Lani Pallister Extends Family Tradition As She Joins Ceccon & Foster On Championship-Record Roster

lani-pallister-2019-age-groups-australia

Lani Pallister moved up to eighth in the world in the 800 free. Photo Courtesy: Twitter, @SwimmingAUS

FINA World Junior Swimming Championships (Lani Pallister, Thomas Ceccon, Carson Foster)

Budapest 2019

Day Two Finals

The second night of finals from the 2019 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships will have nine sets of finals and two semi final events as the action is starting to heat up from Budapest. Two world junior records fell on Tuesday night in Hungary with Spain’s Alba Vazquez Ruiz taking down the 400 IM and the United States men taking down the 4×100 free relay.

This evening in the Hungarian capital, Italy’s Thomas Ceccon was able to get under the championships record in the men’s 100 back final to start the session with a 53.46 as he won the gold ahead of Russia’s Nikolay Zuev.

There were also championship-record victories for Carson Foster, of the United States, and Lani Pallister, of Australia.

Foster successfully rebounded from a disappointing finish in the 200 free earlier in the session with a new championships record in the 200 IM at 1:58.46, lowering the 2017 mark of Germany’s Johannes Hintze at 1:59.03.

Pallister was hardly challenged in the 800 free as she smashed the championships record with an 8:22.49. Pallister confined to history the 8:25.22 meet mark of Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello in 2017 and rocketed up to eighth in the world for 2019 in a time that would have made the final at the World Championships proper in Gwangju, Korea, last month. And what a final it was.

Lani Pallister – Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Meanwhile, Pallister not only leapt up to No4 on the Australia all-time list (and rose to No17 on the domestic performances rankings that include seven swims from Ariarne Titmus above her), she got inside 8:25 for the first time and in so doing leap-frogged over her mum, Janelle Elford, who in 1988, on the way to the Seoul Olympic Games, clocked 8:24.15 (Craig Lord writes).

The all-time Aussie 800 women’s ranks:

8:15.70 Titmus, Ariarne, 2001, AUS
8:18.14 Ashwood, Jessica, 1993, AUS
8:22.24 Melverton, Kiah, 1996, AUS
8:22.49 Pallister, Lani, 2002, AUS
8:22.81 Palmer, Kylie, 1990, AUS
8:22.83 Goldman, Katie, 1992, AUS
8:22.93 McDonald, Julie, 1970, AUS
8:24.15 Elford, Janelle, 1970, AUS
8:24.62 Wickham, Tracey, 1962, AUS
8:24.74 Bowles, Alanna, 1998, AUS

World junior records were officially recognized April 1, 2014 so any swims before that date do not count as official records.

Men’s 100 Back

World Junior Record: 52.53, Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2018)
Championships Record: ~~54.07, Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2019)~~

Italy’s Thomas Ceccon got the second night of finals off to a fast start with a 53.46 in the 100 back final to lower his own championships record that he set in the heats at 54.07. Ceccon came into the meet as a big favorite in this event and he delivered. He was the European Junior Champion earlier this summer and won over Russia’s Nikolay Zuev, who was showing signs of lowering Ceccon’s record after semifinals. Zuev won the silver medal with a 53.59.

Both Ceccon and Zuev went faster than they did at the European Juniors as the Italian is 16th in the world for this year while Zuev is tied for 19th. Ceccon is also the fastest man in Italy this year with that swim while Zuev is the fourth fastest Russian. Ceccon and Zuev could be starting a rivalry that could last a long, long time.

USA’s Wyatt Davis snuck in for the bronze medal with a 54.14 from lane 2 as he finished ahead of France’s Mewen Tomac (54.17), who was the second seed after semi finals. Davis is now the 11th fastest American this year as the Indianapolis native won the first individual medal for the US men.

USA’s Will Grant (54.46), Canada’s Cole Pratt (54.63), India’s Srihari Nataraj (54.85) and Canada’s Tyler Wall (55.41) also swam in the final.

1	CECCON	Thomas	ITA	53.46	CR
2	ZUEV	Nikolay	RUS	53.59
3	DAVIS	Wyatt	USA	54.14
4	TOMAC	Mewen	FRA	54.17
5	GRANT	Will	USA	54.46
6	PRATT	Cole	CAN	54.63
7	NATARAJ	Srihari	IND	54.85
8	WALL	Tyler	CAN	55.41

Women’s 200 Fly

World Junior Record: 2:06.29, Suzuka Hasegawa, JPN (2017)
Championships Record: 2:07.74, Emily Large, GBR (2017)

USA’s Lillie Nordmann took control of the 200 fly final early on and did not let up as she led for the whole 200 meters, claiming gold in 2:08.24. It almost looked like a US 1-2 with top seed Charlotte Hook hanging close to Nordmann but the former was run down by Hungarian Blanka Berecz (2:08.93) for the silver medal.

Berecz gave the Hungarian women their first medal of the Championships as she almost ran down Nordmann for the gold but ran out of room. Berecz’s silver adds to Gabor Zombori’s gold medal from the 400 free last night. Berecz is one of many world class 200 butterflyers in Hungary as the country heard its national anthem at the World Championships last month in Gwangju thanks to Boglarka Kapas. Hungary has four swimmers ranked in the top 15 in the world in this event while Berecz moved up to 28th in the world with her swim and is the fifth fastest woman in Hungary this year.

Nordmann was not able to lower her season best since she was a 2:07 earlier this month at US Nationals, but the Texas native was still able to win the gold medal. Hook was also a 2:07 at Nationals, which is a good sign for the United States team moving forward. Hook is just entering her sophomore year of high school this fall.

“It’s really awesome just knowing I had the Team USA up in the stands supporting me,” Nordmann said. “[Hook] did a really great job and I had a lot of fun racing her. That last 50 [meters] I just pushed off and was like ‘I’m going to get my hand on the wall first for Team USA!’”

Hook on winning bronze: “It feels pretty good. I’m not super happy with the time. It’s just really cool to be here and have that experience. For Team USA, I’m so happy for [Nordmann.]”

Hungary almost had two medalists but Fanni Fabian (2:09.94) finished in fourth place, ahead of Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers (2:10.42).

Turkey had two finalists with Zehra Bilgin (2:11.98) and Defne Tacyildiz (2:12.72) placing sixth and seventh. South Africa’s Dune Coetzee (2:13.06) also finished eighth in the final.

1	NORDMANN	Lillie	USA	2:08.24
2	BERECZ	Blanka	HUN	2:08.93
3	HOOK	Charlotte	USA	2:09.00
4	FABIAN	Fanni	HUN	2:09.94
5	DEKKERS	Elizabeth	AUS	2:10.42
6	BILGIN	Zehra	TUR	2:11.98
7	TACYILDIZ	Defne	TUR	2:12.72
8	COETZEE	Dune	RSA	2:13.06

Men’s 200 Free

World Junior Record: 1:46.40, Ivan Girev, RUS (2017)
Championships Record: 1:46.40, Ivan Girev, RUS (2017)

USA’s Luca Urlando came into the World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest as one of the biggest names in the meet and was expected to haul in a large medal tally. He already won a gold medal on Tuesday with a world junior record in the 4×100 free relay and then won his first individual gold with a 1:46.97 in the 200 free on Wednesday. Urlando was leading for most of the race but got some serious pressure from Sweden’s Robin Hansson from lane eight. Hansson won the silver medal after a tight finish with a 1:47.03.

“It felt really good, I was really happy with it,” Urlando said. “I’m pretty tired right now, good thing I have a day off tomorrow.”

Urlando actually swam faster at the US Nationals earlier this month with a 1:46.5 as he was showing signs of taking down the world junior record that Ivan Girev set at the 2017 World Juniors in Indianapolis. The Russian’s record survives another day as Urlando will still be able to hear his national anthem in the medal ceremony. He also has the 100 fly semi final later in the session.

Hansson has also been quicker this year with a 1:46.93 from the European Juniors but he is still the fastest man in Sweden in this event this year.

The bronze medal was definitely up for grabs as USA’s Carson Foster was in medal contention during the entire race but faded on the last 50 and was caught by Brazil’s Murilo Stein Sartori (1:47.39) for the bronze. Foster also ended up getting caught by Russia’s Aleksandr Shchegolev (1:47.43), who placed fourth while Foster was fifth at 1:47.47.

The Brazilian just squeaked into the 50 in the world with his swim as he is now 50th and also ranks as the fifth fastest Brazilian this year.

Australia’s Thomas Neill (1:47.66) and Hungary’s Gabor Zombori (1:47.71), who were the top two finishers in the 400 free last night, only managed sixth and seventh with Neill getting the upper hand over the Hungarian. China’s Hong Jinquan (1:48.91) placed eighth.

1	URLANDO	Luca	USA	1:46.97
2	HANSON	Robin	SWE	1:47.03
3	STEIN SARTORI	Murilo	BRA	1:47.39
4	SHCHEGOLEV	Aleksandr	RUS	1:47.43
5	FOSTER	Carson	USA	1:47.47
6	NEILL	Thomas	AUS	1:47.66
7	ZOMBORI	Gabor	HUN	1:47.71
8	HONG	Jinquan	CHN	1:48.91

Women’s 50 Breast

World Junior Record: 29.86, Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
Championships Record: 29.86, Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)

Italy’s Benedetta Pilato has capped off a dream summer with the World Junior title in the 50m breaststroke, her 30.60 well down ion her best but good for gold. Pilato had already claimed the European Junior crown in early July and then the 14-year-old won silver at the World Championships in Gwangju. Pilato was showing capabilities of taking down the vaunted world junior record by former world record holder Ruta Meilutyte at 29.86, but that record will live another day, but shouldn’t be safe for very long since Pilato has a few more years to catch it.

Pilato won the gold medal ahead of Great Britain’s Kayla van der Merwe, who won the gold at European Juniors in the Olympic distance 100 breast. The Brit was a 30.91 for a new season best. She won the silver just ahead of American Kaitlyn Dobler (30.92), who is based out of Oregon.

Dobler had a lightning start and she was leading for about 25 meters before Pilato kicked in the after burners and won the gold medal. The Italian was a 29.9 at Worlds and was a 30.3 in the semi finals and heats. She swam a few tenths slower but will still get to hear her national anthem in the medal ceremony.

South Africa’s Lara van Niekerk (31.12) finished fourth as she seems to be a part of a new renaissance of women’s breaststrokers in South Africa led by Worlds silver medalist Tatjana Schoenmaker. Schoenmaker was able to become the first South African woman swimmer to win a medal at the World Championships when she won silver in the 200 breast, and she was also joined in that final in Gwangju by Kaylene Corbett.

Russia’s Anastasia Makarova (31.34), Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova (31.38), USA’s Ellie Andrews (31.66) and Denmark’s Thea Blomsterberg (31.91) also swam in the final.

1	PILATO	Benedetta	ITA	30.60
2	VAN DER MERWE	Kayla	GBR	30.91
3	DOBLER	Kaitlyn	USA	30.92
4	VAN NIEKERK	Lara	RSA	31.12
5	MAKAROVA	Anastasia	RUS	31.34
6	TETEREVKOVA	Kotryna	LTU	31.38
7	ANDREWS	Ellie	USA	31.66
8	BLOMSTERBERG	Thea	DEN	31.91

Men’s 100 Breast

World Junior Record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
Championships Record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)

Russia’s Vladislav Gerasimenko took it out hard in the 100 breast final on the way to becoming the only swimmer inside the minute, on 59.97. The world junior and championships record was expected to stay put as Nicolo Martinenghi’s 59.01 from 2017 is in another stratosphere compared to what the breaststrokers in this meet had put up. Gerasimenko moved into the top 50 in the world to 43rd as he is the third fastest Russian this year.

Gerasimenko took it out hard from lane 7 and held on for the gold medal over USA’s Josh Matheny (1:00.17), who lowered the 15-16 NAG record again after breaking it twice in the heats and the semi finals. Matheny is just outside the top 50 in the world as the Pittsburgh native should have a bright future ahead of him.

The bronze medal went to the other American in Kevin Houseman (1:00.55), who won just ahead of Canada’s Gabe Mastromatteo (1:00.69). Houseman is a native of Washington state and is headed to Northwestern this fall.

Ireland’s Eoin Corby (1:01.16) and Great Britain’s Archie Goodwin (1:01.16) tied for fifth place as Japan’s Shoma Sato (1:01.26) and Yuta Arai (1:01.26) tied for seventh.

1	GERASIMENKO	Vladislav	RUS	59.97
2	MATHENY	Josh	USA	1:00.17
3	HOUSEMAN	Kevin	USA	1:00.55
4	MASTROMATTEO	Gabe	CAN	1:00.69
5	CORBY	Eoin	IRL	1:01.16
5	GOODBURN	Archie	GBR	1:01.16
7	SATO	Shoma	JPN	1:01.26
7	ARAI	Yuta	JPN	1:01.26

Women’s 100 Back

World Juniors Record: 57.57, Regan Smith, USA (2019)
Championships Record: 59.11, Regan Smith, USA (2017)

Much like the men’s 100 breast final, only one swimmer was able to break 1:00 for the gold medal in the women’s 100 back final. That lone swimmer was Canada’s Jade Hannah, who won the gold at 59.63. Hannah was the only swimmer to break 1:00 in the heats and in the semi finals and she replicated that in the finals with a personal best to put her 19th in the world for 2019 and third in Canada. Hannah was also able to improve on her bronze medal from the 2017 World Juniors when she finished behind current world record holder Regan Smith and fellow Canadian star Taylor Ruck.

“It felt really good because I realize how hard I had to work to get back to where I was,” Hannah said. “Top step on the podium is so amazing because I know all of the hard work I put in to get there.”

Hannah was not able to get the championships record that Smith set two years ago at 59.11, and Smith’s world junior record (which also counts as the world record), was not expected to be touched either.

But it was not an easy victory for Hannah as American Claire Curzan won the silver at 1:00.00 to move up to 29th in the world for 2019. Curzan is just entering her sophomore year of high school but the Tennessee native is a potential future star for the United States and is the ninth fastest American this year. She will also be tough in the 100 fly later in the meet.

Russia’s Daria Vaskina, who came into the meet with a 59.4, won the bronze from lane 7 at 1:00.02. Despite not swimming a season best, Vaskina was still able to swim 0.15 faster than what she did in winning the gold in this at the European Juniors in early July. Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan (1:00.27) finished in fourth as she was also fighting for a medal at the finish but got shut out.

Belarus’ Anastasiya Shkurdai, who should be a bigger force in the 100 fly, was fifth at 1:01.20 ahead of USA’s Annabel Crush (1:01.24). Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko (1:01.79) and Portugal’s Rafaela Azevedo (1:01.80) finished in seventh and eighth.

1	HANNAH	Jade	CAN	59.63
2	CURZAN	Claire	USA	1:00.00
3	VASKINA	Daria	RUS	1:00.02
4	O’CALLAGHAN	Mollie	AUS	1:00.27
5	SHKURDAI	Anastasiya	BLR	1:01.20
6	CRUSH	Annabel	USA	1:01.24
7	GORBENKO	Anastasia	ISR	1:01.79
8	AZEVEDO	Rafaela	POR	1:01.80

Men’s 200 IM

World Junior Record: 1:57.06, Qin Haiyang, CHN (2017)
Championships Record: ~~1:59.03, Johannes Hintze, GER (2017)~~

USA’s Carson Foster successfully rebounded from a disappointing finish in the 200 free earlier in the session with a new championships record in the 200 IM at 1:58.46, lowering the 2017 mark of Germany’s Johannes Hintze at 1:59.03. Foster scored a new personal best and also currently ranks 19th in the world this year and is the fifth fastest American.

Similar to Luca Urlando, Foster came into this meet as a favorite to come away with multiple medals. He anchored the gold medal winning 4×100 free relay team last night but only managed fifth in the individual 200 free earlier in the session. He was able to get his first gold medal of the meet individually with this 200 IM as he should be much stronger in the 400 IM later in the meet. He holds the world junior record in that event.

“USA’s had a great meet, so being able to contribute like that and keep the momentum going is awesome,” Foster said. “I’m feeling good, I trained for this all season and I kind of pride myself on being able to do a lot of events. It feels good that training is paying off. The goal coming into this meet was to win as many medals as possible for Team USA and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Foster won by almost a full second over Canada’s Finlay Knox, who broke 2:00 at 1:59.44. He is now 38th in the world and is the fastest Canadian this year.

“I was very pleased with the race and I felt like my difficult training period helped me a lot,” Knox said. “I just gave it everything I had and executed the things I have been trained for. I’m pleased with the result.”

Greece’s Apostolos Papastamos (1:59.62) won the bronze medal to complement his gold from the European Juniors. He moved up to 43rd in the world.

Israel’s Ron Polonsky (1:59.84) finished just off the podium in fourth as he also broke 2:00 and moved to 50th in the world.

Australia’s Se-Bom Lee (2:00.02), Russia’s Ilia Borodin (2:00.72), France’s Leon Marchand (2:01.53) and Japan’s Ikuru Hiroshima (2:02.90) also swam in the championship final.

1	FOSTER	Carson	USA	1:58.46	CR
2	KNOX	Finlay	CAN	1:59.44
3	PAPASTAMOS	Apostolos	GRE	1:59.62
4	POLONSKY	Ron	ISR	1:59.84
5	LEE	Se-Bom	AUS	2:00.02
6	BORODIN	Ilia	RUS	2:00.72
7	MARCHAND	Leon	FRA	2:01.53
8	HIROSHIMA	Ikuru	JPN	2:02.90

Women’s 800 Free

World Junior Record: 8:11.00, Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
Championships Record: ~~8:25.22, Delfina Pignatiello, ARG (2017)~~

Australia’s Lani Pallister was hardly challenged in the 800 free as she smashed the championships record with an 8:22.49. Pallister took down the championships record from Delfina Pignatiello that she set in 2017 at 8:25.22 as the Australian moved all the way up to eighth in the world for 2019 in a time that would have finaled in Gwangju at the World Championships.

Pallister is certainly a star for the future as she will also be dangerous in the 400 and 1500 free finals later in the meet. She is currently ranked third in Australia in the 800 free this year as she was able to win her first medal at the World Juniors after coming away empty in 2017. Pallister could be a dark horse to make Australia’s Olympic team next year behind Worlds bronze medalist Ariarne Titmus.

Japan’s Miyu Namba (8:27.24) won the silver medal as she moved up to 19th in the world with her swim. Pallister was all by herself for most of the race as there was a three-way race for the minor medals throughout the second 400 with Namba, Giulia Salin and Chase Travis. Namba started to pull away at about the 600 while Travis was starting to go by Salin. But Salin kicked it into a whole new gear on the final 100 as she won the bronze at 8:28.99. That is a new season best for Salin, who was an 8:29 in winning the European Juniors, and is now 24th in the world this year.

Travis was fourth at 8:30.76 as the open water specialist is now 33rd in the world this year and is 12th in the US.

Hungary’s Viktoria Mihalyvari-Farkas (8:36.30), USA’s Olivia McMurray (8:40.26), Turkey’s Beril Bocekler (8:41.23) and China’s Tang Muhan (8:43.09) also finished in the top eight.

2019 World Rankings:

8:10.70, Katie Ledecky, USA
8:14.64, Wang Jianjiahe, CHN
8:14.99, Simona Quadarella, ITA
8:15.70, Ariarne Titmus, AUS
8:16.33, Leah Smith, USA
8:16.43, Sarah Kohler, GER
8:22.24, Kiah Melverton, AUS
8:22.49, Lani Pallister, AUS
8:24.25, Ajna Kesely, HUN
8:24.28, Mireia Belmonte, ESP

1	PALLISTER	Lani	AUS	8:22.49	CR
2	NAMBA	Miyu	JPN	8:27.24
3	SALIN	Giulia	ITA	8:28.99
4	TRAVIS	Chase	USA	8:30.76
5	MIHALYVARI-FARKAS	Viktoria	HUN	8:36.30
6	MCMURRAY	Olivia	USA	8:40.26
7	BOCEKLER	Beril	TUR	8:41.23
8	TANG	Muhan	CHN	8:43.09

Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay

World Junior Record: 3:45.85, Russia (2015)
Championships Record: 3:45.85, Russia (2015)

The United States won the mixed 4×100 medley relay to close out the second night of finals with a new world junior record at 3:44.84. The team of Will Grant (53.89), Josh Matheny (59.31), Torri Huske (58.04) and Gretchen Walsh (53.60) smashed the old record that Russia set in 2015 at 3:45.85.

Both Grant and Matheny swam their individual finals tonight and went faster in the relay, with Grant swimming faster than the bronze medal winning time and Matheny dropping almost a full second off his best time in the 100 breast. Grant was a 54.46 in the 100 back final for fifth place but swam a 53.89 to lead off the relay while Matheny won the silver in the breaststroke at 1:00.17 but split a 59.31.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so amazing. It just means so much more than getting an individual,” Grant said. “It’s a team effort and nothing in the world compares to it.”

“I didn’t even know we were even close to (world junior record) and the fact that we got it is so exciting!” Walsh said. “It was just a really awesome race and we were just so hyped before.”

Huske and Walsh were able to close well for a new world junior record as Walsh was faster than what she swam in the 100 free semi finals. Huske has yet to swim the 100 fly this week but is the second seed for tomorrow’s 100 free final.

The Americans were in front for the entire race with Russia giving pressure early on with silver medalist Nikolay Zuev leading off at 54.27, but Zuev was off his silver medal winning time from earlier where he broke 54. Butterflyer Andrei Minakov could not quite make up the distance on the butterfly, splitting a 51.66, leaving Ekaterina Nikonova in a race with Canada’s anchor Hanna Henderson. Russia was able to out-touch Canada with a 3:48.06 for the silver while the Canadians won the bronze at 3:48.20.

Canada’s team of Jade Hannah (1:00.23), Gabe Mastromatteo (1:00.58), Josh Liendo (52.33) and Henderson were well in front of Australia (3:50.69), Japan (3:51.30) and Turkey (3:51.42) for the bronze.

Germany (3:53.38) and Hungary (3:54.20) also competed in the final.

1	USA	3:44.84, WJ, CR	Grant, 53.89,	Matheny, 59.31,	Huske, 58.04,	Walsh, 53.60
2	RUS	3:48.06	Zuev, 54.27,	Makarova, 1:07.30,	Minakov, 51.66,	Nikonova, 54.83
3	CAN	3:48.20	Hannah, 1:00.23,	Mastromatteo, 1:00.58,	Liendo, 52.33,	Henderson, 55.06
4	AUS	3:50.69	Edwards-Smith, 55.33,	Yong, 1:01.70,	Ryan, 59.37,	Harris, 54.29
5	JPN	3:51.30	Ishihara, 1:03.42,	Sato, 1:00.59,	Honda, 52.79,	Ikemoto, 54.59
6	TUR	3:51.42	Satir, 56.44,	Demir, 1:00.18,	Ozkan, 59.26,	Guvenc, 55.54
7	GER	3:53.38	Dahler, 55.50,	Heimrath, 1:10.59,	Kammann, 52.53,	Vogelmann, 54.76
8	HUN	3:54.20	Jaszo, 55.99,	Bohm, 1:02.30

Semi Finals Wrap

By Craig Lord.

Men’s 100 Fly Semi Finals

World Junior Record: 50.62, Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
Championships Record: 51.08, Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)

In the first line-up, Russia’s Andrei Minakov rattled out a 51.35 that would take him to lane 4 for the final tomorrow. Back in sixth was American Luca Urlando, still panting from gold in the 200m freestyle under 1:47, and on 53.24 well down on his best and out of the final.

Knowing the standard they needed, the second semi winner was Bulgarian Josif Miladinov as he sped to a 52.03.

Russian Egor Pavlov was closest on 52.11, Federico Burdisso, of Italy, home in 52.25 as fourth fastest into the final. The rest of the qualifiers all came from the first semi, Canada’s Josh Liendo on 52.34, Blake Manoff, of the USA, 0.04sec away, Brazil’s Bernardo Bondra and Germany’s Bjorn Kammann completing the line-up for the showdown in 52.73 and 52.77 respectively.

Urlando was not the only medal prospect locked out. Japan’s Tomoru Honda 11th on 53.11, the reserve place for the final requiring a swim-off between Taipei’s Wang Kuan-Hung and Ukraine’s Ihor Troianovski matched in 9th on 52.83 in the second semi.

1	MINAKOV	Andrei	RUS	51.35	Q
2	MILADINOV	Josif	BUL	52.03	Q
3	PAVLOV	Egor	RUS	52.11	Q
4	BURDISSO	Federico	ITA	52.25	Q
5	LIENDO	Joshua	CAN	52.34	Q
6	MANOFF	Blake	USA	52.38	Q
7	BONDRA DE ALMEIDA	Bernardo	BRA	52.73	Q
8	KAMMANN	Bjorn	GER	52.77	Q
9	TROIANOVSKYI	Ihor	UKR	52.83
9	WANG	Kuan-Hung	TPE	52.83
11	HONDA	Tomoru	JPN	53.11
12	URLANDO	Luca	USA	53.24
13	FARACI	Claudio	ITA	53.34
14	LUNAK	Sebastian	CZE	53.52
15	FIGUEIREDO FARJADO DA MOTTA	Pedro	BRA	53.61
16	AHTIAINEN	Alex	EST	53.73

Women’s 100 Free Semi Finals

World Junior Record: 52.70, Penny Oleksiak, CAN (2016)
Championships Record: 53.63, Taylor Ruck, CAN (2017)

Gretchen Walsh led a USA 1-2 progression into finals with teammate Torri Huske, on 54.25 and 54.52 at the helm of the first and second semis respectively. Walsh was the only racer in the race under 26 at the turn, on 25.76.

Closest to the Americans was Australian Meg Harris, on 54.70 behind Huske, South Africa’s Aimee Canny the last through inside 55sec, on 54.87 behind Walsh.

In the final tomorrow, the outside two lanes, each side of the pool, will feature two from each of the semis.

Ekaterina Nikonova, of Russia, led Japan’s Nagisa Kemoto 55.07 to 55.35 in the second line-up, while Mollie O’Callaghan gave Australia a second lane in the final on 55.32, Zoe Vogelmann, of Germany, last through to the showdown, on 55.36.

1	WALSH	Gretchen	USA	54.25	Q
2	HUSKE	Torri	USA	54.52	Q
3	HARRIS	Meg	AUS	54.70	Q
4	CANNY	Aimee	RSA	54.87	Q
5	NIKONOVA	Ekaterina	RUS	55.07	Q
6	O’CALLAGHAN	Mollie	AUS	55.32	Q
7	IKEMOTO	Nagisa	JPN	55.35	Q
8	VOGELMANN	Zoe	GER	55.36	Q
9	CARNEZ	Oceane	FRA	55.38
10	HENDERSON	Hanna	CAN	55.47
11	TOBEHN	Maya	GER	55.54
12	FAIRWEATHER	Erika	NZL	55.73
13	DOUTHWRIGHT	Brooklyn	CAN	55.74
14	TARANTINO	Chiara	ITA	55.82
15	MASCIOPINTO	Maria	ITA	56.04
16	SABITOVA	Aleksandra	RUS	56.14

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