European Long Course Junior Championships: Christian Diener Shines With Backstroke Double; Sets Meet Record

BELGRADE, Serbia, July 10. DAY four of the European Long Course Junior Championships showcased even more teenage talent from across the continent.

Germany's Christian Diener opened up a strong day of swimming with a victorious time of 1:59.94 in the men's 200 back. Poland's Mateusz Wysoczynski took second in 2:01.18, while Italy's Fabio Laugeni earned third in 2:01.59. Diener followed that up with a backstroke double when he won the men's 50 back in a meet-record time of 25.40. That effort eclipsed the 25.49 set by Marco Fanti Rovetta back in 2009, and moved Diener to 21st in the world rankings. Italy's Niccolo Bonacchi finished second in 25.56, while Hungary's Richard Bohus placed third in 25.70. Diener saved his fast time for finals after qualifying sixth in semis with a 26.32.

Russia's Ksenia Yuskova edged Ireland's Sycerika McMahon, 2:00.50 to 2:00.61, in the women's 200 free. The Netherlands' Esmee Vermeulen wound up third in 2:01.22. Germany's Alexandra Wenk cleared 1:00 to win the women's 100 fly in 59.85. Russia's Daria Tcvetkova placed second in 1:00.15, while Great Britain's Georgia Barton touched third in 1:00.53.

Ukraine's Nadiya Koba triumphed in the women's 50 free with a 25.76, while Sweden's Louise Hansson touched second in 25.94. Italy's Ylenia Sciarrini earned third in 25.99. Koba had been faster with a 25.73 in semis.

Turkey's Ediz Yildrimer touched out Italy's Gabriele Detti, 8:00.82 to 8:00.95, for the men's 800 freestyle crown. Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri garnered third overall in 8:01.31.

Great Britain's Jessica Fullalove, Georgia Barton, Siobhan-Marie O'Connor and Jessica Lloyd won the women's 400 medley relay in 4:09.34, while Russia (4:10.38) and Denmark (4:11.27) completed the podium in the relay event for the evening.

In other semifinal action, Denmark's Mie Nielsen and Turkey's Hazal Sarikaya matched each other for the top seed with 1:02.75s in the women's 100 back. Austria's Christian Scheruebl paced the men's 200 free in 1:50.09, while Great Britain's Siobhan-Maria O'Connor led the way in the women's 200 IM with a 2:15.41.

Hungary's Bence Biczo turned in a 53.87 to lead the men's 100 fly semis, while Russia's Irina Novikova touched in 1:09.61 for the top seed in the women's 100 breast. Great Britain's hit the wall in 1:02.18 in the men's 100 breast for lane four in the finale.

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