European Short-Course, Day 3 Prelims: Tomac, Kirpichnikova & Ponti Lead The Way In Otopeni

Mewen Tomac: Picture Courtesy: European Aquatics

European Short-Course, Day 3 Prelims: Tomac, Ponti & Kirpichnikova Lead The Way In Otopeni

It was the morning after a thrilling night before in day three of prelims at the European Short-Course Championships in Otopeni, Romania.

Noe Ponti, fresh from his European 100 fly record of 48.47, was among Otopeni 2023 champions to return to the pool.

The Swiss topped the 200 fly with fellow gold medallists Mewen Tomac and Anastasia Kirpichnikova also leading the way in the 100 back and 1500 free respectively.

Women’s 100m Freestyle

In the first event of the day at the Aquatics Complex of Otopeni, Anna Hopkin headed the field in 51.79 ahead of Freya Anderson (52.69) as two British women filled the top two slots.

Barbora Seemanova (52.80) was third through with Michelle Coleman progressing in 52.84 the morning after becoming the 50 free champion.

Men’s 200m Individual Medley

Olympic and world silver medallist Duncan Scott was the quickest, heading the entire field by 1.61secs in 1:52.90 with three Britons in the top five.

Joe Litchfield (1:54.51), defending champion and European record-holder Andreas Vazaios (1:54.63) and Danys Rapsys (1:54.72) all progressed.

Fukuoka worlds bronze medallist Tom Dean though missed out because of the two-per-nation rule, finishing in 1:54.74, 0.23 adrift of Litchfield.

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

Tes Schouten, bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, led the way in 2:20.38 the morning after 100 bronze.

Thea Blomsterberg was second through in 2:20.82 with Clara Rybak-Andersen the third woman inside 2:21 in 2:20.95 as Danes filled two of the top three spots.

Men’s 100m Backstroke

Mewen Tomac returned after winning the 50 back gold to head the field in 52.47 ahead of Yohann Ndoye Brouard who clocked 50.60 as two Frenchmen filled the top two slots into the semis.

Andrei Ungar of Romania was third through in 50.61 with Luke Greenbank (50.82) and Ole Braunschweig (50.96) the other men inside 51secs.

Women’s 50m Backstroke

Kira Toussaint won the backstroke treble at the 2021 edition in Kazan and the Netherlands swimmer booked top spot over two lengths in 26.15.

Kathleen Dawson of Britain was in second in 26.52 ahead of Ireland’s Danielle Hill with Medi Harris fourth through in 26.61.

Men’s 200m Butterfly

Just 19 men entered the water on Thursday morning with Ponti looking superb in 1:54.38.

Richard Marton of Hungary (1:54.95) and 2023 world junior silver medallist Petar Mitsin of Bulgaria (1:55.28) next through.

Kenan Dracic claimed the final spot in 1:58.36.

Women’s 4×50 Medley Relay

Italy – bronze medallists at Kazan 2021 – were comfortably fastest in 1:45.98 ahead of Denmark (1:47.03) with Sweden – led off by Coleman – third in 1:47.23.

The Netherlands claimed the eighth and final spot.

Women’s 1500m Freestyle

Anastasia Kirpichnikova returned to the Otopeni pool hours after winning the 800 to post a time 19.52secs ahead of second-swiftest qualifier Ajna Kesely in 15:36.42.

The Hungarian clocked 15:55.94 for lane five with Simona Quadarella, the 800 silver medallist, clocking 15:56.81.

Also through were Lucie Hanquet (16:04.24), Alisee Pisane (16:05.20), Nora Fluck (16:08.42), Lara Grangeon de Ville (16:21.69) and Louna Kasvio (16:23.19).

Men’s 50m Freestyle Swim-off

Four men tied for 10th in the semis on Wednesday in 21.21 with the quartet returning to face off for the second reserve spot.

Kristian Gkolomeev of Greece got his hand to the wall first in 21.09 and will return on Thursday evening.

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