World Championships, Day Seven Semifinals: Justin Ress In Pole Position For 50 Back Defence

Justin Ress: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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World Championships, Day Seven Semifinals: Justin Ress In Pole Position For 50 Back Defence

Justin Ress booked lane four in the defence of his 50 backstroke title at the World Championships in Fukuoka.

The American – who won last year in Budapest in 24.12 – posted 24.35 ahead of teammate and 2022 silver medallist Hunter Armstrong and China’s Xu Jiayu who both clocked 24.41.

Ksawery Masiuk – bronze medallist at the 2022 World Championships – was next through in 24.47.

Locked out by 0.05 in 24.86 was Australia’s Isaac Cooper as 0.51 separated the top eight.

Apostolos Christou and Thomas Ceccon – the 100 back world record-holder – were joint fifth through in 24.57, Ole Brauncschweig took seventh in 24.73 with Andrew Jeffcoat claiming the eighth and last spot in 24.81.

Kliment Kolesnikov has dominated the 50 back spotlight this week after crushing Armstrong’s WR in 23.55 at the Swim Cup of Russia.

The two-time Olympic medallist won the final in 23.68 for the second-fastest time in history with the Kazan meet featuring swimmers from Russia and Belarus who are banned from competing at the World Championships.

2023-07-29 (10)

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