Milak Continues Gold Run From Lane Eight; Victories For Kapas And Hosszu In Budapest

Kristof Milak of Hungary celebrates after winning in the men's 200m Butterfly Final during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, 24 July 2019.

Kristof Milak: Photo Courtesy: PATRICK B. KRAEMER

Kristof Milak continued his golden form from lane eight in the 400 free and there were victories for Boglarka Kapas and Katinka Hosszu at the Hungarian Nationals in Budapest.

There was though no 12th national title for Laszlo Cseh in the 200IM when the two-time Olympic medallist was overhauled on the final length by Balázs Hollo.

Milak had produced a stunning swim that reverberated around pool decks across the world on Wednesday when he won the 200 fly in the second-fastest time in history, minutes after winning the 50 free.

Link to results

He returned to the Duna Arena in the evening to drop a 1:44.86 split as he anchored a Hungarian 4×200 quartet to a national record of 7:07.67.

Kristof Milak: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Come Thursday morning finals – the schedule mirroring that in Tokyo come July – and the 2019 world 200 fly champion was back on top of the podium over eight lengths in 3:48.92 – despite being out in lane eight after squeezing into the final.

Out in 24.84 – 1.2secs ahead of nearest challenger Gabor Zombori – the 21-year-old led all the way with a final 100 of 57.35.

World junior champion Zombori made some inroads on the final 50 but he never made a serious dent in Milak’s lead to touch second in 3:50.28 and Kristóf Rasovszky was third in 3:53.96.

Splits: 53.74/1:52.92/2:51/57/3:48.92

It was a second medal of the night for Milak who got silver in the 50 fly behind Szebasztián Szabó who touched in 23.36 to 23.50.

Golden Dawn For Kapas And Hosszu

Boglarka Kapas New York Breakers ISL (photo: Mike Lewis)

Photo Courtesy: Mike Lewis/ISL

Kapas has also had a fine meet having also claimed a 2:07 victory in the 20o fly – following a heat of 2:06.85 – on Wednesday morning.

The 2016 European champion was ahead at every turn, extending her lead throughout before a final 50 of 30.81 propelled her away from Ajna Kesely as she stopped the clock at 4:07.50.

Kesely – the 2018 European silver medallist – (4:10.28) and Bettina Fabian (4:12.80) rounded out the top three.

Hosszu won the women’s 200IM in 2:11.47, ahead on each leg with the Olympic champion extending that lead on the final leg.

She clocked 2:11.87 ahead of Dalma Sebestyén (2:12.61) and Panna Ugrai – who was born in 2004, the same year Hosszu made her first Olympic appearance in Athens – who touched in 2:16.29.

Laszlo Cseh; Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

A final-50 blast of 28.38 propelled Balázs Hollo past Laszlo Cseh and to the touch in the 200IM.

It was Cseh’s first defeat in the event after previously winning 11 national titles.

His record had read 11 finals, 11 wins – Hubert Kos having won his senior maiden title in December when Cseh had withdrawn from the race and quit the national championships last December.

Kos had set the second-fastest time of the year in Wednesday evening’s heats but withdrew from the final to concentrate on the 400IM heats.

Cseh – who won silver in this event at Beijing 2008 when Hollo was nine and bronze in London four years later – led from the start and was 0.70secs ahead at the final turn.

Hollo, though, moved past him on the freestyle for victory in 1:59.81 with Cseh next home in 2:00.36 and Daniel Sos a further 0.18 adrift in 2:00.54.

Splits:

Hollo: 25.64/56.73/1:31.43/1:59.81

Cseh: 25.27/54.99/1:30.73/2@00.36

Beatrix Bordás won the women’s 50 fly in 26.75.

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Nick

3 years ago

Hubi Kós won the 200 IM National Title in 2020, last December. With the greatest of respect to Laci, an absolute legend and gentleman, your report is slightly off. Regards

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Liz Byrnes - Europe Correspondent

3 years ago

Reply to Nick

I’ve slightly amended it. Cseh has won 11 titles in 11 finals appearances and withdrew last December when Kos won. Thank you for pointing it out.