2022 World Junior Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2022 FINA WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 3rd prelims session of the 2022 World Junior Championships will feature heats of the girls 50 fly, boys 50 back, girls 100 breast, boys 50 free, girls 200 back, and mixed 4×100 free relay. Additionally, the boys 800 free will be held today as a timed finals event. The slower heats of the 800 will be swum during this prelims session, while the fastest heat will take place during tonight’s final.

We’re not done with Ksawery Masiuk/Pieter Coetze backstroke duels yet either. After Coetze broke the World Junior Championship Record in the 100 back in semifinals on day 1, Ksawery won gold in the final last night, breaking Coetze’s day-old mark. The pair will now go up against each other in the 50 back, starting with this morning’s prelims. Masiuk is the top seed, coming in with a sizzling 24.48. He’s just ahead of Coetze, who has been 24.74 before. The pair come in to the meet as the only swimmers in the field under 25 seconds.

After winning the girls 50 breaststroke last night, Poland’s Karolina Piechowicz enters today as the top seed in the girls 100 breast. She comes in at 1:08.93, coming in as the only swimmer in the field under 1:09.

With no Popovici in the field in the boys 50 free, it looks like it will be a tight battle. Croatia’s Jere Hribar is the top seed, entering at 22.32, just ahead of Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro (22.35) and France’s Nans Mazellier (22.44).

There looks to be a similarly exciting battle brewing in the girls 200 back, where Hungary’s Dora Molnar enters as the top seed (2:09.34). She’s followed closely by Poland’s Laura Bernat (2:09.81). Also in the mix is 400 IM champion Mio Narita (Japan), who broke the Championship Record in the 400 IM on night 1.

You can watch a live stream on FINA’s YouTube channel. We’ve also included the stream for you below:

GIRLS 50 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

  • World Record — 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom (2014)
  • World Junior Record — 25.46, Rikako Ikee (2017)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 25.46, Rikako Ikee (2017)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

  1. Jana Pavalic (CRO) – 26.86
  2. Beatriz Bezerra (BRA) – 27.04
  3. Paulina Cierpialowska (POL) – 27.19
  4. Mizuki Hirai (JPN) – 27.21
  5. Lillian Slusna (SVK) – 27.24
  6. Celine Bispo (BRA) – 27.48
  7. Paola Borrelli (ITA) – 27.54
  8. Jessica Thompson (RSA) – 27.58
  9. Maria Fernanda Mendez Guerra (MEX) – 27.63
  10. Lora Fanni Komoroczy (HUN) – 27.64
  11. Nilsu Demiran (TUR) – 27.75
  12. Mina Kaljevic (SRB) – 27.88
  13. Hajung Yang (KOR) – 27.90
  14. Valentina Castro (ARG) – 28.19
  15. Isabella Bedoya Calle (COL) – 28.63
  16. Mehlika Kuzeh Yalcin (TUR) – 28.63

Top seed Jana Pavalic (Croatia) led prelims this morning in the girls 50 fly, swimming a 26.86 to touch as the only swimmer in the field under 27 seconds. Brazil’s Beatriz Bezerra was close to cracking 27 this morning as well, touching 2nd in 27.04. She’ll be looking to dip under that mark tonight in semifinals.

Pavalic is notably one of the youngest swimmers in the field, having just turned 15 years old in May.

BOYS 50 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

  • World Record — 23.71, Hunter Armstrong (2022)
  • World Junior Record — 24.00, Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 24.63, Michael Andrew (2017)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

  1. Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 24.95
  2. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 25.13
  3. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 25.77
  4. Aron Szekely (HUN) – 25.97
  5. Yohan Airaud (FRA) – 26.04
  6. Simon Clusman (FRA) – 26.24
  7. Ulises Saravia (ARG) – 26.32
  8. Michal Pruszynski (POL) – 26.34
  9. Seongju Kim (KOR) – 26.59
  10. Ognjen Kovacevic (SRB) – 26.67
  11. Dogukan Arsen Tombul (TUR) – 26.81
  12. Liang-Yun Wu (TPE) – 27.05
  13. Samuel Lopes (BRA) – 27.17
  14. Patrik Foltan (SVK) – 27.09
  15. Elias Ardiles (CHI) – 27.10
  16. Lucca Tonin (BRA) – 27.17

South Africa’s Pieter Coetze was on top of his game this morning, roaring to a 24.95 to establish the only sub-25 in the field. As was expected, Coetze, along with Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk, led the event, with Masiuk touching 2nd this morning in 25.13. The two are fresh off their battle in the 100 back in last night’s final, which saw Masiuk win, breaking Coetze’s day-old Championship Record. We can look forward to another thrilling in this final, assuming these two both make it through tonight’s semifinals.

The Czech Republic’s Miroslav Knedla had a solid swim this morning, swimming a 25.77 for 3rd place.

GIRLS 100 BREASTSTROKE  – HEATS

  • World Record — 1:04.13, Lilly King (2017)
  • World Junior Record — 1:04.35, Ruta Meilutyte (2013)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 1:06.61, Ruta Meilutyte (2013)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

  1. Karolina Piechowicz (POL) – 1:09.74
  2. Jana Pribylova (CZE) – 1:09.90
  3. Irene Mati (ITA) – 1:10.27
  4. Martina Bukvic (SRB) – 1:10.77 (TIE)
  5. Natalie Jandikova (CZE) – 1:10.77 (TIE)
  6. Sieun Park (KOR) – 1:10.87
  7. Yuri Matsumoto (JPN) – 1:11.13
  8. Maria Ramos Najii (ESP) – 1:11.25 (ESP)
  9. Jimena Ruiz (ESP) – 1:11.25 (ESP)
  10. Yumeno Kusuda (JPN) – 1:11.57
  11. Jia-Shiun Li (TPE) – 1:12.24
  12. Ah Ryoung Kim (KOR) – 1:12.53
  13. Bianka Dorottya Barna (HUN) – 1:12.56
  14. Apeksha Delyla Fernandes (IND) – 1:14.23
  15. Julia Christen (ARG) – 1:14.25
  16. Georgia Cecile Els (RSA) – 1:14.34

After winning the girls 50 breast in last night’s final, Poland’s Karolina Piechowicz led prelims of the 100 breast this morning in 1:09.74. She, along with Czech Republic’s Jana Pribylova were the only swimmers this morning to crack 1:10.

Notably, Spain’s swimmers tied for 8th this morning. Maria Ramos Najii, 16, and Jimena Ruiz, 15, both swam 1:11.25 to safely qualify for semifinals tonight.

Czech Republic is looking strong in the event as well, as Martina Bukvic finished in a tie for 4th this morning in 1:10.77.

BOYS 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

  • World Record — 20.91, Cesar Cielo (2009)
  • World Junior Record — 21.75, Michael Andrew (2017)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 21.75, Michael Andrew (2017)

Top 16 Qualifiers:

  1. Diogo Ribeiro (POR) – 22.32
  2. Jere Hribar (CRO) – 22.42
  3. Matheus Pereira (BRA) – 22.62
  4. Nans Mazellier (FRA) – 22.75
  5. Nikolas Antoniou (CYP) – 22.77
  6. Benedek Andor (HUN) – 22.97 (TIE)
  7. Nikoli Matthew Harold Blackman (TTO) – 22.97 (TIE)
  8. Matias Santiso (ARG) – 23.04
  9. Szymon Misiak (POL) – 23.17
  10. Davide Passafaro (ITA) – 23.23
  11. Rokas Jazdauskas (LTU) – 23.24
  12. Matteo Robba (FRA) – 23.28
  13. Patrick Sebastian Dinu (ROU) – 23.31
  14. Vitor Sega (BRA) – 23.36
  15. Marvin Johnon (BAH) – 23.38
  16. Nathaniel Thomas (JAM) – 23.50

After a phenomenal European Championships a few weeks ago, Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro is continuing to race well here in Lima. Ribeiro led prelims of the boys 50 free this morning, swimming a 22.32. After breaking the Portuguese Record in the men’s 100 free at European Champs, Ribeiro is sitting close to the national record in the 50 free, which stands at 21.90. As he advances through semifinals and finals of this meet, we’ll be watching to see if he can inch closer to that record mark.

Jere Hribar was (Croatia) was right behind Ribeiro this morning, swimming a 22.42.

Cyrpus’ Nikolas Antoniou broke the Cypriot Record in the 50 free at the European Junior Championships in July, swimming a 22.72. This morning, he was 22.77, finishing 5th overall.

After splitting 49.47 and 49.50 anchoring Romania’s boys 4×100 free relays on day 1, Romanian 17-year-old Patrick Sebastian Dinu was 13th this morning in 23.31. Given his speedy 100 splits on the relay, he’ll be someone else to keep an eye on tonight.

GIRLS 200 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

  • World Record — 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
  • World Junior Record — 2:03.35, Regan Smith (2019)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 2:07.45, Regan Smith (2017)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Dora Molnar (HUN) – 2:11.62
  2. Mio Narita (JPN) – 2:12.05
  3. Yuzuki Mizuno (JPN) – 2:12.55
  4. Laura Bernat (POL) – 2:13.29
  5. Estella Tonrath (ESP) – 2:14.34
  6. Sum Yuet Cindy Cheung (HKG) – 2:15.52
  7. Malena Santillan (ARG) – 2:16.02
  8. Sudem Denizli (TUR) – 2:17.66

This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting finals races of the meet. Between Dora Molnar, Mio Narita, Yuzuki Mizuno, and Laura Bernat, it’s hard to predict who will be standing on the top of podium tonight, and who will be left off the podium. Mizuno won Jr Pan Pacs gold last week, swimming a new lifetime best of 2:09.17. Narita, who broke the Championship Record in the 400 IM on day 1, finished 2nd at Jr Pan Pacs in the 200 back in 2:09.67. Molnar won the 100 back last night, and swept the backstroke events at the European Junior Championships in July.

MIXED 4×100 FREE RELAY – HEATS

  • World Record — 3:19.38, Australia (2022)
  • World Junior Record — 3:25.92, USA (2019)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 3:25.92, USA (2019)

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Romania – 3:31.58
  2. Hungary – 3:33.82
  3. Italy – 3:35.93
  4. South Africa – 3:36.82
  5. Spain – 3:36.84
  6. Poland – 3:37.35
  7. Japan – 3:38.18
  8. Brazil – 3:38.71

These Romanian relays continue to roll. After winning the boys 4×100 free relay on the first day of the meet, Romania has taken the top seed for tonight’s final in the mixed 4×100 free relay. David Popovici swam a 47.61 leading the team off this morning, coming in 0.3 seconds slower than he led off the boys 4×100 free relay in prelims on day 1. He was followed by Patrick Sebastian Dinu in 49.69, getting this Romanian team into the halfway turn ahead of the World Junior Record pace. Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu swam a 56.68 on the 3rd leg and Bianca-Andreea Costea anchored in 57.60 for a final time of 3:31.58.

Notably, this same Romanian team set the Romanian Record in the mixed 4×100 free relay at the European Junior Championships in July, where they swam a 3:29.35. On that relay, Popovici led off in 47.34, while Dinu split 50.03 on the 2nd leg. Popovici led the boys 4×100 free relay in finals off in 47.07 two days ago, while Dinu has now split, 49.4, 49.5, and 49.6 so far at these championships. On the European Juniors relay, Costea split 55.47, way faster than she was this morning, while Diaconescu split 56.51, just a tick faster than she was this morning.

Taking all that into account, it appears Romania is primed to take down their national record tonight, and if they do so, they should win gold without a problem.

Hungary was 2nd this morning in 3:33.82, thanks in large part to an excellent 49.80 split from Benedek Bona on the 2nd leg. Other notable splits in the field include a 49.69 from Italy’s Francesco Lazzari (2nd leg), and South Africa’s Pieter Coetze, who led off his relay in 49.85.

BOYS 800 FREESTYLE – EARLY HEATS

  • World Record — 7:32.12, Lin Zhang (2009)
  • World Junior Record — 7:43.37, Lorenzo Galossi (2022)
  • World Jr Champ Record — 7:45.67, Mack Horton (2013)

Early Heats Results:

  1. Riku Yamaguchi (JPN) – 8:04.71
  2. Aryan Nehra (IND) – 8:12.93
  3. Guilherme Sperandio (BRA) – 8:14.51
  4. Ross Paterson (RSA) – 8:15.49
  5. Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda (IND) – 8:17.19
  6. Jakub Poliacik (SVK) – 8:18.67
  7. Junwoo Kim (KOR) – 8:23.49
  8. Josean Omar Massucco (PUR) – 8:25.31
  9. Daniellis Kvederis (LTU) – 8:25.35
  10. Seungyun Han (KOR) – 8:30.04
  11. Matthew Caldwell (RSA) – 8:33.83
  12. Diego Dulieu (HON) – 8:35.73
  13. Shing Ip He (HKG) – 8:35.96
  14. Adrian Gustavo Ywanaga Papi (PER) – 8:38.00
  15. Vasco Asparria Martinez (PER) – 8:40.65
  16. Alberto Vega (ESA) – 8:46.75
  17. Xavier Ventura (ESA) – 8:48.76
  18. Diego Alvarado (ESA) – 8:53.05
  19. Maidar Gongor (MGL) – 9:29.17

Japan’s Riku Yamaguchi posted the fastest time of the early heats of the boys 800 free this morning, clocking an 8:04.71. All 8 of the swimmers set to compete in the fastest heat in finals tonight are seeded faster than Yamaguchi swam, but he may be able to break into the top 8.

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swimmer
1 year ago

Is there a count for the number of times people have gone below 48 in 100 free? I would think Popo must be pretty close to having the most if not already.

Alexandru
Reply to  swimmer
1 year ago

There is: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChP_3FjgHHZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I think he has 18 in total (14 only from 2022 so far) and he can add 4 more at worlds if he swims only sub48s

Admin
Reply to  swimmer
1 year ago
FST
1 year ago

Before Euros there was an article on SwimSwam titled “The Popo show is coming to Rome” or something like that. I’m as obsessed with this guy as everyone else, but it does feel kind of unfair to all these other kids that nobody is even interested in their results. The Popo show indeed…

swimgeek
Reply to  FST
1 year ago

Popo is the most exciting young talent to come into swimming since probably Phelps. He’s bringing a LOT of eyes to this meet just by showing up – so all the kids swimming are actually getting MORE attention because of him. He’s also incredibly mature for his age and a great ambassador for this sport. Your comment is misplaced.

Alexandru
Reply to  FST
1 year ago

Who is to blame that people are not as excited about the others?

Last edited 1 year ago by Alexandru
Rafael
1 year ago

Who was the genius who decided to have the Girls 100 free final 20 minutes before the 4×100 mixed relay? With only the Boys 800 in between????

Last edited 1 year ago by Rafael
Rafael
Reply to  Rafael
1 year ago

Many teams might not field the best possible team because of this, 2 Hungarians, 2 Brazilians and 2 italians are on this 100 free final

NathenDrake
Reply to  Rafael
1 year ago

Some romanian probably, or someone who wants them to win.
At the junior euros Hungary won.
But Molnár will have a 200 back, and she is getting terid at the end of her insane summer.

A_fan
Reply to  NathenDrake
1 year ago

Except that Bianca Costea from Romania will also be in the 100m final… never ascribe to malice what can be simply described by incompetence…

Justhereforfun
1 year ago

Genuine question here: Can Popovici officially break the WR in the mixed relay if he swims the 1st leg and all the other teams have men on the 1st leg too?

Last edited 1 year ago by Justhereforfun
John26
Reply to  Justhereforfun
1 year ago

Not allowed

John26
1 year ago

…aannnnd another one, 47.61

monsterbasher
1 year ago

Do we know if DP is swimming today?

swimmer
Reply to  monsterbasher
1 year ago

hes leading off the mixed relay

John Hueth
1 year ago

DP needs to swim other races than just freestyle. He is going to eventually burn out and stop dropping time if he only sticks with 1 stroke. We saw this happen to Katie Ledecky. Now, Katie Ledecky is starting to swim other strokes and distances, and it is helping her main events. I hope DP does the same before it’s too late!

Sun Yangs Hammer
Reply to  John Hueth
1 year ago

Too late? The dude is 17 🤡

Xman
Reply to  John Hueth
1 year ago

Im sure he will, but he might not have the prerequisite to enter other events for this meet. But Katie didn’t stop dropping time until she was about 22 or 23 and she was competing and training IM just not at worlds.

All the swimmers at this level can compete at a very high level is all strokes and distances, and they do in training but they pick what they can win or place the best in.

Blake Pepperoni was an IMer, Aaron Peirsol had a top 8 butterfly and 200 Free. Ryan Lochte qualified for OT in every event in 2004 and even swam the mile in prelims before scratching finals.

coachymccoachface
Reply to  John Hueth
1 year ago

You know Ledecky swam the 400 IM in college right?

Swimmer
Reply to  coachymccoachface
1 year ago

And is probably in the “least disappointing career of all time” conversation

coachymccoachface
Reply to  Swimmer
1 year ago

/s?

Rafael
1 year ago

Steverink, Chiemelekwsi and Stancu side by side again at night.. Even with Batuhan being the 2nd seed and Garach 4th seed I think we will see the top 400 guys battling again by themselves..

nuotofan
Reply to  Rafael
1 year ago

Yes, curiously they will be again from lane 2 to lane 4 like in the 400 free final (this time Steverink in 2, Chmielewski in 3 and Stancu in 4). Garach swam a PB in the 400 free final and could be in the mix for podium places. Bertoni is another to watch: it will depend on energy he’ll have after the 200 free and a very long season, like Filiz who had a great 200 free heat and a slower final.

Last edited 1 year ago by nuotofan