Continental Records Tumble at IPC Paralympic Swimming Worlds

daniel-dias-ipc-worlds-2015
Photo Courtesy: Luc Percival

A series of regional records tumbled in the heats at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, on Tuesday (14 July).

Two European, Oceania, an Asian and an Americas record were set at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Colombian Nelson Crispin (1:23.90) brought down the Americas record in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB6 to qualify ahead of Ukraine’s world and Paralympic champion Yevheniy Bohodayko (1:24.45). Germany’s Torben Schmidtke (1:24.46), a silver medallist from London 2012 and the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships, was not far behind.

There was further success for Colombia in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB7, with a new Championships record for 16-year-old newcomer Carlos Serrano Zarate (1:17.21). Australian Reigning world and Paralympic Blake Cochrane (1:18.52) won his heat and is the second fastest qualifier.

There were two regional records in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB6. Australian Tiffany Thomas (1:36.59) qualified quickest in a new Oceania record time, whilst Great Britain’s world champion Charlotte Henshaw (1:37.45) set a new European mark to touch in second. Her teammate Eleanor Simmonds (1:41.11) was third.

“I felt pretty good, I thought I was being quite controlled,” Henshaw said. “There was no pressure to go in and lay down a marker. I just wanted to do a solid heat swim. It was a PB from what I did three weeks ago, so I’m happy that I’m moving in the right direction.”

Mexican world champion Nely Miranda Herrera (42.79) leads out the women’s 50m freestyle S4 field. Rounding off the European records was Italy’s Trimi Arjola (43.17) who qualified second fastest.

The USA’s world champion Rebecca Anne Meyers (2:29.32) set a new Championships record in her women’s 200m individual medley SM13 heat. Meyers’ Paralympic champion compatriot, Jessica Long (1:35.12), went quickest in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB7.

“I felt comfortable in the water this morning, and I’m ready to race tonight. I’m hoping to go on my world record time, so we’ll see what happens.”

London 2012 Paralympic champion Bradley Snyder (4:41.30) also set a Championships record in the men’s 400m freestyle S11. Snyder looked comfortable in his stroke to qualify ahead of Brazil’s Matheus Sousa (4:56.34) and reigning world champion Israel Oliver (5:02.17).

“With a good crowd and some energy tonight, I can get out with some easy speed and really work the second half, see how fast I can go,” Snyder said. “I’d like to creep into the 20s tonight if I can.”

If Snyder takes gold this evening, it will be a poignant victory for the US Navy veteran, who won gold in the event in London exactly one year after losing his eyesight whilst on duty in Afghanistan.

New Zealand’s Paralympic champion Sophie Pascoe (2:27.47) looked good in the women’s 200m individual medley, securing a Championships record. But Canada’s Aurelie Rivard (2:32.27), who beat Pascoe to gold in the 50m freestyle on day one, is always improving. Hungary’s Bianka Pap, just 15, (2:35.34) should also be watched closely.

Sweden’s Karl Forsman (1:33.24) qualified fastest in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB5 with a new Championships record. Russia’s Iurii Lutkin (1:34.51) was second, whilst South Korean Paralympic champion Woo-Geun Lim (1:36.79) won his heat to qualify third fastest.

The hosts will be looking to Claire Cashmore (1:21.76) to win their first gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8, against Ireland’s Ellen Keane (1:22.95) and Canadian Katarina Roxton (1:23.57). New Zealand’s Nikita Howarth also set an Oceanian record of 1:29.77 to qualify.

Australia Paralympic champion and double world record-setter from Monday (14 July), Ellie Cole (1:03.20), is once again looking in excellent shape. Cole won her women’s 100m freestyle S9 heat just ahead of the USA’s Michelle Konkoly (1:03.30), to set-up a mouth-watering final.

“I woke up feeling pretty average today after my events yesterday, so I just wanted to qualify for lane four tonight so I had a bit more of a mental edge,” Cole said. “I’ve got some great competition in this race.”

Belarusian World and Paralympic champion Ihar Boki (2:05.11) looks in good shape to take his second gold medal of Glasgow 2015 in the men’s 200m individual medley SM13. Uzbekistan’s Kiril Pankov (2:18.13) set an Asian record to also qualify in the event.

Canada’s Benoit Huot (2:15.60), who has won the men’s 200 individual medley in every event since 2002, is once again the favourite to take gold. Ukraine’s Denis Dubrov (2:15.65) was hot on his heels, alongside Dutchman Olivier van der Voort (2:16.10).

Germany’s Verena Schott (1:55.52) won her heat in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB5, after Ukrainian Viktoriia Savtsova was disqualified.

Australian Brendan Hall (57.40) emerged as the fastest man in the men’s 100m freestyle S9, ahead of Russia’s Alexander Skaliukh (57.53). Hungarian Toth Tamas (58.04), a London 2012 silver medallist, was third.

The Netherlands’ Lisette Teunissen (1:41.10) out-qualified Ukrainian world and Paralympic champion Olga Sviderska (1:45.42) in the women’s 100m freestyle S3. Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Gabidullina (1:46.15) was third, representing one her country’s brightest medal hopes having picked up bronze in this race in 2013.

Russia have a great chance of adding to their two golds from day one with world and Paralympic champion Andrei Kalina (1:10.92) in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB8. Spain’s Oscar Salguero Galisteo (1:11.66) was second, with Andreas Onea (1:13.01) looking a strong podium hope for Austria.

Kalina’s teammate, reigning world champion Eskender Mustafaev (39.30) leads out South Korea’s Giseong Jo (39.61) and France’s David Smetanine (39.76) in a tightly packed men’s 50m freestyle S4 field.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

2015 International Paralympic Committee IPC Swimming, Live Results – Results

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