win, overtaking earlier leader Ukraine's Daryna Zevina. Zevina, who led at the 100 with a 1:03.52, settled for silver with a 2:11.82. Sweden's Henrietta Stenkvist placed third with a time of 2:13.38.

Ukraine's Sergiy Frolov pocketed the men's 1500 free title in 15:20.57, while Belgium's Ward Bauwens finished second in 15:27.04. Turkey's Ediz Yildrimer placed third overall with a 15:31.07 in the distance event for the day.

In other semifinals, Luxembourg's Raphael Stacchiotti qualified first in the men's 200 IM with a 2:03.25, while Great Britain's Ieuan Lloyd placed second in 2:03.26. Additionally, Spain's Marina Garcia Urzainqui led the women's 200 breast with a 2:28.37.

Germany's Juliane Reinhold, Teresa Baerens, Lippok and Alexandra Wenk won the women's 400 free relay with a time of 3;46.04, while Great Britain's Emma Saunders, Jessica Lloyd, Sophie Smith and Sara Hamilton placed second in 3:46.60.

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