Zalán Sárkány Pulls Away for 1500 Title; Milák Flies to Top of Rankings
Zalán Sárkány clinched the 1500 free title after pulling away in the final 400 metres at the Hungarian Championships in Sopron.
Sárkány had been in a three-way tussle with Dávid Betlehem and Kristof Rasovsky before making his move at the 1050 mark.
He came home in 14:54.05 to upgrade his 800 bronze to gold with Betlehem – who won the 16-length event by 0.01 over Rasovszky with a stunning final 50 – was second in 14:59.59. Rasovszky took third in 15:02.62.
Sárkány booked his spot on the Hungary team for the European Championships in Paris where the pool programme runs from 10-16 August.
David Betlehem: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
“I thought we would swim better times, both me and Dávidék, and I was honestly surprised that I won,” he said through the Hungarian federation. “Not that the level was reached, a 14:54 is the minimum at our level, we should swim around 14:50 now. My shoulder didn’t hurt so much now, although it was quite painful every other fifty. Overall, I’m happy with my time, but especially with my brother, because (Zétény) swam quite an amazing time. I swam very well in America, and I went back to the pool immediately after the NCAA, because the national championships are coming, where I have to complete the European Championship levels.”
Zalán’s younger brother Zétény also made his mark in the race as the 15-year-old lowered the Hungarian age group record to 15:22.57 en-route to fifth. With that he consigned to history the previous standard of 15:26.95 which had stood to Gergo Kis since December 2003.
Vivien Jackl completed the distance double with an emphatic win in the women’s 800 free. Ajna Kesely led through the first 350m with Jackl on her shoulder before the latter went ahead at halfway to come home in 8:27.88 to 8:32.03. Viktória Mihalyvari-Farkas was third in 8:39.81.
It earned Jackl a second swim in Paris after she already qualified in the 1500 and a third title of the meet to her own surprise. She said: “I didn’t really think that I would have the level here, because this is around my personal best, and I didn’t think I was in a state where I could achieve a best time so far.
Milák Soars To Top Of Rankings
Kristóf Milák soared to the top of the 100 fly rankings posting 50.93 in the semis to dislodge Maxime Grousset who went 50.95 in the Pro Series in Austin in January.
It comes in at 21st in his career topped by his 49.68 European record en-route to silver at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo behind Caeleb Dressel.
His rankings topper comes a day after a 50 fly PB propelled him to his first victory over Szebasztián Szabó and he enters the 100 fly final looking for his third title of the meet.
Dávid Antal (52.45) and Richárd Márton (52.84) booked the lanes either side of him for Sunday’s final.
Nemeth Secures 200 Title; Ugrai Doubles Up
Christian Gieffing of Austria touched first in the men’s 200 free in 1:47.34 with Nándor Nemeth taking the title in 1:47.39, a day after he sealed qualification for the European Championships in Paris. Koppány Zéta Kakuk (1:48.65) and Attila Kovacs (1:48.68) joined Nemeth on the podium.
Panna Ugrai: Photo Courtesy: Hungarian Swimming Federation
Panna Ugrai completed the 100/200 free double with a 1:57.42 outing in the longer race. She was followed home by Ainhoa Campabadal of Spain in 1:59.32 with the pair the only women inside 2mins. With her winning time, Ugrai sealed qualification to the Europeans.
The men’s 100m breaststroke featured Zsombor Petroczi whose semi-final time of 1:01.01 consigned the age group record held by London 2012 Olympic champion Daniel Gyurta for 19 years to history.
Valentin Bayer of Austria was first to touch in 1:01.13 with 18-year-old Petroczi taking the national title in 1:01.64.
Henrietta Fangli was the clear winner of the women’s 100 breast, clocking 1:08.44 ahead of Eszter Bekesi (1:10.22).
Semi-Finals Round-Up
- Beatrix Tanko headed the women’s 100 fly in 58.90 followed by Evy Rozeboom of the Netherlands in 59.71
- Zsombor Péter Racz led the way in the men’s 200 back in 1:58.27 followed by Benedek Kovacs (1:58.98) and Olivér Kós (1:59.82)
- Eszter Szabó-Feltóthy headed the women’s 200 back in 2:09.38, almost three seconds ahead of Fanni Kokas, the 50/100 title winner clocking 2:12.30