European Short-Course, Day 1 Prelims: British Quartet Set National Record In Men’s 4×50 Free

Matthew Richards of Great Britain competes in the Men's Freestyle 200m Heats during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 24th, 2023.

Matt Richards: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

The first prelims session of the European Short-Course Swimming Championships got under way on Tuesday in Otopeni, Romania.

The British men’s 4×50 free relay quartet set a national record of 1:23.81 with the crowd at the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni getting their first glimpse of David Popovici as Romania also qualified for Tuesday evening’s final.

Women’s 400IM

British women were the first three home headed by Freya Colbert in 4:29.68 followed by Abbie Wood (4:29.73) and Katie Shanahan (4:30.34).

However, the Scot missed out by virtue of the two-per-nation rule.

Men’s 400m Freestyle

Danys Rapsys won this event back at Glasgow 2019 and he topped the heats for what promises to be a thrilling final.

The Lithuanian clocked 3:39.19 ahead of Felix Aubock (3:39.43) with Daniel Wiffen next home in 3:39.54.

Women’s 50m Freestyle

Michelle Coleman of Sweden topped the prelims into the semis, the only woman inside 24secs in 23.74.

Julie Kepp Jensen (24.00) and Beryl Gastaldello (24.07) were next through.

Men’s 50m Backstroke

Mewen Tomac led the way in 23.16 with the Frenchman looking impressive as he seeks the first senior individual medal of his career.

Women’s 100m Breaststroke

The heats offered much promise of fine racing to come in both semis and final.

Eneli Jefimova led the way with 1:04.28 in the final heat, the 16-year-old just 0.03secs outside her Estonian record of 1:04.25 en-route to silver at Kazan 2021.

Tes Schouten – fresh from her 100/200 double at the Rotterdam Qualification Meet – was next into the semis in 1:04.28 with Sophie Hansson of Sweden the third woman inside 1:05 in 1:04.77 and Benedetta Pilato sporting a Thomas Ceccon cap as she qualified fourth.

Men’s 100m Butterfly

Another prelim that hints at much to come.

Olympic bronze medallist Noe Ponti led the way in 49.14 with Maxime Grousset – the long-course world champion – the other man inside 50secs in 49.67.

They were followed by British trio Jacob Peters (50.27), James Guy (50.29) and Ed Mildred (50.39) but they fell foul of the two-per-nation rule with Mildred the man to miss out.

Women’s 4x50m Freestyle

Anna Hopkin led off the British quartet in 23.94 as they booked lane four for tonight’s final in 1:36.92.

Italy (1:37.08) and Sweden (1:37.72) were next through.

Men’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay

The British quartet lowered the national record of 1:24.61 that had stood to a University of Stirling quartet since December 2019.

Matt Richards led off in 21.09 before Duncan Scott (21.12) and Alexander Cohoon (20.89) handed over to Lewis Burras whose 20.71 anchor was the fastest in the field.

With Ben Proud waiting in the wings, it will present a real selection poser come the final given he is the 2021 individual world short-course champion and 2022 silver medallist.

Italy will be alongside in lane five after going 1:24.16 with Greece next home in a national standard of 1:25.15.

The Otopeni crowd got their first sight of David Popovici as he led the Romanian quartet off in 21.50 as they qualified sixth.

Women’s 800m Freestyle

Anastasia Kirpichnikova was more than seven seconds clear of the rest of the field clocking 8:14.37 as she looks to defend her title from Kazan 2021.

There she represented Russia but is now in French colours.

Simona Quadarella – silver medallist two years ago – was second through in 8:21.45, 0.06 ahead of Hungary’s Ajna Kesely (8:21.51).

Also through: Nora Fluck (8:30.48), Grace Palmer (8:33.56), Ada Hakkarainen (8:35.55), Diana-Gabriela Stiger (8:35.70) and Sarah Dumont (8:36.29).

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