2021 HUNGARIAN SPRING NATIONALS
- March 23 – 27
- Budapest, Hungary (Danube Arena)
- LCM (50m)
- Day one prelims results
Day one of the Hungarian Spring Nationals kicked off today in Budapest, as Kristof Milak is off to a very hot start. Prelims are being held at 5pm local time and then finals are the next morning at 9:30, shifting due to the Olympics in Tokyo holding prelims at night and finals the next morning.
The 200 butterfly World Record-holder posted the quickest time of the prelims in that same event, blasting a 1:52.50 to finish more than four seconds ahead of David Verraszto (1:57.03) and Hubert Kos (1:57.21).
Milak now rules the global rankings by more than two seconds, improving on his previously #2 time of 1:54.98 in December and unseating his countrymate Tamas Kenderesi (1:54.64). Today, Kenderesi was well off the pace, touching seventh at 1:58.70, while veteran Laszlo Cseh was fourth (1:58.28).
2020-2021 LCM Men 200 Fly
Milak
1:51.10
| 2 | Tomoru Honda | JPN | 1:53.73 | 07/28 |
| 3 | Federico Burdisso | ITA | 1:54.28 | 05/19 |
| 4 | Tamas Kenderesi | HUN | 1:54.37 | 05/18 |
| 5 | Eddie Wang | TPE | 1:54.44 | 07/26 |
Milak’s time in prelims today was still well off his best time and WR of 1:50.73, but only he and Michael Phelps have been 1:52.50 or faster in history.
Milak was also 22.31 to lead the 50 free prelims, just ahead of Szebasztian Szabo (22.40) and Nandor Nemeth (22.45). 2004-born Valentin Tschaikov clocked a new best of 23.02 for sixth.
In the women’s 200 fly, Hungary’s depth again shone through. Boglarka Kapas made it happen, posting the top time of the prelims at 2:06.85. The reigning World Champion was over a second quicker than 200/400 IM World Record-holder Katinka Hosszu, who posted a 2:08.54, while distance phenom Ajna Kesely was third in 2:09.89. That’s Kesely’s first time under 2:10, and her first best in the event since 2018.
Kapas moves to #3 in the world this year with her swim. This is her second time under 2:07 ever, and she’s right on her lifetime best of 2:06.78 from 2019 Worlds.
2020-2021 LCM Women 200 Fly
Yufei
2:03.86
| 2 | Regan Smith | USA | 2:05.30 | 07/29 |
| 3 | Zhang Yifan | CHN | 2:05.49 | 12/31 |
| 4 | Hali Flickinger | USA | 2:05.65 | 07/29 |
| 5 | Boglarka Kapas | HUN | 2:06.50 | 05/20 |
Richard Bohus broke 54 in the 100 back, leading at 53.89, which is just two-tenths off of his lifetime best. Benedek Kovacs was second in a lifetime best 54.12, not far behind. Katalin Burian challenged the minute mark on the women’s side, going 1:00.02 to just miss her best by .01.
OTHER TOP SWIMS
- Petra Senanszky led the women’s 50 free prelims with a 25.67.
- In the men’s 100 breast, Csaba Szilagyi neared the minute barrier, going 1:00.50, the only finisher under 1:01.
- 2002-born Eszter Bekesi led the women’s 100 breast prelims at 1:08.79.
Wow, he goes one of the fastest times in history and in prelims!! Can’t wait to see what happens in Tokyo
Did he just go 1:51.40 ? (my Hungarian is not up to speed and the tv channel does not show the timer https://mediaklikk.hu/m4-elo)
Yes, 1:51.4
Seto and Urlando – don’t even bother to enter the this race 🙂
They swimmin for minor medals.
Well, not really. Seto is clear sivler medal favourite. At home in Tokyo he could drop a bit of time and Milak will need to be good to beat him. Of course if Milak goes 1.50 or 1.49 it is a foregone conclusion.
And what indicates that Milak would be slower in four months time? Seto´s pb.: 1.52.5.
Seto’s recent performance and the mental status he showed in interviews make me think he won’t set PB at Olympics.
Thanks
1:51.4 in the finals
1:45.0 free incoming
I’ve always been thinking there’s no reason why a 1:50 200 flyer is not capable of at least 1:45 200 free, but he will have to handle a 100 fly/ 200 free double at this meet so we’ll see.
Swim of the week! 😉
That is crazy
Video of most of the swim on this page, plus some analysis. Enjoy! https://www.stateofswimming.com/kristof-milak-blasts-21-84-in-dash-as-warm-up-for-151-40-fastest-morning-200-fly-in-history-inside-the-best-of-michael-phelps-for-a-second-time/
Thanks.
Hosszu was swimming those times in SCM during ISL, encouraging signs for her
Ukrainian Champs were a few weeks ago too – Some eye-catching swims that I don’t think I have seen reported here:
Volodymyr Lisovets almost broke the minute barrier in the 100br (1.00.42) – He was born in 2004 and dropped 3s. Romanchuk went 7.48 in the 800 and Shevtsov was 48.4 in the 100.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG70CEmOk2w
Milak 200 fly at the 51 min mark
A 1.52.50 is awesome but what also caught my eye was his 22.31 in the 50FS which is really sharp for a 200 flyer. I think he’ll surprise in the 100FS and more so in the 200FS. You can add Milak’s name to a stacked field for the 200FS in Tokyo.
Interested to see what Kos, Nemeth and Zombori will do.