Latvia’s national championship meet has attracted a number of foreign swimmers who are putting up strong times, and one local swimmer broke a national record as well on day 1.
Nikolai Maskalenko took down his own Latvian record in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in a tie for the win with young Swedish star Johannes Skagius in 1:02.43.
Maskalenko was previously a co-owner of the Latvian record at 1:03.25, tied with Uldis Tazans.
Maskalenko and Skagius now co-own the nation’s open record, for the fastest swim done on Latvian soil by a swimmer of any nationality.
Meanwhile on the women’s side, Canadian Kristina Steins broke the open record in the 200 back. Her 2:17.77 crushed the old record – in fact, Steins first set the mark in prelims with a 2:19.57.
Steins competes internationally for Canada, and attends the University of Louisville in the United States, where she competes in the NCAA.
Other day 1 winners:
- Gabirela Nikitina took the women’s 50 free to open the meet, going 26.52 as the only woman under 27 seconds. Steins was second in that race.
- Vladislav Perju nipped Janis Saltans for the men’s 50 free title, 23.93 to 23.95.
- Alona Ribakova won the women’s 100 breast in 1:10.89.
- The men’s 200 back went to Rokas Juozelskis in 2:05.77.
- Rebecka Gustafson eked out a 100 fly win over Anna Eriksson 1:03.38 to 1:03.68 on the women’s side.
- The men’s race went to Kregor Zirk in 54.51.
- Vasilisa Zeliankevich wrapped up the women’s meet with a 4:30.06 win in the 400 free.
- On the men’s side, Alexei Sancov topped Zirk with a 4:03.84 for the title.
Full results and recap in its original Latvian available here.