Ieva Maluka Becomes First Latvian Woman Sub-2:00 In SCM 200 Freestyle

2018 RIGA SPRINT MEET

After setting a pair of Latvian SCM records on day 1 of the International Sprint Festival meet in Riga, 15-year-old Ieva Maluka added a third on the 2nd day as she became the first Latvian woman sub-2:00 in the 200 freestyle.

Maluka won the event in a time of 1:59.92, shattering her previous national record of 2:00.89 (set at the end of September at the FINA World Cup stop in Eindhoven) by close to a full second. Estonian Meribel Zaar slipped under her best time to place 2nd in 2:05.71.

Maluka was seeking her fourth individual win of the meet later on in the 50 freestyle, after winning the 100 free and 100 IM on day 1 in Latvian Records, but ended up placing 4th in 25.58 behind Belarusians Natassia Karakouskaya (25.06) and Alena Semizhon (25.53) and current Latvian Record holder Gabriela Nikitina (25.54). Semizhon added a win in the 50 back (28.20) with Nikitina (29.43) 2nd.

Margaret Markvardt of Estonia, who won the 100 back on day 1, added two more on day 2 in the 100 fly (1:00.39) and 200 IM (2:18.16).

OTHER WINNERS

  • Yesterday’s 100 free runner-up Kanstantsin Kurachkin of Minsk won the men’s 200 free in 1:49.53.
  • Viktar Staselovich, also of Minsk, completed the backstroke sweep after winning the 100 on day 1, taking the 50 in 24.30 and the 200 in 2:00.27.
  • Their teammate Yahor Dodaleu won the 100 fly in 52.25, out-touching Hryhory Pekarski (52.37) of Belarus after Pekarski edged him yesterday in the 50 fly. Pekarski did get a win on the day in the men’s 50 free (22.15).
  • Arina Sisojeva of the SK Delfins finished off a sweep of her own in the women’s breaststroke events, taking the 100 in 1:10.94 after claiming the 50 and 200 on Friday.
  • Janis Vitauts Silins (1:00.58) edged out 200 winner Daniils Bobrovs (1:00.77) to win the men’s 100 breast, while Bobrovs won the 200 IM later in the session in 2:02.28.
  • Yana Ivashynka of Minsk won the women’s 200 back in 2:17.89.
  • The Minsk teams won the women’s and men’s 200 medley relays, while Maluk’s BJSS Ridzene-DSN team won the mixed medley relay.

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About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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