2016 Russian Olympic Trials: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2016 RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS / OLYMPIC TRIALS

• April 16-23rd, 2016
• Moscow, Russia
• Prelims 09:00/Finals 18:00 Local Time
• Prelims 02:00/Finals 11:00 U.S. Eastern Time
• Live results (IN ENGLISH – including event-by-event start lists)
• Live stream
• Russian selection criteria

After day one at the Russian Olympic Trials there was only one qualifier, Aleksandr Krasnykh, in the men’s 400 free. However, there is lots of optimism that a few more will qualify here on day two with plenty of events slated for tonight. Svetlana Chimrova has a great chance of qualifying in the 100 fly, and Kirill Prigoda will be a favorite in the men’s 100 breast.

Women’s 100 Butterfly – Final

• Russian Record: Svetlana Chimrova, 57.82, 2016
• Russian Selection Time: 58.31

1. Svetlana Chimrova, Moscow City, 57.79 * (Olympic Qualifier)
2. Natalia Lovtcova, Novosibirsk Region, 58.41
3. Daria Tcvetkova, Altai Territory, 58.51

Svetlana Chimrova booked her ticket to the Olympics with a blistering swim of 57.79, breaking her own national record of 57.82 and crushing the Russian selection standard of 58.31. Runner-up Natalia Lovtcova just missed the standard clocking 58.41, and 3rd place finisher Daria Tcvetkova wasn’t far off either in 58.51. 4th place finisher Polina Egorova also broke 59 seconds in 58.61.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Semifinals

• Russian Record: Danila Izotov, 1:43.90, 2009
• Russian Selection Time: 1:47.01

Two-time Olympian Nikita Lobintsev led the way in the men’s 200 free semis, posting a time of 1:47.85 for the top seed tomorrow night. Lobintsev qualified just 10th this morning in the prelims positing a time of 1:50.66, but clearly he was saving a lot in the tank for tonight. Lobintsev is also a two-time Olympic finalist, making the top-8 at the 2008 Olympics in the 400 free, and the 2012 Olympics in the 100 free.

National record holder Danila Izotov was close behind Lobintsev in the first semi, coming in at 1:47.96, as was Viacheslav Andrusenko who’s 3rd in 1:48.00. Mikhail Dovgalyuk (1:48.08) won the second semi for the 4th seed.

The top four finishers in finals will earn relay qualifications, while the 5th and 6th place finishers will be in consideration. In order to earn an individual swim the swimmers will have go under 1:47.01 tomorrow.

Top 8 Heading to Finals:

1. Nikita Lobintsev, Moscow Reg., 1:47.85
2. Danila Izotov, Krasnodar Territory, 1:47.96
3. Viacheslav Andrusenko, St.Petersburg, 1:48.00
4. Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Moscow City, 1:48.08
5. Artem Lobuzov, Moscow City, 1:48.32
6. Aleksandr Krasnykh, Tatarstan, 1:48.41
7. Alexander Sukhorukov, St.Petersburg-Komi, 1:48.69
8. Stepan Surkov, Volgograd Region, 1:49.18

Women’s 100 Breaststroke- Semifinals

• Russian Record: Yulia Efimova, 1:05.02, 2013
• Russian Selection Time: 1:07.54

Natalia Ivaneeva posted the top time in the women’s 100 breast semis, clocking 1:08.13 for the top seed tomorrow night. Daria Chikunova (1:08.52) and Alena Efimova (1:08.68) were close behind, as all three will look to get under the Russian qualifying standard of 1:07.54 tomorrow night.

Though currently suspended by FINA, 2-time defending world champion Yulia Efimova will be given a chance to qualify by Russian Swimming if her doping ban is lifted.

Top 8 Heading to Finals:

1. Natalia Ivaneeva, Volgograd Region, 1:08.13
2. Daria Chikunova, St.Petersburg, 1:08.52
3. Alena Efimova, KHMAO-Yugra, 1:08.68
4. Anna Belousova, Sverdlovsk Region, 1:09.19
5. Alena Chekhovskikh, St.Petersburg, 1:09.39
6. Maria Temnikova, St.Petersburg, 1:09.41
7. Mariia Astashkina, Penza Region, 1:09.59
8. Margarita Dryamina, Udmurtia, 1:09.88

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Final

• Russian Record: Kirill Prigoda, 59.60, 2015
• Russian Selection Time: 59.99

1. Vsevolod Zanko, Moscow City, 59.72 *
2. Kirill Prigoda, St.Petersburg, 59.94 / Anton Chupkov, Moscow City, 59.94 *

In a very tight final, Vsevolod Zanko of Moscow City posted a 59.72 to win the men’s 100 breast, sliding under the qualifying standard of 59.99 and coming very close to Kirill Prigoda‘s national record of 59.60.

Prigoda and Anton Chupkov tied for 2nd in 59.94, both under the standard as well. Unlike other countries that may have a swim-off in this situation (Cullen Jones and Garrett Weber-Gale swam off for a spot on the 2009 World Championship team in the 50 free after tying for 2nd), Russia goes to the semi-final to determine the qualifier by taking who was faster there. In the semi-final Prigoda was quickest in 1:00.17, while Chupkov was the 4th qualifier in 1:00.55. This gives the spot on the team to Prigoda.

Ilya Khomenko (1:00.01) and Andrei Nikolaev (1:00.21) were also close to the qualifying standard, taking 4th and 5th respectively.

Women’s 400 Freestyle – Final

• Russian Record: Yelena Sokolova, 4:06.30, 2008
• Russian Selection Time: 4:07.99

1. Arina Openysheva, Krasnoyarsk Territory, 4:08.84
2. Daria Mullakaeva, Perm Territory, 4:11.93
3. Yulia Snoz, St.Petersburg, 4:13.01

Arina Openysheva came out on top in the women’s 400 free in a time of 4:08.84, just missing her personal best of 4:08.81 from the European Games last June. The time misses the Russian qualification standard of 4:07.99 by less than a second, leaving her without a spot on the team in this event.

Daria Mullakaeva was 2nd in 4:11.93, and Yulia Snoz (4:13.01) was 3rd. Both swims were large personal bests.

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Semifinals

• Russian Record: Akrady Vyatchanin, 52.57, 2009
• Russian Selection Time: 53.99

In the first semi-final of the men’s 100 back Grigory Tarasevich threw down a big best time of 53.03, going nearly a full second under the Russian qualifying standard of 53.99. Tarasevich was out fast in 25.69, and held on for a strong back half of 27.34. Nikita Ulyanov posted a solid 54.19 for 2nd in the first semi, putting him safely into tomorrow’s final.

In the second semi-final Evgeny Rylov improved his morning swim by 0.03, clocking 53.22 for the second seed heading into the final. Rylov and Tarasevich both look good to qualify for Rio in this event, barring a major slip-up from one of them in the final. Ulyanov is 3rd heading into the final tomorrow, and Andrei Shabasov (54.34) and Mark Nikolaev (54.48) are close behind.

Top 8 Heading to Finals:

1. Grigory Tarasevich, Omsk Region, 53.03
2. Evgeny Rylov, Moscow Region, 53.22
3. Nikita Ulyanov, KHMAO-Yugra, 54.19
4. Andrei Shabasov, St.Petersburg, 54.34
5. Mark Nikolaev, Leningrad Region, 54.48
6. Anton Butymov, Komi, 55.20
7. Nikita Babchenko, Krasnodar Territory, 55.65
8. Roman Larin, Penza Region, 55.85

Tarasevich moves into 6th in the world rankings with that swim, while Rylov is knocked down to 9th.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Semifinals

• Russian Record: Anastasia Fesikova, 58.18, 2009
• Russian Selection Time: 1:00.05

Anastasia Fesikova led the way in the women’s 100 back semis, posting a time of 1:00.03 to get under the Russian Olympic standard of 1:00.05. Fesikova’s best time from last year is 59.55 from the World Championships, so she shouldn’t have a problem getting under 1:00.05 again in the final.

Daria Ustinova qualified 2nd overall in 1:00.67, putting her within reach of the Olympic qualifying standard as well. Ustinova’s best time stands at 59.78 from the 2014 National Championships, so it’s an Olympic berth tomorrow night wouldn’t be a huge surprise. However her better event is the 200 back where she is the junior world record holder.

Top 8 Heading to Finals:

1. Anastasia Fesikova, Penza Region-YANAO, 1:00.03
2. Daria Ustinova, Sverdlovsk Region, 1:00.67
3. Irina Prikhodko, Tatarstan, 1:01.05
4. Maria Kameneva, Orenburg Region, 1:01.17
5. Polina Egorova, Bashkortostan, 1:01.43
6. Polina Lapshina, Sverdlovsk Region, 1:01.72
7. Ekaterina Tomashevskaia, Stavropol Territory, 1:01.79
8. Ekaterina Andreeva, St.Petersburg, 1:02.00

Non-Olympic Events

• After five disqualifications this morning for false starts, another one happened in finals in the men’s 4×100 free relay, leaving just three teams to sort out the medals. Volgograd Region took the win easily in 3:17.26 on the strength of all four swimmers going sub-50 seconds, including Vladimir Morozov splitting 48.79 on the 3rd leg.