Nikolay Skvortsov Rockets to Top of World Rankings at Russian Nationals

MOSCOW, Russia, April 19. VLADIMIR Morozov and Vyacheslav Sinkevich chased their newly-set national records today at the Russian long course nationals, while Nikolay Skvortsov climbed to the top of the world rankings in the 200 butterfly.

Skvortsov, the Russian record holder in the men's 200 fly with a 1:54.31, won the event today with a 1:55.70, placing himself at the top of the world list, bumping China's Chen Yin (1:56.02) to second. The time is also faster than he swam at the 2012 Olympics, a 1:56.53 that placed him 14th overall. Evgeny Koptelov was a distant second with a 1:58.04 and Maxim Ganihin placed third with a 1:59.50.

Sinkevich, already the only man under 2:09 this year after his impressive 2:08.62 to set the national record yesterday in semifinals, couldn't get under the barrier in finals today. His winning time of 2:09.00 would still put him at the top of the 2013 world rankings, as Akihiro Yamaguchi sits second with a 2:09.31. Marat Amaltdinov also qualified for worlds with a second-place time of 2:11.57, while Oleg Kostin placed third with a 2:12.61.

Morozov cruised through the semifinals of the 100 freestyle today, qualifying third for tomorrow's final with a 48.49 behind Nikita Lobintsev (48.18) and Danila Izotov (48.23). Andrey Grechin, the national record holder at 47.59, qualified fourth with a 48.51 to put all four of the Olympic bronze medal-winning 400 free relay swimmers in the hunt to chase a medal at the world championships.

Morozov followed up his 100 free swim with a win in the 50 backstroke in 24.83, just missing his national record of 24.80 set in yesterday's prelims. Vitaly Melnikov was second with a 25.10, while Arkady Vyatchanin placed third with a 25.18.

After breaking her foot in October, Olympic 200 back silver medalist Anastasia Zueva put her focus squarely on the sprint backstrokes, and won the 100 distance today with a1:00.24. The time puts her seventh in the world so far in 2013, with the top six all going under the 1:00 barrier. Zueva will be looking to replicate or improve on her silver medal from the 2011 world championships, where she posted a 59.06. Maria Gromova will join Zueva at the world championships, posting a runner-up time of 1:00.84. Daria Ustinova, the 14-year-old who surprised in the 200 backstroke, placed third with a 1:01.38, just missing the Russian junior record of 1:01.31.

Elizaveta Gorshkova won the women's 1500 freestyle with a 16:38.56, well ahead of Anastasia Krapivina's 16:44.00 Placing third was Julia Snoz with a 16:52.00.

Victoria Andreeva won the women's 200 IM with a 2:12.21 over Daria Belyakina's 2:14.62 and Victoria Malyutin's 2:14.83.

In other semifinal action, Veronika Popova and Irina Bespalova battled for the top spot for tomorrow's women's 100 butterfly final, with Popova getting lane four with a 58.65 to Bespalova's 58.99 in semifinals. Svetlana Chimrova was third with a 59.65.

Irina Novikova will take lane four in the final of the women's 200 breaststroke after posting a 2:28.16 in semifinals. Yulia Efimova, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the event, qualified second with a 2:29.67. Anna Belousova qualified third with a 2:30.20.

Day 4
Special thanks to Rokur Jakupsstovu for translation.
Women 1500 freestyle final

Russian record 16:13.13 Regina Sych

1. Elisaveta Gorshkova 16:38.56
2. Anastasia Krapivina 16:44.00
3. Yulia Snoz 16:52.00

Women 200 IM final
Russian record 2:11.73 Dania Belyakina

1. Viktoria Andreeva 2:12.21
2. Dania Belyakina 2:14.62
3. Viktoria Malyutina 2:14.83

Men 100 free semifinal
Russian record 47.59 Andrey Grechin

1. Nikita Lobintsev 48.18
2. Danila Izotov 48.23
3. Vladimir Morozov 48.49

Women 100 butterfly semifinal
Russian record 58.32 Natalia Sutyagina

1. Veronika Popova 58.65
2. Irina Bespalova 58.99
3. Svetlana Chimrova 59.65

Men 200 breaststroke final
Russian record 2:08.62 Vyacheslav Sinkevich 18/4-2013

1. Vyacheslav Sinkevich 2:09.00
2. Marat Amaltinov 2:11.57
3. Oleg Kostin 2:12.61

Women 100 backstroke final
Russian record 58.18 Anastasia Zueva

1. Anastasia Zueva 1:00.24
2. Maria Gromova 1:00.84
3. Dania Ustinova 1:01.38

Men 200 butterfly final
Russian record 1:54.31

1. Nikolay Skvortsov 1:55.70
2. Evgeny Koptelov 1:58.04
3. Maxim Ganikhin 1:59.50

Women 200 breaststroke semifinal
Russian record 2:20.92 Yuliya Yefimova

1. Irina Novikova 2:28.16
2. Yuliya Yefimova 2:29.67
3. Anna Belousova 2:30.20

Men 50 backstroke final
Russian record 24.80 Vladimir Morozov 18/4-2013

1. Vladimir Morozov 24.83
2. Vitaly Melnikov 25.10
3. Arkady Vyatchanin 25.18

Women 4×200 freestyle
Russian record 7:55.35 Team Russia

1. Saint Petersburg 8:06.98
2. Moscow 8:10.96
3. Moscow Region 8:20.89

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