Danila Izotov, Daria Ustinova Highlight St Petersburg Open

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

By Maria Dobysheva

Saint Petersburg Open Cup, one of the pre-Worlds meets for the Russian swim team, took place this weekend. Russia hasn’t already announced its team for the first home worlds championships held this summer. While the team is mostly complete, there are a few individual and relay spots left to qualify for. Not only athletes who already made it to Kazan, but also those who still have the door opened, gathered to race and test the speed.

National team veterans Danila Izotov and Sergey Fesikov have had shaky results this year. At National championships in April, both couldn’t post their best times they had been training for the whole season. Izotov, who medaled at two last World championships in his main event 200 free, surprisingly couldn’t make the Kazan team individually. In Saint-Petersburg, Izotov was going to show some decent results to prove his spot on the relay team.

In men’s 100 free, Izotov posted 49.13 to win the gold. Fesikov finished behind Evgeny Ayzetullov (50.61 to 50.63).

A day later, Izotov won 200 free with 1.48.52. Alexander Krasnykh, who posted the best time at Trials this spring and swims this event in Kazan, finished second – 1.48.56 and Mikhail Dovgalyuk got third, 1.50.34.

On the last day Izotov, who tends to mid-distance, performed in 50 free final and won his third gold of the meet – 23.11. In a tough battle, where eight finalists finished within six tenths, Evgeny Ayzetullov and Vladislav Sery managed to get the silver and bronze – 23.26 and 23.28.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t make the team in my favorite distance 200 free, said Izotov in post-meet interview. Anyway, I keep preparing for Worlds and looking forward to help the team in two relays. In Saint-Petersburg, I managed to post some results I’m satisfied with at this moment, I’d call it a good training pace”.

Daria K Ustinova doesn’t have to worry about her ticket to Kazan. Ustinova has been dominant on national scene and won pretty much everything in women’s backstroke in last two years. While her main rival Anastasia Fesikova swam at Mare Nostrum circuit in Europe, Ustinova performed in 50, 100 and 200 backstroke in Saint Petersburg. On the first day she won 200 back with 2:09.02. That time was 11th worlds fastest (she’s been third ranked with 2:07.29 from Russian Nationals in April). Irina Prikhodko finished second (2:13.07) and Anastasia Osipenko was third (2.13.69). On the next day, Ustinova swam 50 back – the only event she won’t swim at Worlds in August – and got the title with 28.80, with Irina Prikhodko for silver (28.96) and Daria Kopacheva for bronze (29.33). On Sunday, Ustinova won her third gold – in the 100, with result within worlds 20, 1:00.37 (she also owns eighth fastest time of the season, 59.89 from Nationals).

The very same Prikhodko and Kopacheva completed the podium (1:01.76 and 1:02.90).

Additionally Ustinova surprised with her bronze in 200 free – 2:01.37, behind Victoria Andreeva (1:58.31) and Valeria Salamatina (2:01.37).

“I’m satisfied with my results and hopping to do my best in Kazan, said Ustinova. It’s been a lack of major meet experience for me but the fact my first world championships ever held on home soil, gives me extra motivation, hope fans will be supporting me all the way”.

Evgeny Rylov who stunned with his impressive wins in 100 and 200 backstroke at Nationals in April, experimentally performed in men’s 50 butterfly and managed to win it with 24.32. 50 butterfly left vacant after Nationals, as the winner

Evgeny Tsurkin represents Belarus and the fastest Russian Vladimir Morozov most likely won’t swim it at Worlds. Rylov beat the great line up with a current world’s top ten Vyatcheslav Prudnikov, Danila Izotov who tried this event as an option and nationals finalist Alexander Popkov who finished third (24.36), behind a local talent Kirill Kisilev (24.35).

In women’s 100 free final, Olympic finalist and national record holder Veronika Popova won against tough field of sprint ladies – short course NR holder Elizaveta Bazarova, Junior World Champion Daria Ustinova and Olympian Natalia Lovtsova who made her successful comeback this April after two year ban for violating doping rules, and others. Popova who qualified for this event at Nationals posted 54.69. Victoria Andreeva got silver, touched out Lovtsova – 55.23 and 55.48 respectively.

Lovtsova also won trio of 50s and the 100 butterfly. In 50 freestyle (25.22), she beat Daria Ustinova and Veronika Popova for silver and bronze (25.70, 25.81). In 50 breast (32.30), Lovtsova touched out Popova (32.47) and Sofia Andreeva (32.59). In 50 butterfly Lovtsova won with 27.11, Anna Polyakova finished second (27.48) and Ekaterina Shapannikova got bronze (27.58). In 100 fly, the same medalists remain: Lovtsova (58.86), Polyakova (59.99) and Shapannikova (1:02.10)

Full results (Russian)

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