KAZAN, Russia, April 18. AT the Russian Nationals this evening, a pair of Russian records took a tumble as swimmers turned up the heat during semifinals in their respective events.<\/p>\n
Vyacheslav Sinkevich vaulted to the top of the world standings in the men's 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:08.62 in semis. That swim downed the previous Russian mark of 2:09.36 held by Grigory Falko, and provided Sinkevich with a FINA A cut heading into finals. Marat Amaltdinov (2:13.20) and Anton Lobanov (2:13.21) qualified second and third in the event, and will be vying for a second FINA A cut behind Sinkevich during finals. <\/p>\n
Then, one of the rock stars of Russian swimming especially after a jaw-dropping NCAA Championships this March, Vlad Morozov took down his Russian record in the men's 50-meter back with a blazing time of 24.80. That swim clipped time from his previous lifetime best of 24.86, and is among the top five times in the world this year with a chance to go even faster in finals. He will have plenty of motivation as Vitaly Melnikov (25.22) and Sergey Fesikov (25.42) both surpassed the FINA A cut with their semifinal swims and will be vying for the second spot in the finale. <\/p>\n
Yevgeny Kulikov kicked off the evening with a victory in the men's 1500-meter freestyle timed final with a 15:14.96, less than half-a-second off the FINA A cut to secure a spot on the Russian roster heading to Barcelona. Evgeny Eliseev finished second in 15:17.97, while Aleksey Solpekovsky touched third in 15:23.23.<\/p>\n
Danila Izotov, another Russian rocket along the lines of Morozov, led a foursome of Russians under 1:47 in the men's 200-meter free finale with a 1:46.37. Nikita Lobintsev secured second-place honors with a FINA A cut of his own with a 1:46.59, while Alexander Sukhorukov (1:46.66) and Artem Iobuzov (1:46.96) also beat 1:47 in the finale. <\/p>\n
Russian-record holder Yuliya Efimova charted a FINA A cut in the finale of the women's 100-meter breaststroke with a 1:07.44, while Anna Belousova also punched her ticket to Barcelona with a second-place 1:08.04. Anastasia Chaun rounded out the podium with a 1:09.20. <\/p>\n
In a bit of an upset, Viktoria Andreeva upended Russian-record holder Veronika Popova, 54.79 to 54.85, in the women's 100-meter free finale. Both made the FINA A cut, however, and will settle the score in Barcelona. Margarita Nesterova finished third in the finale with a 55.18.<\/p>\n
Semen Makovich took home the men's 200-meter IM title with a 2:00.97, while Dmitry Zhilin finished second in 2:01.71. Dmitry Gorbunov checked in with a third-place time of 2:02.31. <\/p>\n
In other semifinal action, Viktoria Andreeva paced the women's 200-meter IM with a time of 2:15.11, while Yana Martinova finished second in 2:15.56. Viktoria Malyutina earned the third seed with a 2:16.08. <\/p>\n
Evgeny Koptelov topped men's 200-meter fly semis with a 1:58.82, while Nikolay Skvortsov cruised to second in 1:59.17 and should push the pace in the finale. Maxim Ganikhin earned third-seeded honors with a 1:59.43. <\/p>\n
After an October injury claimed her chances in the 200-meter backstroke, Russian-record holder Anastasia Zueva bounced back in the 100-meter back with a 1:01.17 to lead semis, and also put up a FINA A cut time in the event. Maria Gromova (1:01.47) and Polina Lapshina (1:01.54) claimed the second and third seeds in the finale. <\/p>\n
Day 3
\nSpecial thanks to Rokur Jakupsstovu for translation.<\/i>
\nMen 1500 freestyle final<\/b>
\nRussian record 14.41.13 Yury Prilukov<\/p>\n
1.\tYevgeny Kulikov 15:14.96
\n2.\tEvgeny Eliseev 15:17.97
\n3.\tAleksey Solpekovsky 15:23.23<\/p>\n
Men 200 breaststroke semifinal<\/b>
\nRussian record 2:09.36 Grigory Falko<\/p>\n
1.\tVyacheslav Sinkevich 2:08.62 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tMarat Amaltdinov 2:13.20
\n3.\tAnton Lobanov 2:13.21<\/p>\n
Women 200 IM semifinal<\/b>
\nRussian record 2:11.73 Dania Belyakina<\/p>\n
1.\tViktoria Andreeva 2:15.11
\n2.\tYana Martinova 2:15.56
\n3.\tViktoria Malyutina 2:16.08<\/p>\n
Men 200 freestyle final<\/b>
\nRussian record 1:43.90 Danila Izotov<\/p>\n
1.\tDanila Izotov 1:46.37 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tNikita Lobintsev 1:46.59 * FINA A cut
\n3.\tAlexander Sukhorukov 1:46.66 * FINA A cut<\/p>\n
Women 100 breaststroke final<\/b>
\nRussian record 1:05.41 Yuliya Efimova<\/p>\n
1.\tYuliya Efimova 1:07.44 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tAnna Belousova 1:08.04 * FINA A cut
\n3.\tAnastasia Chaun 1:09.20<\/p>\n
Men 200 butterfly semifinal<\/b>
\nRussian record 1:54.31 Nikolay Skvortsov<\/p>\n
1.\tEvgeny Koptelov 1:58.82
\n2.\tNikolay Skvortsov 1:59.17
\n3.\tMaxim Ganikhin 1:59.43<\/p>\n
Women 100 freestyle final<\/b>
\nRussian record 54.22 Veronika Popova<\/p>\n
1.\tViktoria Andreeva 54.79 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tVeronika Popova 54.85 * FINA A cut
\n3.\tMargarita Nesterova 55.18<\/p>\n
Men 200 IM final<\/b>
\nRussian record 1:59.81 Alexander Tikhonov<\/p>\n
1.\tSemen Makovich 2:00.97
\n2.\tDmitry Zhilin 2:01.71
\n3.\tDmitry Gorbunov 2:02.31<\/p>\n
Women 100 backstroke semifinal<\/b>
\nRussian record 58.18 Anastasia Zueva<\/p>\n
1.\tAnastasia Zueva 1:01.17 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tMaria Gromova 1:01.47
\n3.\tPolina Lapshina 1:01.54<\/p>\n
Men 50 backstroke semifinal<\/b>
\nRussian record 24.86 Vladimir Morozov<\/p>\n
1.\tVladminir Morozov 24.80 * FINA A cut
\n2.\tVitaly Melnikov 25.22 * FINA A cut
\n3.\tSergey Fesikov 25.42 * FINA A cut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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