Rylov Impresses At Day 2 Prelims of Russian Olympic Trials

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)

Women’s 100 Back – Prelims

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

Anastasia Fesikova led the women’s 100 back this morning clocking a time of 1:01.28. She was followed closely by Irina Prikhodko (1:01.33) and Daria Ustinova (1:01.38) who were 2nd and 3rd respectively. Fesikova holds the national record currently from 2009 at 58.18, and most recently swam a time of 59.55 at the World Championships in Kazan. She will look to get under the selection of standard of 1:00.05 and qualify for her third consecutive Olympic team. Ustinova also has a personal best under the standard of 59.78.

Top 8 Qualifiers to Semi-finals:

1. Anastasia Fesikova, Penza Region, 1:01.28
2. Irina Prikhodko, Tatarstan, 1:01.33
3. Daria Ustinova, Sverdlovsk Region, 1:01.38
4. Polina Egorova, Bashkortostan, 1:01.79
5. Maria Kameneva, Orenburg Region, 1:02.18
6. Polina Lapshina, Sverdlovsk Region, 1:02.23
7. Alexandra Papusha, Moscow City, 1:02.35
8. Ekaterina Tomashevskaia, Stavropol Territory, 1:02.45

Men’s 200 Free – Prelims

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

A tight race this morning saw Mikhail Dovgalyuk qualify 1st in the 200 freestyle after clocking a time of 1:48.95, the only man under 1:49. Dovgalyuk and the rest of the field have some work to do if they’re to get down to the Russian election time of 1:47.01. Dovgalyuk comes in with a best time of 1:47.89. National record holder Danila Izotov qualified 2nd this morning in 1:49.31, just ahead of Artem Lobuzov who qualified 3rd in 1:49.35.

The Russian men have historically been strong in the 4x200m free relay, including winning silver medals at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships. With spots for that team on the line, this event should really heat up for the semi-finals and the final.

Top 8 Qualifiers to Semi-finals:

1. Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Moscow City, 1:48.95
2. Danila Izotov, Krasnodar Territory, 1:49.31
3. Artem Lobuzov, Moscow City, 1:49.35
4. Viacheslav Andrusenko, St.Petersburg, 1:49.70
5. Alexander Sukhorukov, St.Petersburg-Komi, 1:49.84
6. Alexander Fedorov, St.Petersburg, 1:49.95
7. Evgeny Lagunov, St.Petersburg-Arkhangelsk, 1:50.09
8. Aleksandr Krasnykh, Tatarstan, 1:50.48

Women’s 100 Breast – Prelims

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

With national record holder and 2015 World Champion Yulia Efimova currently sitting out on her recent failed drug test, the door is open for other breaststrokers to step forward. Per FINA Efimova is still banned, but if the suspension is lifted prior to the Olympics Russia will give her the opportunity to qualify for the team.

In Efimova’s absence it was Natalia Ivaneeva qualifying 1st this morning gin 1:08.08, a full second ahead of 2nd place Alena Efimova. Ivaneeva will need to improve her best time of 1:07.83 if she is to qualify under the Russian standard of 1:07.54.

Top 8 Qualifiers to Semi-finals:

1. Natalia Ivaneeva, Volgograd Region, 1:08.08
2. Alena Efimova, KHMAO-Yugra, 1:09.08
3. Daria Chikunova, St.Petersburg, 1:09.53
4. Maria Temnikova, St.Petersburg, 1:09.68
5. Mariia Astashkina, Penza Region, 1:09.96
6. Margarita Dryamina, Udmurtia, 1:10.13
7. Alena Chekhovskikh, St.Petersburg, 1:10.15
8. Alina Bulmag, Moldova, 1:10.41

Men’s 100 Back – Prelims

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

With national record and multi Olympic medalist Arkady Vyatchanin now representing Serbia internationally the door is open for the next generation of Russian backstrokers to step forward and take the mantle. Rising star Evgeny Rylov proved this morning he is the future of Russian backstroke, clocking a time of 53.25, just off his personal best of 53.14 from the World Championships in Kazan. The time puts Rylov well under the Russian qualifying standard of 53.99 and also puts him 8th in the world for the 2015-16 season, as he’ll look to be the sixth man this season under 53 seconds in the semi-final and final.

Andrei Shabasov and Nikita Ulyanov tied for 2nd well back of Rylov in 54.74, and Louisville Cardinal Grigory Tarasevich comes into the semi-finals seeded 4th after clocking 55.10 this morning.

Top 8 Qualifiers to Semi-finals:

1. Evgeny Rylov, Moscow Region, 53.25
2. Andrei Shabasov, St.Petersburg, 54.74 *
3. Nikita Ulyanov, KHMAO-Yugra, 54.74 *
4. Grigory Tarasevich, Omsk Region, 55.10
5. Vitaly Melnikov, Moscow City, 55.46
6. Kliment Kolesnikov, Moscow City, 56.01
7. Nikita Babchenko, Krasnodar Territory, 56.09
8. Mark Nikolaev, Leningrad Region, 56.10

Women’s 400 Free – Prelims

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

Anastasiia Kirpichnikova paced the women’s 400 free prelims, qualifying 1st in 4:15.08. She was followed closely by Arina Openysheva (4:15.52) who was Russia’s representative in this event last year at the World Championships. Openysheva’s best time of 4:08.81 gives her a fighting chance to get down to the Olympic qualifying standard of 4:07.99.

Top 8 Qualifiers to Finals:

1. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova, Sverdlovsk Region, 4:15.08
2. Arina Openysheva, Krasnoyarsk Territory, 4:15.52
3. Anna Egorova, Kaliningrad Region, 4:15.69
4. Anastasia Osipenko, Krasnoyarsk Territory, 4:16.46
5. Daria Mullakaeva, Perm Territory, 4:17.32
6. Valeria Salamatina, Sverdlovsk Region, 4:18.71
7. Yulia Snoz, St.Petersburg, 4:19.31
8. Varvara Simonova, Perm Territory, 4:21.07

Non-Olympic Events

• In the men’s 400 free relay prelims we saw a bizarre five disqualifications from false starts, leaving just four teams to advance to finals. With the electronics on reaction times false starts aren’t a subjective call like they are at smaller competitions, four of the nine teams legitimately had a swimmer leave early, including St.Petersburg and Uzbekistan. Moscow City used this to their advantage qualifying 1st in 3:20.97, followed by Volgograd Region in 3:22.15.