2019 European Junior Championships Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2019 EUROPEAN JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN’S 50 BREAST – SEMIFINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
  • Championships Record – 27.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
  • Top 8:
    1. Archie Goodburn (GBR), 27.87
    2. Vladislav Gerasimenko (RUS), 28.03
    3. Arkadios-Geor Aspougalis (GRE), 28.08
    4. Aleksandr Zhigalov (RUS), 28.13
    5. Caspar Corbeau (NED), 28.27
    6. Demirkan Demir (TUR), 28.45* tie
    7. Oliver Taverner (GBR), 28.45* tie
    8. Carl Aitkaci (FRA), 28.53

18-year-old Archie Goodburn kept his morning momentum going this evening, snapping the top seed in the men’s 50m breaststroke for the final.

The Warrender Baths athlete was 27.85 this morning and nearly there tonight, stopping the clock in 27.87 for his 2nd fastest time ever and just his 2nd time under the 28-second threshold.

Goodburn’s previous PB rested at the 28.04 put up at the 2018 British Championships, but his morning effort here in Kazan now ranks the teen as the 17th fastest Brit ever in the event.

Russia’s Vladislav Gerasimenko took the gold in this event at last year’s edition of the Championships, hitting a time in 2018 of 28.03 and was exactly that time tonight for the 2nd seed.

Greek swimmer Arkadios-Geor Aspougalis is in the mix with the 3rd seeded time of 28.08, while Aleksandr Zhigalov, last night’s gold medalist in the 200m breast, earned the 4th seed in 28.13.

Also in the final for the tomrorow night is Caspar Corbeau. University of Texas-bound Corbeau of Netherlands took silver to Zhigalov’s gold last night and earned a time of 28.27 for 5th seed in this sprint tonight.

Another Brit in the form of Mount Kelly’s Oliver Taverner sneaked into the final as the 6th seed, tied with Turkish athlete Demir Demirkan. Taverner’s time was just .01 shy of his PB clocked at the British Championships this year.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK – SEMIFINAL

Last year’s gold medalist in this event, Daria Vaskina of Russia, set herself up as the top-seeded swimmer out of tonight’s semi-finals of the women’s 50m back. In a very tight field behind her, Vaskina holds a .46 advantage over the competitors in a time of 28.09.

She is simply biding her time, however, having already clocked a wicked-fast mark of 27.74 at the Russian Nationals this year. That clears her 27.90 Championships Record that took gold in Helsinki to check-in as the European Junior Recor, so look for her to be a big-time player later tonight.

The 200m back gold medalist here, Erika Francesca Gaetani, was back at it tonight but fell from top seed of the morning in 28.50 to 7th seed in 28.68 heading into tomorrow night. That’s still faster than her lifetime best of 28.83 that she clocked about a year ago.

But Israeli standout Anastasya Gorbenko logged a time of 28.56 this morning to come within .05 of her nation’s senior record but was slightly slower tonight in 28.67 for 6th seed. We’ll see what she can produce in the final.

Taking the 2nd seed, however, was Rafaela Gomes Azevedo, who overwrote her own National Record with a big-time swim of 28.55. That hacks .47 off of her record, which she already broke this morning with her swim of 28.79.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 1:52.71, Kristof Milak (HUN), 2018
  • Championships Record – 1:53.79, Kristof Milak (HUN), 2017
  • GOLD – Igor Troyanovs’kyy (UKR), 1:57.86
  • SILVER – Mark Torok Dominik (HUN), 1:58.79
  • BRONZE – Adam Hloben (CZE), 1:58.90

The top 3 men of the 200m fly final tonight all cleared the 2:00 threshold, with Ukrainian Igor Troyanovs’kyy taking the top spot in a time of 1:57.86. The 17-year-old’s outing tonight was within a tenth of his own lifetime best of 1:57.78 that granted him the bronze medal at this year’s Ukrainian Senior Championships.

Hungarian Mark Torok Dominik carries on the great fly tradition of his nation with a silver medal this evening in 1:58.79, while Czech swimmer Adam Hloben got on the board with a mark of 1:58.90. Prior to these Championships, Hloben had never before been under the 2:00 threshold.

For perspective, however, this year’s final was noticeably slower than 2018. Of course, last year saw Hungary’s Kristof MIlak put up a monster 1:53.79 for gold, but both the runner-up Federico Burdisso and bronze medalist Denis Kesil were both in the 1:56 range.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – SEMIFINAL

The women’s 200m freestyle field continues to play their cards close to their vests, as just one athlete dipped under the 2-minute threshold in the semi-finals tonight.

Germany’s dynamo Isabel Gose got the job done to claim lane 4 for tomorrow night’s final in a time of 1:59.77 to go for her 3rd individual gold here at these Championships. The 17-year-old already nailed 400m free and 100m free gold, along with a relay top prize in the mixed 4x100m medley relay for Germany.

Gose is the reigning 200m free European Junior Champion in 1:58.17, her lifetime best, so let’s see if the German can venture into sub-1:58 territory before all is said and done.

Her teammate Maya Tobehn is sitting right behind her in 2:00.34 while Spain’s Ainho Campabadal Amezcua will be on the other side in tomorrow’s race, holding the 3rd seeded effort of 2:00.51.

The bronze medalist at the 2018 edition of these Championships, Polina Nevmovenko is waiting to make her move, lurking as the 4th seed in 2:00.57, although she has yet to break the 2:00 barrier this season.

MEN’S 200 BACK – SEMIFINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 1:55.14, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
  • Championships Record – 1:55.83, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
  • Top 8:
    1. Jan Cejka (CZE), 1:59.12
    2. Egor Dolomanov (RUS), 1:59.33
    3. Mewen Tomac (FRA), 1:59.36
    4. Maksim Fofanov (RUS), 1:59.45
    5. Arijus Pavlidi (LTU), 1:59.88
    6. Gabor Zombori (HUN), 2:00.07
    7. Luka Maertens (GER), 2:00.11
    8. Kaloyan Levterov (BUL), 2:00.85

Whereas the morning prelims of the men’s 200m back only saw 1 swimmer under 2:00, tonight’s final saw 5 swimmers reach the milestone. Czech athlete Jan Cejka captured the top seed in 1:59.12 to lead the field, with Russian swimmer Egor Dolomanov right behind in 1:59.33.

Cejka had never before been under 2:01 prior to these Championships with his previous PB sitting at the 2:01.16 he produced just this past May.

Lithuania has a swimmer in contention with Arijus Pavlidi, with the 17-year-old nailing a 5th seeded time of 1:59.88.

This is the 2nd final in a row where a British athlete won’t appear.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINAL

Last night Evgenia Chikunova fired off the world’s 2nd fastest 200m breast mark this season, capturing the top seed in 2:21.07 for a new Championships Record.

The 14-year-old Russian was slower tonight in 2:23.06, but still got the job done by 3 solid seconds, beating out teammate Anastasia Marakova‘s silver medal-worthy 2:26.06.

Rounding out the top 3 was British budding star Kayla Van Der Merwe, the Winchester athlete who was just 2:28.51 in April at the British Championships, but cranked out a monster PB of 2:26.55 to slide onto the podium here in Kazan.

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 48.04, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
  • Championships Record – 48.48, Daniil Izotov (RUS), 2009
  • GOLD – Matthew Richards (GBR), 48.88
  • SILVER – Robin Hanson (SWE), 49.05
  • BRONZE – Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR), 49.25

Splitting 23.72/25.16, Matthew Richards busted out a time of 48.88 to claim the gold in the only sub-49 second time of the field. The Royal Wolverhampton 16-year-old was 3rd at the halfway point but turned it on for the back half to capture his first major individual international title.

Richards lowers his own Age Record in this event, knocking down his 49.50 from last night’s semi-final by a huge margin. At just 16 years of age, Richards is now the 7th fastest British performer of all-time in the event.

Swedish standout Robin Hanson wrangled up silver in 49.05 while Ukraine’s Vladyslav Bukhov nailed bronze in 49.25. Hanson already took bronze in the 400m free on night 1 here in Kazan.

Of note, 14-year-old Jacob Whittle wasn’t quite the 49.97 he was during last night’s semi-final, but still produced a super solid 50.01 as another testament to the talent this young star holds.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – SEMIFINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 56.06 (target time)
  • Championships Record – 58.76, Lena Kalla (GER), 2009
  • Top 8:
    • Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR), 58.20
    • Aleksandra Sabitova (RUS), 59.21
    • Iana Sattarova (RUS), 1:00.21
    • Helena Biasibetti (ITA), 1:00.35
    • Edith Jernstedt (SWE), 1:00.40
    • Georgia Damasioti (GRE), 1:00.61
    • Dora Hathazi (HUN), 1:00.62
    • Aleyna Ozkan (TUR), 1:00.67.

This morning’s heats saw 3 women dip under the minute barrier, but tonight it was just Anastasiya Shkurdai of Belarus and Aleksandra Sabitova of Russia who did the deed.

Shkurdai actually nailed a new Championships Record with her 58.20 swim tonight, overpowering the previous Meet Record mark of 58.76 set by Germany’s Lena Kalla back in 2009.

The 15-year-old holds a PB and National Record of 57.78, so she’s just getting started here in this event.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 1:59.50 (target time)
  • Championships Record – 1:59.17, Tom Dean (GBR), 2018
  • GOLD – Apostolos Papastamos (GRE), 1:59.93
  • SILVER – Ron Polonsky (ISR), 1:59.98
  • BRONZE – Gal Cohen Groumi (ISR), 2:00.48

Dipping under the 2:00 threshold for the first time in his young career, Greek swimmer Apostolos Papastamos took gold here tonight in the men’s 200m IM.

He was 2:01.79 in last night’s semi-final, but cranked things up a notch and found another gear to give Greece its first gold of these Championships with a winning time of 1:59.93.

A pair of Israelis were next in line, with Ron Polonsky touching just .05 out of gold in a mark of 1:59.98. His teammate, Gal Cohen Groumi, was good enough for bronze in 2:00.48.

French multi-event monster Leon Marchand had a somewhat off-race, finishing in 4th with a time of 2:01.14, while bronze medalist from 2018, Danil Zaytsev of Russia, was 6th in 2:02.58.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK – FINAL

Another Championships Record bit the dust for the women, this time courtesy of Russian backstroker Daria Vaskina. Successfully defending her title from last year, Vaskina outperformed herself in 27.82, beating 2018’s winning time of 27.90 to check-in with a new meet record.

Also making history was runner-up Anastasya Gorbenko of Isreal. The 15-year-old powered her way to 2nd place in a time of 28.21, almost half a second behind league-of-her-own FVaksina, but good enough to notch a new Senior National Record. Gorbenko’s time surpasses her own previous lifetime best of 28.56 to obliterate the old Israeli NR of 28.51

Bronze tonight went to Italy’s Costanza Cocconcelli, who sliced 02 off of her previous PB from 2018.

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 26.97, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
  • Championships Record – 27.23, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
  • GOLD – Vladislav Gerasimenko (RUS), 27.77
  • SILVER – Archie Goodburn (GBR), 27.89
  • BRONZE – Arkadios-Geor Aspougalis (GRE) & Caspar Corbeau (NED), 28.16

After leading both the prelims and semi-finals, 18-year-old Archie Goodburn of Great Britain saw the 50m breaststroke European Junior Championships title slip out of his grasp at the touch in tonight’s final.

Instead, it was reigning Euro Junior Champion Vladislav Gerasimenko who got the gold, reaping the win in a time of 27.77 to Goodburn’s 27.89.

The Russian took the title last year in 28.03, so he knocked a good .26 off of that time to top the podium this time around, with Goodburn’s time just shy of his newly-minted PB of 27.85 from this morning.

We saw a tie for bronze between Greece’s Arkadios-Geor Aspougalis and Dutchman Caspar Corbeau. They both touched in 28.16, giving Corbeau his 2nd individual medal here to go with his 200m breast silver from last night.d

WOMEN’S 1500 FREE – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 16:02.29 (target time)
  • Championships Record – 16:11.25, Ajna Kesely (HUN), 2017
  • GOLD – Giulia Salin (GER), 16:13.59
  • SILVER – Beril Boecekler (TUR), 16:21.39
  • BRONZE – Viktoria Mihalyvari Farkas (HUN), 16:26.03

The winner of the women’s 800m free here, Giulia Salin of Italy, managed to add another gold to her haul, taking the 1500m free easily in a tie of 16:13.59. That cleared the field by over 7 seconds, with the next closest competitor represented by Turkey’s Beril Boecekler, who touched in 16:21.39.

For Salin, her time lays waste to her previous personal best of 16:23.58 she logged just this past month at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Barcelona.

Boecekler’s time enters the Turkish history books as a new National Record, beating her own 16:48.97 produced in  April by a mile.

MEN’S 4×200 FREE RELAY – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 7:15.36 (target time)
  • Championships Record – 7:15.46, HUN, 2017
  • GOLD – RUS, 7:16.49
  • SILVER – GER, 7:18.31
  • BRONZE – HUN, 7:21.61

The Russian relays are always dangerous medal contenders and tonight’s 4x200m free relay for the men was no exception. The foursome of Aleksandr Shchegolev, Aleksandr Egorov, Egor Pavlov and Nikita Danilov combined to produce a winning time of 7.16.49, a mark just over a second outside of the European Junior Record.

Shchegolev kicked things off in 1:49.49 and handed the lane off of Egorov who ripped a 1:48.33 on the 2nd leg. Pavlov kept the lead in 1:49.70, while Danilov closed hard in 1:48.97 to seal the victory.

Germany settled for silver just under 2 seconds back in 7:1831, led by Lukas Maertens‘ lead-off leg of 1:48.98.

Hungary’s Gabor Zombori was also sub-1:49 in 1:48.76 on the lead-off to help power his nation to bronze in 7:21.61.

WOMEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

  • Euro Jr Record – 4:01.05 (target time)
  • Championships Record – 4:02.48, GBR, 2018
  • GOLD – Russia, 4:01.83* Championship Record
  • SILVER – Italy, 4:05.66
  • BRONZE – Great Britain, 4:06.48

Russian women followed suit from the men’s 4×2 with a gold in the 4x100m medley relay to cap off the night’s action in Kazan. Hitting a new Championships Record of 4:01.83, the squad of Daria Vaskina, Anastasia Makarova, Aleksandra Sabitova and Ekaterina Nikonova hit the wall with a significant advantage over runners-up Italy.

Italy touched in 4:05.66 for silver, while Great Britain ended their night on the podium in 4:06.48 for bronze.

Vaskina split 1:00.50, with Makarova next in 1:07.86, then Sabitova in 58.27 for fly and Nikonova finished in 55.20. The back and fly legs were big game-changers, with the next fastest split in the field represented by Italian Gaetani’s back opener of 1:02.21 and France’s Lou Guirado’s 1:00.50.

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Thomas Selig
4 years ago

The GB women really need to work on their relay takeovers: 0.6, 0.6, 0.3 is sloooow. They lost out 1.1 secs to the Italians on the three takeovers, and finished 0/8 secs behind. Obviously it’s not as simple as that, but still… something to work on.

Good to see Van der Merwe back up her 200 bronze with a solid split, looking forward to seeing what she can do in the individual later on.

Dee
4 years ago

Huge swim from Papastamos. He’ll win the 400 at a canter – By far his best event.

Swimmer
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

That was a great race!

AnEn
4 years ago

Didn’t expect Richards to be that fast. Even Ceccon, Minakov and Burdisso in top shape would have had to go all out to beat him.
GB might very well have a decent 400 free relay in a couple of years with Scott, Richards, Whittle + X (Guy?).

Dee
Reply to  AnEn
4 years ago

Proud has split 47high a few times. McLay went 49.0 at nationals, not hugely fast but he was born in 1999 so potential.

Pvdh
Reply to  AnEn
4 years ago

Has guy ever attempted a flat 100 at a notable meet? I mean he’s 1:45 low and 51 low 100 fly…should be able to throw down a 48 low

Thomas Selig
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

He split 48.3 as anchor at last year’s Euros (400 free relay) through some VERY heavy wash. He swam a couple of 100 frees at the Mare Nostrum this year too: IIRC he was somewhere in the 49-low to mid range.

Dee
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

Split 48low-mid a few times on relays, but he was way off his best at those meets (1.46mid free, struggling to break 52 fly) and we were way off the medals. I have no doubt he could get under 48 flying start.

I’ve long wanted Guy to train 100/200fr and 100fl.

Pvdh
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

Does he still lean to the 400m?

Dee
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

200fl & 400fr are pretty much binned, and I thinn he swam 100fr a few times at Mare Nostrum, so I think he’s moving down to 100/200.

Stirlo
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

Dee, if Guy could go under 48 and Proud has already done so more than once, I’m not sure how you can right the Brits off as having “no chance” next year? Let’s face it a 0.5 drop for a 17 year old is not particularly aggressive and if Richards was close to 48 flat in Tokyo, GB could be low 3:11. That may still not be enough for a medal, though a 3:12 won the Pan Pacs, Euros and Commonwealths last year and a 3:11.99 got bronze at the last Worlds. Times move on, I know, but IF the Brits get into the 3:11s, which I admit is a stretch, then they would have at least something of a… Read more »

Dee
Reply to  Stirlo
4 years ago

The US have 47s left, right & centre. Russia do too, as do Brazil. They look miles ahead of the pack. We could get top 5 if cards all fall right. 2024 we could have a really good squad – So many fast lads coming through.

Jeff
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

I’d imagine Guy would be good on a relay though maybe as the third leg because he’s great at reeling in and overtaking the field.

Jeff
4 years ago

Pretty impressed by that from Richards. Would have got him 2nd at trials. Sets him up very well for the olympics.

Emg1986
4 years ago

48.88 from Richards? Or did I Hallucinate?

Dee
4 years ago

Okay when did we forget we can’t do the 100fr? A 16yo Brit just went 48.8. Just 0.09 off the Welsh record.

Thomas Selig
4 years ago

Richards 48.88! Great swim!!

Actually makes him the second fastest Brit this season I think.

Super excited for his 200 now too.

Stirlo
Reply to  Thomas Selig
4 years ago

Well it would have done but I think David Cumberlidge did a lead-off 48.76 at the WSGs. What would GB need to do to qualify a team for the 4×1 for Tokyo? With Scott, Proud, Guy and now Cumberlidge and Richards they would surely be favored to make the final, especially if Richards improves again next year. If he emerges as a 48-low guy to lead-off (call it 48.3), then a 47.9 from proud, a 48.3 from Guy (splits they did at the CGs) would leave them in contention with Scott to anchor. A 47 flat from him and they’d be at 3:11.5, which would put them in the mix for bronze! Optimistic I know!

Dee
Reply to  Stirlo
4 years ago

Don’t forget McLay; 2nd at nationals in 49.0 and he was still a teenager then (is he 20 yet?)… And you just never know where Whittle will be in a year, so much changes at 14. Might get growth injuries, might be swimming 48high. Exciting times for GBR male sprinters finally.

AnEn
Reply to  Stirlo
4 years ago

Only a bit too optimistic …
From not being a final contender to being a contender for bronze in one year.
Even if all those things magically happy and somehow Proud becomes competent in the 100 free i still think that at least the US, Russia and Brazil would be (considerably) faster than 3:11.5.

Dee
Reply to  AnEn
4 years ago

They have zero chance next year. But, they should absolutely send a team. 47.8/48.7/48.8/49.0 are the fastest Brits this year – They could make the final. As for Proud, he isnt too bad on a relay.

Jeff
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

I think they do have a chance when you factor in that Richards will likely improve by next year and that Guy and Proud could probably put up decent splits as well.

AnEn
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

I agree, definitely good enough to send a team although i think it will be difficult to make the final.
On paper i would say that the following teams are better:
USA, Russia, Brazil, Australia, Japan, China, Italy, Hungary
This would leave GB as 9th, but in relays you never know, for sure there is a chance.

Dee
4 years ago

All I want for Christmas is a British breaststroker who can do pullouts like the Russians. Why do we always lose so much ground underwater…

Super swim for Van Der Merwe though. Chikunova looked content to go for the win.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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