Spain, already a revelation in relay racing here, laid down a big marker in the women’s 200m backstroke heats on day three of the European Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
Their defending champion Estella Tonrath produced an eye-catching opening time of 2:09.92 – not too far away from the Championship record of 2:08.97 – that was influenced by the need for speed given that only two athletes from each nation can progress to the semi-finals and final stages, and Spain had three talented protagonists involved.
The Vilnius 2024 gold medallist did more than enough in the final heat as she finished 4.48 clear of her nearest challenger, topping qualifying from her team-mate Nahia Garrido Malvar, who had won the penultimate heat in 2:13.10 ahead of Great Britain’s Isobel Liptrot on 2:13.72.
That meant Sara Costa de Vicente, despite being sixth overall after winning the third heat in 2:14.66, could go no further.
Romania’s 2024 silver medallist Aissia-Claudia Prisecario, swimming more conservatively, was third in the last heat, 5.27 behind Tonrath Nollgen.
Ireland’s John Shortt made a strong start to the defence of his men’s 200m backstroke title as he qualified fastest for tonight’s semi-finals.
On another day of shimmering heat at the outdoor pool within Slovakia’s Olympic Training Centre, Shortt, who finished fifth in last night’s 50m backstroke final, clocked 1:59.41.
Israel’s Aukin Goldin clocked 1:59.90, with Spain’s Carlos Gonzalez Cabello on 2:00.34 and Italy’s 2024 silver medallist Daniele del Signore, who finished second in the 50m backstroke, clocking 2:00.55.
“The job this morning was just to make sure I got through,” Shortt told European Aquatics. “I haven’t swum the 200m (backstroke) since trials but that was a very good swim and happy with that.”
Reflecting on his day-to-day preparations, with the temperature already at 34C and rising, he added: “I’m just trying to stay out of the sun as it absolutely drains you, so I’m staying in cool places as much as possible.”
Turkey’s Doruk Yogurtcuoglu and Filip Nowacki of Great Britain, respective men’s 200m breaststroke gold and silver medallists at Vilnius 2024, are on collision course again.
Nowacki, 17, a student at Millfield School, made everyone sit up and take notice as he was fastest into tonight’s semi-finals in personal best of 2:10.74, with his Turkish rival second fastest in 2:11.13.
Germany’s defending champion in the women’s 200m breaststroke, Lena Ludwig, finished third in the final heat in 2:29.37 behind Romania’s Daria Asaftei on 2:28.34 and Britain’s 50m breaststroke champion from day one, Amalie Smith, who clocked 2:29.29.
Also moving through to tonight’s semi-finals were the first five home in heat 3, where neutral athlete Victoriia Tarannikova won in 2:29.22 from Italy’s Lucrezia Mancini on 2:29.37 and Hannah Schneider of Germany on 2:29.89.
Men’s 50m freestyle qualifying was headed by Nikita Sheremet of Ukraine, who clocked 22.20 ahead of Serbia’s Justin Cvetkov on 22.54 and Lithuania’s 16-year-old 2024 bronze medallist and 100m freestyle winner Tajus Juska, who recorded 22.55.
Meanwhile Spain’s 2024 silver medallist Luca Hoek le Guenedal, whose 48.14 opening split set up his country’s victory in yesterday evening’s mixed 4x100m relay, was fifth fastest in 22.62.
Neutral athlete Evgenii Shilovskii was fastest into tonight’s men’s 100m butterfly semi-finals in 53.00, 0.02 ahead of Italy’s Francesco Ceolin, with Britain’s Dean Fern third fastest on 53.05.
Last night’s men’s 200m butterfly gold medallist, 16-year-old David Antal of Hungary, moved through efficiently sixth fastest on 53.71, with Lithuania’s Tajus Juska and Great Britain’s Jack Brown also doing enough.
The concluding women’s 4x200m freestyle heats saw Lithuania fastest into tomorrow’s final in 8:09.54 ahead of Great Britain on 8:09.92 and Italy on 8:11.24.
Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics
