European Long Course Junior Championships: Meet Record Falls in Relay Action, Bence Biczo Shines in Semis

BELGRADE, Serbia, July 8. THE second night of racing that the European Long Course Junior Championships produced a meet record. Meanwhile, Hungary's Bence Biczo showed signs of a sterling finale in the men's 200 fly with a strong semifinal performance.

France's Camile Gheorghiu, Assia Touati, Beryl Gastaldello and Charlotte Bonnet lowered the meet record in the women's 400 free relay with a 3:44.66. That swim beat the previous standard of 3:45.27 set by Germany in 2009. Great Britain (3:46.42) and Spain (3:47.80) rounded out the top three.

Earlier in the night, Bonnet won the women's 100 free in 55.25. Denmark's Mie Nielsen posted a second-place 56.01, while Great Britain's Jessica Lloyd took third in 56.19.

Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri clocked a 15:12.16 to win the men's 1500 free. He's been much faster this year with a seventh-ranked 15:04.90 from last month. Italy's Gabriele Detti (15:16.86) and Turkey's Ediz Yildrimer (15:25.71) took second and third.

Great Britain's Elena Sheridan overtook Hungary's Liliana Szilagyi, 2:10.40 to 2:10.95, in the women's 200 fly finale. Great Britain's Georgia Barton claimed third overall in 2:12.27.

Ireland's Sycerika McMahon won the women's 400 free title in 4:13.85, while Great Britain's Rachael Williamson took second in 4:41.49. Germany's Johanna Friedrich snared third in 4:14.59.

Germany's Christian Diener won the men's 100 back in 55.07, while Italy's Niccolo Bonacchi finished second in 55.59. Italy's Fabio Laugeni earned third in 55.69.

The men's 200 breaststroke proved to be exciting with a trio of 2:12s sweeping the podium. Italy's Flavio Bizzarri won in 2:12.43, while Finland's Matti Mattsson touched second in 2:12.65. Ukraine's Maxym Shemberyev snagged third in 2:12.84.

Italy's Federica Meloni held off Iceland's Eyglo Osk Gustafsdottir, 2:14.88 to 2:14.95, in the women's 200 back. Great Britain's Phoebe Lenderyou wound up third in 2:15.53.

Hungary's Bence Biczo, already the second-fastest swimmer in the men's 200 fly this year with a 1:54.79 to his credit, topped semis with a 1:55.92. That just missed his meet record of 1:55.82 from last year.

In other semifinal action, Belarus' Arseni Kukharau led the men's 100 free in 49.96, while Russia's Maria Temnikova paced the women's 200 breast in 2:26.33. Great Britain's Dan Wallace posted a 2:01.61, while teammate Ieuan Lloyd earned the second seed in 2:01.76 in the men's 200 IM.

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