Arkady Vyatchanin, Vlad Morozov Go 1-2; Svetlana Chimrova Sets Russian Record

KAZAN, Russia, April 17. THE Russian roster for World Championships quickly began to fill up on the second day of action with scorching times going up on the board routinely through the evening. Additionally, a Russian record fell by the wayside in the women's 50-meter fly.

In a sizzling finale, Arkady Vyatchanin cranked out a 53.47 to win the men's 100-meter backstroke event, while Vlad Morozov locked down a spot on the Russian roster for the World Championships as well with a blazing 53.70. Vyatchanin jumped to third in the world, behind only Jeremy Stravius (53.09) and Ryosuke Irie (53.43) and ahead of multi-event star Kosuke Hagino (53.58), while Morozov moved to sixth in the world with his sterling effort. Vitaly Borisov, meanwhile, finished third overall in a strong 54.33.

Svetlana Chimrova followed with a Russian record in the women's 50-meter fly. She raced to a winning time of 26.33, beating the previous mark of 26.39 owned by Dania Tsvetkova. Chimrova's time tonight vaulted her to eighth in the world rankings. Tsvetkova, meanwhile, also made her way into the World Championships in Barcelona with a second-place effort of 26.41, just off her lifetime best. Irina Bespalova finished third in 26.76.

Evgeny Koptelov led the way in the men's 50-meter fly finale with a winning time of 23.43, just edging Nikita Konvalov's 23.49, for the sprint fly title. Both swimmers cleared the FINA A cut in the event to punch their tickets to World Championships in Barcelona. Russian-record holder Evgeny Korotyshkin missed out with a third-place time of 23.69 that also beat the A standard, but did not place him in the top two in the event.

Kirill Strelnikov blasted his way to fifth in the world in the men's 100-meter breaststroke with a smoking final swim of 1:00.18. That performance put him behind only Christian Sprenger (59.75), Fabio Scozzoli (59.77), Daniel Gyurta (1:00.12) and Glenn Snyders (1:00.14) in the world rankings, and punched his ticket to Barcelona. Vyacheslav Sinkevich raced to second in a 1:00.71 to move into the top 10, and also secure a spot on the Russian Worlds roster. Anton Lobanov clinched third in 1:01.24.

Dania Ustinova clocked a scintillating time in the women's 200-meter backstroke finale with a 2:08.39 to lock down a spot at the World Championships, and move her into a second-ranked tie with Meagen Nay behind Missy Franklin (2:07.31) for the top times in the world. Russian backstroke queen Anastasia Zueva withdrew from the 200 this week to focus on the 100 after an injury in October cost her training time. Maria Gromova (2:11.29) and Yuliya Larina (2:12.78) took second and third, but missed the FINA A cut for selection.

In semifinal action, Veronika Popova rattled her Russian record with a swift time of 54.69. That swim cleared the FINA A cut, and fell just half-a-second off her national mark of 54.22. Her time tonight pushed her into the top 15 in the world. Margarita Nesterova (55.22) and Viktoria Andreeva (55.47) rounded out the top three seeds in the event.

Anna Beslousova took the top seed in the women's 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:07.98, while Russian-record holder Yuliya Efimova touched second in 1:08.00 as both cleared the FINA A cut in semis. Irina Novikova qualified third in 1:09.39.

Semen Makovich paced the men's 200-meter IM semis with a 2:01.10, while Dmitry Zhilin qualified second in 2:01.25. Dmitry Gorbunov raced to third in 2:02.74. Russian rocket Danila Izotov, the men's 200-meter free national record holder with a 1:43.90, cruised into the finale with a 1:47.19. Nikita Lobintsev (1:47.69) and Alex Sukhorukov (1:48.00) also cleared the FINA A cut to qualify second and third.

Day 2 Results
Special thanks to Rokur Jakupsstovu for the translation assist
Men 50 butterfly final
Russian record 23.24 Evgeny Korotyshkin

1. Evgeny Koptelov 23.43 * FINA A cut
2. Nikita Konovalov 23.49 * FINA A cut
3. Evgeny Korotyshkin 23.69 * FINA A cut

Women 100 freestyle semifinal
Russian record 54.22 Veronika Popova

1. Veronika Popova 54.69 * FINA A cut
2. Margarita Nesterova 55.22
3. Viktoria Andreeva 55.47

Men 100 back final
Russian record 52.57 Arkady Vyatchanin

1. Arkady Vyatchanin 53.47 * FINA A cut
2. Vladimir Morozov 53.70 * FINA A cut
3. Vitaly Borisov 54.33 * FINA A cut

Women 50 butterfly final
Russian record 26.39 Dania Tsvetkova

1. Svetlana Chimrova 26.33 * FINA A cut
2. Dania Tsvetkova 26.41 * FINA A cut
3. Irina Bespalova 26.76 * FINA A cut

Men 100 breast final
Russian record 59.87 Roman Sludnov

1. Kirill Strelnikov 1:00.18 * FINA A cut
2. Vyacheslav Sinkevich 1:00.71 * FINA A cut
3. Anton Lobanov 1:01.24

Women 100 breast semifinal
Russian record 1:05.41 Yuliya Efimova

1. Anna Belousova 1:07.98 * FINA A cut
2. Yuliya Efimova 1:08.00 * FINA A cut
3. Irina Novikova 1:09.39

Men 200 IM semifinal
Russian record 1:59.81 Aleksandr Tikhonov

1. Semen Makovich 2:01.10
2. Dmitry Zhilin 2:01.25
3. Dmitry Gorbunov 2:02.74

Women 200 back final
Russian record 2:04.94

1. Dania Ustinova 2:08.39 * FINA A cut
2. Maria Gromova 2:11.29
3. Yuliya Larina 2:12.78

Men 200 freestyle semifinal
Russian record 1:43.90 Danila Izotov

1. Danila Izotov 1:47.19 * FINA A cut
2. Nikita Lobintsev 1:47.69 * FINA A cut
3. Alexander Sukhorukov 1:48.00 * FINA A cut

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