2019 European Junior Swimming Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2019 EUROPEAN JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, July 3rd – Sunday, July 7th
• Aquatics Palace, Kazan, Russia
• LCM
• Meet Site
• Entry List
• Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap/Day 2 Finals Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Day 4’s finals session at the 2019 European Junior Swimming Championships will be a marathon, starting with 7 semi-final races before rolling into 7 medal rounds (with an 8th semi-final thrown in later in the session for good measure). That includes both semi-final and final rounds of the women’s 50 free and men’s 50 back.

Among the key events of the day will be that women’s 50 free, where Germany’s Isabel Gose, already champion of the 100 free and 400 free individually, will see if she can stretch her considerable range down to the 50 and inward to the 200 as well. She’s the 14th seed in the 50 free semi-finals and the top seed in the 200 free finals.

Women’s 50 Free – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Target Time: 24.88
• Championships Record – Maria Makeneva, Russia – 25.02
• Top 8:
  • Costanza Cocconcelli, ITA, 25.54
  • Isabel Gose, GER, 25.57
  • Nina Gangl, AUT, 25.58
  • Ekaterina Nikonova, RUS, 25.60
  • Daria Klepikova, RUS, 25.74
  • Bianca Costea, ROU, 25.81*
  • Indra Vandenbussche, BEL, 25.81*
  • Elisabeth Ebbesen, DEN, 25.84

Italian Costanza Cocconcelli posted the top time out of the women’s 50 free semis in 25.54, nailing a new best out of the second heat. The 17-year-old had previously been 25.56 at the Italian Championships in April.

All-around freestyle ace Isabel Gose of Germany led the first semi in 25.57, edging out Austrian Nina Gangl (25.58) as they advance in second and third. Gose holds a PB of 25.51 from 2017, while that swim was a new best for Gangl who had previously been 25.84.

Men’s 50 Back – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 24.00
• Championships Record – Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 24.52
• Top 8:
  • Thomas Ceccon, ITA, 25.30
  • Nikolai Zuev, RUS, 25.39
  • Pavel Samusenko, RUS, 25.75
  • Marvin Miglbauer, AUT, 25.78
  • Kenzo Simons, NED, 25.83
  • Marvin Dahler, GER, 25.84
  • Stergios-Marios Bilas, GRE, 26.05
  • Ioannis Christou, GRE, 26.09

Russian Nikolai Zuev blasted a time of 25.39 out of the first semi in the men’s 50 back, leading the field by close to half a second and eclipsing his PB by .01.

The second heat proved to be much quicker overall, as Thomas Ceccon of Italy rattled off a 25.30 for the #1 seed. Ceccon holds a best of 25.16 set in April.

Ceccon’s semi ended up having five swimmers advance through, including four of the top five. Another Russian Pavel Samusenko was the next up in 25.75. He’ll be a threat come the final (which is later this session) as he was 25.29 back in April.

Women’s 100 Back – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Daria Vaskina, Russia – 59.46
• Championships Record – Polina Egorova – 59.62
• Top 8:
  • Daria Vaskina, RUS, 1:01.28
  • Rafaela Azevedo, POR, 1:02.00
  • Erika Gaetani, ITA, 1:02.11
  • Lena Grabowski, POL, 1:02.24
  • Lena Riedemann, GER, 1:02.43
  • Medi Harris, GBR, 1:02.44
  • Honey Osrin, GBR, 1:02.56
  • Francesca Pasquino, ITA, 1:02.59

Erika Gaetani of Italy paced the first semi in the women’s 100 back, registering a time of 1:02.11 to fall just shy of her lifetime best 1:01.99. Her 31.64 back half was the fastest in either semi, and she would ultimately advance third overall.

After posting just the seventh-fastest morning swim, 50 back champ Daria Vaskina of Russia turned up the heat in semi 2 as she cleared the field by over seven-tenths in a time of 1:01.28. She should have a lot more in the tank for the final as she was 59.46 back in April.

Rafaela Azevedo, who lowered the Portuguese 50 back record twice yesterday, was just .03 off the 100 mark tonight for the #2 time overall in 1:02.00.

Men’s 100 fly – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Kristof Milak, Hungary – 50.62
• Championships Record – Egor Kuimov, Russia – 51.35
• Top 8:
  • Josif Miladinov, BUL, 52.69
  • Andrei Minakov, RUS, 53.06
  • Luca Nik Armbruster, GER, 53.21
  • Egor Pavlov, RUS, 53.24
  • Noe Ponti, SUI, 53.33
  • Igor Troyanovskyy, UKR, 53.48
  • Gal Cohen Groumi, ISR, 53.59
  • Claudio Antonio Faraci, ITA, 53.66

Bulgarian Josif Miladinov was the only man to crack the 53-second barrier in the 100 fly, touching in 52.69 out of semi 1 to finish just off his best of 52.32 from April.

He was followed by Germany’s Luca Nik Armbruster, who lowered his 53.25 PB down to 53.21 for the third fastest time overall.

Last year’s silver medalist Andrei Minakov cruised through the second semi en route to the win in 53.06, safely advancing through to the final in second. He’ll be the man to beat in the final as he owns a best of 51.12, which is two-tenths under the existing meet record.

His countryman Egor Pavlov was the only swimmer to close sub-28 (27.97) as he placed second to Minakov in heat 2 and fourth overall in 53.24.

Women’s 200 IM – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Target Time: 2:11.03
• Championships Record – Ilaria Cusinato, Italy – 2:13.03
• Top 8:
  • Anastasya Gorbenko, ISR, 2:14.03
  • Zoe Vogelmann, GER, 2:14.56
  • Giulia Goerigk, GER, 2:14.67
  • Katie Shanahan, GBR, 2:15.07
  • Lea Polonsky, ISR, 2:15.26
  • Roberta Circi, ITA, 2:15.91
  • Alba Vazquez Ruiz, ESP, 2:16.16
  • Anna Chernysheva, RUS, 2:16.62

15-year-old Anastasya Gorbenko cruised to the top seed heading into the women’s 200 IM final tomorrow, clocking a 2:14.03 out of the second semi. Gorbenko set the Israeli National Record back in May in a time of 2:11.98.

Zoe Vogelmann won the first semi in 2:14.56 for the second seed, not far off her best of 2:14.04. Her German teammate Giulia Goerigk put up the third-best time out of the two heats in 2:14.67, smashing her best of 2:16.09 set in the prelims.

Men’s 200 Free – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Target Time: 1:53.90
• Championships Record – Yannick Agnel, France – 1:46.58
• Top 8:
  • Antonio Djakovic, SUI, 1:48.19
  • Matthew Richards, GBR, 1:48.93
  • Robin Hanson, SWE, 1:49.04
  • Nikita Danilov, RUS, 1:49.59*
  • Yordan Yanchev, BUL, 1:49.59*
  • Jan Karolczak, POL, 1:49.89
  • Hugo Sagnes, FRA, 1:49.90
  • Luc Kroon, NED, 1:50.25

400 free winner Antonio Djakovic of Switzerland put up the top time out of the men’s 200 free semis in 1:48.19, just off of his PB 1:47.90 from the lead-off leg of the 800 free relay.

He was followed in that second semi by Sweden’s Robin Hanson, the runner-up in the 100 free, in 1:49.04. Hanson holds a best of 1:48.14 from the Youth Olympic Games last October.

16-year-old British standout Matthew Richards won the first semi for the second-fastest time overall in 1:48.93, lowering his previous best of 1:49.36. Both he and Russian Nikita Danilov (1:49.59) threw down fast closing 50s in that heat, with splits of 27.35 and 27.08 respectively.

Women’s 100 Breast – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Target Time: 1:04.35
• Championships Record – Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 1:05.48
• Top 8:
  • Kotryna Teterevkova, LTU, 1:07.34
  • Evgeniia Chikunova, RUS, 1:07.84
  • Kayla van der Merwe, GBR, 1:07.96
  • Anastasia Makarova, RUS, 1:08.00
  • Lydie Stepankova, CZE, 1:08.74
  • Benedetta Pilato, ITA, 1:08.77
  • Eszter Bekesi, HUN, 1:09.82
  • Thea Blomsterberg, DEN, 1:09.85

Lithuanian Kotryna Teterevkova dipped below 1:08 for the first time to lead the women’s 100 breast field out of the semis, as the 17-year-old put up a time of 1:07.34. Teterevkova is the defending champion, and her previous best of 1:08.03 was done in last year’s final in Helsinki.

200 breast winner Evgeniia Chikunova touched second to Teterevkova in the second semi, giving her the second-fastest time overall in 1:07.84. Her previous best was also 1:08.03 from the Russian Championships in April.

Kayla van der Merwe of Great Britain topped the first semi for what ended up being the #3 time overall in 1:07.96, taking out her old PB of 1:08.56.

Men’s 200 Back – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – 1:55.14, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
• Championships Record – 1:55.83, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• Gold – Jan Cejka, CZE, 1:57.51
• Silver – Mewen Tomac, FRA, 1:58.31
• Bronze – Egor Dolomanov, RUS, 1:59.21

Jan Cejka downed the Czech National Record for the second time today in the men’s 200 back, claiming gold in a time of 1:57.51.

The 18-year-old dropped over two seconds in the prelims to break Tomas Ludvik‘s 2017 record of 1:59.43 in 1:59.12, and then knocked another 1.6 off tonight. Cejka’s best coming into the meet was 2:01.16 from May.

Cejka moved past France’s Mewen Tomac on the third 50 with a 30.12 split and then was the only one in the field to close sub-30 in 29.74 to seal the win.

Tomac picked up silver in 1:58.31, getting under his PB of 1:59.36 set in the prelims. Igor Dolomanov of Russia and Arijus Pavlidi of Lithuania turned dead even at the 150, but it was Dolomanov with the 30.24 closing 50 who got his hand on the wall for bronze in 1:59.21. Pavlidi was fourth in 1:59.82.

Women’s 200 Free – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – 1:56.78 – Target Time
• Championships Record – 1:57.85, Ajna Kesely (HUN), 2017
• Gold – Isabel Gose, GER, 1:57.51 CR
• Silver – Polina Nevmovenko, RUS, 1:58.94
• Bronze – Maya Tobehn, GER, 1:59.72

In between her 50 free semi and final swims, Isabel Gose went out and put on a dominant performance to win the women’s 200 freestyle in a time of 1:57.51. That breaks Ajna Kesely‘s 2017 meet record of 1:57.85, and also takes out her previous PB of 1:58.17 (which was set in last year’s final where she won gold over Kesely).

Polina Nevmovenko, last year’s bronze medalist, moved up a spot on the podium to snag silver in a new best of 1:58.94. She used a 29.81 last 50 to overtake German Maya Tobehn, who settled for bronze in 1:59.72.

Men’s 100 Breast – Semi-Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Nicolo’ Martinenghi, Italy – 59.23
• Championships Record – Nicolo’ Martinenghi, Italy – 59.23
• Top 8:
  • Caspar Corbeau, NED, 1:00.93
  • Eoin Corby, IRL, 1:01.25
  • Vladislav Gerasimenko, RUS, 1:01.42
  • Demirkan Demir, TUR, 1:01.46
  • Archie Goodburn, GBR, 1:01.59
  • Aleksandr Zhigalov, RUS, 1:01.65
  • Carl Aitkaci, FRA, 1:02.66
  • Kyle Booth, GBR, 1:02.67

After establishing a new best time in the prelims, Caspar Corbeau did so again in tonight’s semis of the men’s 100 breast, breaking 1:01 for the first time in 1:00.93. That gave him the win in semi 2 and the top time overall.

Eoin Corby of Ireland did the same, first knocking his 1:02.01 best down to 1:01.88 this morning before dropping a 1:01.25 tonight to advance second overall into the final. Vladislav Gerasimenko, the defending champion, was third to those two in the second semi and advances through third overall in 1:01.42.

Demirkan Demir of Turkey paced the first heat in 1:01.46, edging his prelim PB of 1:01.52.

Women’s 100 Fly – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – 56.06 – Target Time
• Championships Record – 58.20, Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR), 2019
• Gold – Anastasiya Shkurdai, BLR, 57.39 CR
• Silver – Aleksandra Sabitova, RUS, 59.27
• Bronze – Helena Biasibetti, ITA, 59.69

After setting a new Championship Record of 58.20 in the semis, 16-year-old Anastasiya Shkurdai smashed that mark in the final of the women’s 100 fly, touching in 57.39 for another meet record. The swim also breaks her own Belarusian National Record, which previously stood at 57.75 from earlier this year. She now sits sixth in the world rankings.

Russian Aleksandra Sabitova was a distant second in 59.27, as her opening 50 of 27.09 was enough to hold off the strong back half of 31.52 from Helena Biasibetti of Italy. Biasibetti closed quicker than anyone other than Shkurdai en route to claiming bronze in 59.69, a new best time.

Men’s 800 Free – Timed Final

• Euro  Jr Record – 7:51.97 – Target Time
• Championships Record – 7:54.81, Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR), 2014
• Gold – Ilia Sibirtsev, RUS, 7:52.83 CR
• Silver – Aleksandr Egorov, RUS, 7:53.34
• Bronze – Sven Schwarz, GER, 7:53.74

Despite the fact it was a close battle throughout, Russian Ilia Sibirtsev maintained the lead in the men’s 800 free at each and every wall, ultimately holding off teammate Aleksandr Egorov and German Sven Schwarz for the gold in 7:52.83.

Sibirtsev’s swim knocks off Mykhailo Romanchuk‘s 2014 meet record of 7:54.81, and also sneaks under his previous best of 7:53.98 by just over a second. That swim was done at the Russian Championships in April, where he finished third behind Egorov (who was second).

Egorov and Schwarz both gave valiant efforts closing in 27.7, but fell just shy of Sibirtsev. Egorov made it a Russian 1-2 in 7:53.34, 1.3 seconds off his best from those Russian Nats (7:52.04), and Schwarz finished in 7:53.74 to destroy his old PB of 8:01.82.

Women’s 50 Free – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Target Time: 24.88
• Championships Record – Maria Makeneva, Russia – 25.02
• Gold – Costanza Cocconcelli, ITA, 25.25
• Silver – Isabel Gose, GER, 25.30
• Bronze – Ekaterina Nikonova, RUS, 25.33

Costanza Cocconcelli edged out Isabel Gose to win the women’s 50 free in a time of 25.25, lowering her PB set just about two hours ago in the semis (25.54).

Gose, who won the 200 free less than an hour prior to this race, also set a new best time in 25.30 for silver. Ekaterina Nikonova finished .01 off her lifetime best from the Russian Championships to win bronze in 25.33.

Men’s 50 Back – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 24.00
• Championships Record – Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 24.52
• Gold – Thomas Ceccon, ITA, 25.24
• Silver – Nikolai Zuev, RUS, 25.29
• Bronze – Pavel Samusenko, RUS, 25.59

The top three from the semis remained the same in the men’s 50 back final, all going slightly faster than they did early in the session.

Italy’s Thomas Ceccon claimed the win in 25.24, quicker than his 25.30 in the semis but just off his best of 25.16. Russian Nikolai Zuev was a tenth better than his PB from the semis for silver in 25.29, and his countryman Pavel Samusenko was a further three-tenths back for the bronze medal in 25.59.

Kenzo Simons of the Netherlands, who finished seventh last year, clipped his best time by .02 for fourth place in 25.63.

Mixed 400 Medley Relay – Final

• Euro  Jr Record – Russia – 3:47.99
• Championships Record – Russia – 3:47.99
• Gold – Russia, 3:49.13
• Silver – Germany, 3:52.22
• Bronze – Turkey, 3:52.35

After a long deliberation of potential disqualifications, the official results have come out and the three medalists all had clean starts.

Russia wins gold in 3:49.13, with strong all-around swims from Daria Vaskina (1:00.39), Aleksandr Zhigalov (1:00.69), Andrei Minakov (51.96) and Aleksandra Sabitova (56.09). Vaskina and Zhigalov had the top female back and male breast legs in the field.

Germany picks up silver in 3:52.22, with a notable 51.80 fly leg from Luca Nik Armbruster and a 54.69 free split from Maya Tobehn.

As one of just two teams to use two men on the front half, Turkey had opened up a huge lead at the 200 with splits from Mert Ali Satir (56.49) and Demirkan Demir (1:00.80). But then flyer Aleyna Ozkan had a very quick takeover, that looked like it may have been a false start. It ended up being a -0.02 reaction, just clear of the -0.03 limit, and they ended up holding on for bronze in 3:52.35.

The Italians incredibly had three takeovers 0.02 or faster, including one that was right at the -0.03 limit, but they were safe and ended up fifth. It ended up being Israel, with Anastasya Gorbenko on the anchor, getting disqualified for a -0.06 reaction time. Her split was 53.14 with the quick takeover.