European SC Championships: Day 1 prelims live recap

2019 LEN EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, December 4th – Sunday, December 8th
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
• SCM
• Entry List
• Competition Schedule
• Live Results
• Results Documents
• Live Video – LEN TV
• Day 1 Prelims Start Lists

The European Short Course Championships kicked off today in Glasgow, Scotland. 49 of altogether 52 LEN (Ligue Européenne de Natation) Member Federations have entered more than 530 swimmers for the 40 competitions, among them “newcomer” Gibraltar with three swimmers on the team.

The 50m and 100m individual events are swum with prelims, semifinals and finals, the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m events only with prelims and finals. Every nation can enter a maximum of 4 swimmers per individual event but only the 2 fastest swimmers of each Federation may proceed to the semi-finals or finals. The 1500m freestyle are only part of the men’s competition schedule, the 800m freestyle are swum by women only. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the women’s 1500m freestyle and the men’s 800m freestyle are for the first time part of the Olympic swimming program.

The largest team in Glasgow comes from Italy with a total of 41 athletes followed by Germany with 38 and Russia with 34 swimmers. A total of 13 champions from the last European SC Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, will compete in the 34 individual events. Among them, 2016 Olympic Champions Katinka Hosszu (HUN, 100m backstroke, 200m/400m IM), Pernille Blume (DEN, 50m freestyle) and Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA, 1500m freestyle). Russia topped the 2017 medal table in Copenhagen ahead of Hungary and Italy.

The first day of competition features the men’s 100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 4x50m freestyle relay and the women’s 50m breaststroke, 400m IM, 100m backstroke and 800m freestyle.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• WR  48.08 LE CLOS Chad RSA Windsor (CAN) 08 DEC 2016
• WJ   49.53 LI Zhuhao  CHN Singapore (SGP) 19 NOV 2017
• ER   48.48 KOROTYSHKIN Evgeny RUS Berlin (GER) 15 NOV 2009
• EJ    50.13 MINAKOV Andrei RUS Saint Petersburg (RUS) 22 DEC 2018
• CR   48.93 KOROTYSHKIN Evgeny RUS Istanbul (TUR) 11 DEC 2009

Semifinals Qualifiers:

1. ZENIMOTO HVAS  Tomoe  NOR  49.88
2. KUSCH Marius  GER 49.90
3. VEKOVISHCHEV Mikhail  RUS 50.01
4. VERLINDEN Joeri NED   50.37
5. CIESLAK Marcin 50.41 POL
6. GUERES Uemitcan TUR  50.58
7. KHARLANOV Aleksandr RUS 50.69
8. CODIA Piero ITA  50.73
9. PONTI Noe SUI  51.06
10. KOSTIN Oleg RUS      51.10   
11. KLENZ Ramon GER  51.16
12. VAZAIOS Andreas GRE  51.16
13. LITCHFIELD Joe  GBR 51.21
14. MARGEVICIUS Deividas LTU 51.23
15. GUY James GBR   51.25
16. RIVOLTA Matteo ITA   51.28
17. TSURKIN Yauhen BLS    51.35

The 2017 medalists started in heat 6 with Italy’s Matteo Rivolata (gold medal), his countryman Piero Codia (silver) and Germany’s Marius Kusch (bronze) in heat 7 out of 7 heats. Many swimmers say about short course swimming: Half the size, double the fun. So the party started with a huge best time of Tomas Lomero (AND) in heat 1 with 56,25, he stayed under 1 minute for the first time. Greece’s Andreas Vazaios topped the intermediate results after heat 3 with a time of 51,16, not far off his personal best of 50,72. The clock stopped at 51,06 for Switzerland’s 18-year-old Noe Ponti with a new personal best mark of 51,06. The next heat featured Poland’s Marcin Cieslak with a time of 50,41. Norway’s Tomoe Zenimoto was the first man who dipped under the 50 seconds mark with his time of 49,88 in heat 6, he bettered his personal best time by 0,61 seconds. Only Germany’s Marius Kusch also managed to stay under 50 seconds in the last heat with a time of 49,90. All 2017 medalists advanced into the semifinal. Oleg Kostin did not make it into the seminfinal because two Russian teammates were faster.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR 28.56 ATKINSON Alia JAM Budapest (HUN) 06 OCT 2018
• WJ 29.84 STANDARD TIME
• ER 28,81 MEILUTYTE Ruta LTU Doha (QAT) 03 DEC 2014
• EJ 28,81 STANDARD TIME
• CR 29,10 MEILUTYTE Ruta LTU Herning (DEN) 12 DEC 2013

Semifinals Qualifiers:

1. CARRARO Martina  ITA 29.53
2. PILATO Benedetta  ITA  29.62      WJ
3. ZMUSHKA Alina  BLR  29.77
4. CASTIGLIONI Arianna      ITA        29.93 
5. LAUKKANEN Jenna  FIN  30,03
6. SZTANDERA Dominika POL  30.13
7. HULKKO Ida FIN  30.33
8. PODMANIKOVA Andrea  SVK   30.41
9. GODUN Nika RUS  30.51
10. MC SHARRY Mona   IRL   30.51
11. KIVIRINTA Veera               FIN        30.52 
12. ELENDT Anna  GER   30.55
13. SCHROEDER Matilde  DEN  30,55
14. THORMALM Klara SWE  30.62
15. MAMIE Lisa  SUI  30.65
16. ROMANJUK Maria EST  30.67
17. CHISCA Tatiana  MDA  30.69
18. KREUNDL Lena  AUT  30.72    swim-off
19. PAMMER Cornelia AUT  30.72 swim-off

The 50m breaststroke preliminaries were highlighted by a new Junior World Record set by Italy’s teenage sensation Benedetta Pilato. The 14-year-old stayed clearly under the standard time of 29,84 with her time of 29,62. Pilato set a time of 29,41 at a swim meet in Genoa during this season but this time wasn’t ratified by FINA as a Junior World Record. Italy’s Martina Carraro checked-in with the fastest time of the morning heats (29,53). Three Finnish and three Italian swimmers placed among the 16 fastest but only Jenna Laukkanen and Ida Hulkko from Finnland and the two mentioned Italian ladies made it into the semifinal. Austria’s Lena Kreundl and Cornelia Pammer were clocked with 30,72 and will take part in a swim-off for the last spot in the semifinal. Note: Cornelia Pammer won the swim-off and will swim in the semifinal.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR 25.25 VAN DER BURGH Cameron RSA  Berlin (GER) 14 NOV 2009
• WJ 26.31 MARTINENGHI Nicolo ITA Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017
• ER 25.62  SCOZZOLI Fabio ITA Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017
• EJ 26.31  MARTINENGHI Nicolo ITA Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017
• CR 25.62 SCOZZOLI Fabio ITA Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017

Semifinals Qualifiers:

1. KAMMINGA Arno  NED   26,03
2. BJERG Tobias B.  DEN  26.14
3. SAKCI Emre  TUR  26.18
4. SHYMANOVICH Ilya  BLR  26.22
5. SCOZZOLI Fabio ITA  26.23
6. MCKEE Anton Sveinn  ISL 26.43
7. MOROZOV Vladimir  RUS  26.44
8. STEVENS Peter John  SLO  26.52
9. MARTINENGHI Nicolo ITA  26.53
10. ROTHBAUER Christopher  AUT  26.61
11. MURDOCH Ross  GBR  26.66
12. ORTIZ-CANAVATE OZEKI ESP 26.78
13. BUSSIERE Theo FRA   26.87
14. REITSHAMMER Bernhard AUT  26.88
15. GREENE Darragh IRL 26.89
16. ALLIKVEE Martin EST  26.97

Arno Kamminga set a new Dutch National Record with the fastest time of 26,03. He was followed by Denmark’s Tobias Bjerg with a new personal best time of 26,14. Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli is the reigning European SC Champion and he made it into the final with the 5th fastest time of 26,23. Turkey’s Emre Sakci was clocked with the 3rd fastest time of 26,18, his personal best mark stands at 25,89. Also in the mix for tonight’s semifinal are Russia’s Vladimir Morozov (7. 26,44) and Great Britain’s Ross Murdoch (11., 26,66).

WOMEN’S 400 IM – PRELIMS

• WR 4:18.94 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia ESP Eindhoven (NED) 12 AUG 2017
• WJ 4:23.33 STANDARD TIME
• ER 4:18.94 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia ESP Eindhoven (NED) 12 AUG 2017
• EJ 4:31.06 STANDARD TIME
• CR 4:19.46 HUN HOSSZU Katinka Netanya (ISR) 02 DEC 2015

Finals Qualifiers:

1. HOSSZU Katinka  HUN     4:26.75
2. JAKABOS Zsuzsanna   HUN  4:27.87
3. CUSINATO Ilaria  ITA  4:32.85
4. FAIN Katja SLO  4:35.27
5. KRIVONOGOVA Irina   RUS   4:35.33
6. KAPAS Boglarka  HUN     4:35.41
7. CREVAR Anja SRB       4:35.54
8. GORBENKO Anastasya   ISR 4:37.32
9. UGOLKOVA Maria SUI  4:38.12

Three Hungarians placed under the 8 fastest ladies with Katinka Hosszu, Zsuzsanna Jakabos and Boglarka Kapas but only Hosszu and Jakabos are eligible to swim in the final. Hosszu took the top spot for the final with her time of 4:26,75. Her personal best time is the current Championship Record (4:19,46) and Hosszu is the defending European SC Champion. Zsuzsanna Jakabos had her hand at the wall with the second fastest time of 4:27,87.  Israel’s Anastasya Gorbenko was the youngest swimmer who will attend the final. The 16-year-old bettered her personal best time of 4:37,68 by 0,36 seconds.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• WR  3:32.25  AGNEL Yannick FRA Angers (FRA) 15 NOV 2012
• WJ 3:39.17 WINNINGTON Elijah AUS Melbourne (AUS) 25 OCT 2018
• ER 3:32.25 AGNEL Yannick FRA Angers (FRA) 15 NOV 2012
• EJ 3:39.89 MILAK Kristof HUN Szazhalombatta (HUN)  08 NOV 2018
• CR  3:34.55 BIEDERMANN Paul GER Istanbul (TUR)  10 DEC 2009

Finals Qualifiers:

1. DETTI Gabriele  ITA  3:38.16
2. CIAMPI Matteo  ITA  3:38.79
3. RAPSYS Danas   LTU  3:39.11
4. CHRISTIANSEN Henrik  NOR 3:39.99
5. HOLLO Balazs   HUN  3:40.01
6. AUBRY David  FRA   3:41.36
7. BALLO Stefano  ITA        3:41.36
8. SORAK Stefan  SRB  3:41.64
9. DEAN Thomas GBR  3:41.75

Gabriele Detti won the bronze medal in the 400m freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games (LC). He advanced with the fastest time of 3.39,16 into tonight’s final. His countryman Matteo Ciampi grabbed the second fastest time in heats, he was clocked at 3:38,79. This time is a new personal best for him. The third fastest Italian swimmer Stefano Ballo showed the 7th fastest perfomance during the preliminaries but he is a victim of the “only 2 athletes per nation can proceed into the next round” rule. Great Britain’s Thomas Dean showed a strong race he finished with a time 3:41,75. The 19-year-old improved his personal best mark by 2,92 seconds and is the youngest participant in the final.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR 54.89 ATHERTON Minna AUS Budapest (HUN) 27 OCT 2019
• WJ 55.99 STANDARD TIME
• ER 55.03 HOSSZU Katinka HUN Doha (QAT) 04 DEC 2014
• EJ 55.99 STANDARD TIME
• CR 55.42 HOSSZU Katinka HUN Netanya (ISR) 03 DEC 2015

Semifinals Qualifiers:

1. TOUSSAINT Kira  55.26 CR
2. KAMENEVA Maria  56.95
3. KUBOVA Simona 57.29
4. DAVIES Georgia  57.48
5. PANZIERA Margherita 57.49
6. ZEVINA Daryna 57.61
7. LOEYNING Ingeborg Vassba  58.17
8. SHKURDAI Anastasiya  58.24
9. USTINOVA Daria K. 58.34
10. CINI Mathilde  58.39
11. ROSVALL Hanna 58.50
12. AVRAMOVA Ekaterina  58.57
13. SCALIA Silvia 58.67
14. DE BORDONS GARCIA Paloma  59.19
15. BIERRE Victoria 59.29
16. HILL Danielle  59.38

Netherland’s Kira Toussaint set a new Championship Record in 55,26 and improved Katinka Hosszu‘s record which dated back in the year 2015. Toussaint’s time also is a new personal best time and a new Dutch National Record. She set the former record at the ISL derby in London a few days ago, on November 24th. Toussaint finished second at the last edition of these championships behind Katinka Hosszu who didn’t swim the 100m backstroke today. Toussaint led the field into the final with a huge margin of 1,69 seconds. Russia’s Maria Kameneva took the bronze medal at the last European SC Championships and placed behind Toussaint in today’s heats with a time of 56,95.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• WR 1:45.63  LARKIN Mitchell AUS Sydney (AUS) 27 NOV 2015
• WJ 1:48.02 KOLESNIKOV Kliment RUS Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017
• ER 1:46.11 VYATCHANIN Arkady RUS Berlin (GER) 15 NOV 2009
• EJ 1:48.02 KOLESNIKOV Kliment RUS Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017
• CR 1:48.02 KOLESNIKOV Kliment RUS Copenhagen (DEN) 13 DEC 2017

Finals Qualifiers:

1. DIENER Christian 1:50.18
2. KAWECKI Radoslaw  1:50.43
3. GREENBANK Luke 1:50.47
4. SKIERKA Jakub  1:50.64
5. CHRISTOU Apostolos  1:51.12
6. TELEGDY Adam  1:51.20
7. MORA Lorenzo  1:51.95
8. TOUMARKIN Yakov Yan 1:52.02

Germany’s Christian Diener managed to grab the top spot for the final. The 26-year-old showed a solid performance with his time of 1:50,18. Diener is the German National record holder (SC, 1:49,14). 2017 silver medalist Radoslaw Kawecki hit the wall with the second fastest time of 1:50,43. With Kawecki and Jakub Skierka, two swimmers from Poland advanced into the round of the fastest eight swimmers. Kliment Kolesnikov, who was the European SC Champion back in 2017, missed the final. Kolesnikov placed 10th overall with a time of 1:52,50. Kolesnikov ist the current World Junior, European Junior and Championship record holder (1:48,02).

MEN’S 4×50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• WR 1:21.80 UNITED STATES Hangzhou (CHN) 14 DEC 2018
• WJ 1:27.46 STANDARD TIME
• ER 1:20.77 FRANCE Rijeka (CRO) 14 DEC 2008
• EJ 1:27.92 STANDARD TIME
• CR 1:20.77 FRANCE Rijeka (CRO) 14 DEC 2008

Finals Qualifiers:

1. RUS      RUSSIA  1:25.07
2. POL       POLAND 1:25.21
3. GBR      GREAT BRITAIN 1:25.31
4. ITA        ITALY     1:25.58
5. HUN     HUNGARY  1:25.75
6. GER      GERMANY  1:26.04
7. BLR       BELARUS   1:26.19
8. AUT      AUSTRIA   1:26.42

The Russians led the field into the final with Sergei Fesikov, Daniil Markov, Aleksandr Popkov and Mikhail Verkovishchev. But it was Hungary’s Maksim Lobanoviski who set the fastest time of all start swimmers with 21,21.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• WR  7:59.34 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia ESP Berlin (GER) 10 AUG 2013
• WJ 7:59.44 WANG Jianjiahe CHN Budapest (HUN) 06 OCT 2018
• ER 7:59.34 BELMONTE GARCIA Mireia  ESP Berlin (GER) 10 AUG 2013
• EJ  8:11.99 STANDARD TIME
• CR 8:04.53 FILIPPI Alessia ITA Rijeka (CRO) 12 DEC 2008

Finals Qualifiers:

1. QUADARELLA Simona     ITA        8:13.02
2. KESELY Ajna HUN  8:13.66
3. CARAMIGNOLI Martina Rita  ITA   8:14.52
4. BOY Lea GER   8:16.07
5. HASSLER Julia   LIE    8:17.18
6. ODER Tjasa  SLO   8:19.34
7. DURAES Diana Margarida   POR   8:20.97
8. KIRPICHNIKOVA Anastasia  RUS   8:21.89

The final event of this morning are the heats of the women’s 800m freestyle. Germany’s Sarah Köhler took the title two years ago ahead of Boglarka Kapas and Simona Quadarella. Only Italy’s Simona Quadarella competed in today’s heats. She easily made it on top of the ladies field with a time of 8:13,02 followed by Ajna Kesely in 8:13,66. That was a huge personal best mark for the 18-year-old Hungarian, she improved her personal best performance by 7,59 seconds.