Martinenghi’s 59.0 Breast Split Helps Italy to 400 Mixed Medley Gold

2017 EUROPEAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kliment Kolesnikov of Russia took gold the 200 back, going 1:57.73 to win by almost a full second over Romania’s Daniel Martin (1:58.72). Russia earned two medals in that race, as Nikita Tretyakov grabbed the bronze in 1:59.20.

Kolesnikov was also 25.45 to lead all qualifiers to the 50 back semifinals, with Poland’s Kacper Stokowski (25.54) and Ireland’s Conor Ferguson (25.64) right there with him. In the final, Kolesnikov dropped down to 25.15 for gold, with Ferguson (25.27) and Kamil Kazmierczak (25.33) behind him.

Hungary’s Ajna Kesely broke her own meet record with a 1:57.85 in the 200 free to take gold. Belgium’s Valentine Dumont followed in 1:58.69 for silver, with Barbora Seemanova of the Czech Republic in bronze (1:59.32). Seemanova roared back for a gold in the 50 free, upsetting top seed Julie Jensen of Denmark for the win, 25.06 to 25.22. Slovenia’s Neza Clancar earned bronze in 25.35.

After erupting for a massive World junior record in the 200 fly last night, Kristof Milak is keeping his cards close to his chest in the 100 fly. The Hungarian 17-year-old was 52.66 tonight for 2nd going into the final behind Russian Egor Kuimov (52.19). Their race tomorrow night should be electric.

California-based Moldovan Alexei Sancov swam a 1:48.52 for the fastest semifinal swim in the boys’ 200 free– he’s the top seed in the 200 final tomorrow night ahead of Hungarian Nandor Nemeth (1:49.00). Sancov clipped two hundredths off of his own Moldovan record in that race.

Mona McSharry took the top time in the 100 breast semifinals (1:07.81), with no other swimmers under 1:09. McSharry broke Fiona Doyle‘s Irish records in the 50 breast and 200 breast already at this meet, earning gold in the 50 and silver in the 200. She should have an easy route to gold tomorrow, and she’ll be shooting for Doyle’s Irish record of 1:07.15.

For the boys, Italian world junior record holder Nicoló Martinenghi was 1:00.62 to lead all semifinalists. He already has won the 50 breast, and will try to get another sub-minute 100 in tomorrow night to win gold, as he’s the heavy favorite there.

Capping off the night was the 4×100 mixed medley relay, and it came down to Italy and Russia. Italy won by just over eight tenths at the finish, though, thanks to a huge 59.09 breaststroke leg from Martinenghi. Italy touched for gold at 3:50.99, with Russia in at silver (3:51.84) and GBR anchored by Scott McLay‘s 49.39 for bronze (3:54.24).

Other wins and semifinal results

  • Russia looks good for a 1-2 finish in the girls’ 100 back tomorrow. Polina Egorova, 17, went 1:00.60 to lead all qualifiers to the final tomorrow, and 14-year-old Daria Vaskina was 2nd in 1:01.69.
  • Katrine Villesen of Denmark went 59.43 to win gold in the 100 fly ahead of Egorova’s 59.59 and Swede Hanna Rosvall‘s 59.95.
  • Russian Iaroslav Potapov posted the 800 free gold medal time of 7:55.95, followed closely by Hungary’s Akos Kalmar (7:56.23) and Croatia’s Marin Mogic (8:01.49).
  • The Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen was 2:14.63 to take her into tomorrow night’s 200 IM final with the top seed.

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About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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