Kacper Czapla Clinches 50 Fly Berth Ahead Of 2015 World Medallist Konrad Czerniak In Lublin
Fifteen years and 0.33 separated the first two men in the 50 fly as Kacper Czapla led home Konrad Czerniak at the Polish Championships.
Czapla stopped the clock in 23.36 to match the qualification time for the World Championships in Singapore in July. Behind him came Czerniak who took silver in 23.69.
Konrad Czerniak & Laszlo Cseh, 2017 worlds: Photo Courtesy: Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA
Czapla is 20 and making his way on the senior stage while Czerniak is 35 and a decorated medallist on the world and European stage. The older man holds the Polish 50 fly record of 23.07 from the semis of the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia, before he went on to take joint bronze with Laszlo Cseh in 23.15 behind Florent Manaudou and Nicholas Santos. Pawel Uryniuk was third in 23.72.
Julia Maik won the women’s race in 26.51 as 0.22 separated the first five women home.
Kamil Sieradzki fell just 0.02 shy of the QT in the men’s 100 free when he came home in 48.36, a sliver outside the A cut of 48.34. With victory, Sieradzki added the two-length title to his 200 free gold which he secured in a Polish record of 1:46.02. It also elevated him to joint second-fastest performer in the all-time Polish rankings alongside Kacper Majchrzak who clocked the same time at the 2017 Military World Games. Only Czerniak and his two top performances of 48.22 and 48.32 at the supersuited worlds in 2009 have bettered the duo. Ksawery Masiuk claimed his fourth individual medal of the meet with silver in 48.42 with Mateusz Chowaniec third in 48.75.
Zuzanna Famulok won the women’s 100 free in 55.10 with Barbara Leśniewska setting a Polish junior record of 55.34 and Wiktoria Guść third in 55.74.
Aleksandra Knop continued her medal-laden meet with gold in the 200IM in 2:13.94 to clinch the IM double with Michal Piela winning the men’s event in 2:02.44.
Dawid Wiekiera edged the men’s 100m breaststroke by just 0.03 after a stroke-for-stroke battle with 50 breast champion Jan Kalusowski. The pair couldn’t be separated at halfway, both turning in 28.53, but it was Wiekiera who got his hand to the wall first in 1:00.17 to 1:00.20. Jan Gajda was third in 1:02.24.
Dominika Sztandera clinched the women’s 50/100 breast double with victory over two lengths in 1:07.60. Karolina Piechowicz (1:09.72) and Ewa Wrona (1:10.65) claimed the minor spoils.