2016 European Championships Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2016 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2

• Monday, May 16th – Sunday, May 22nd
• Prelims: 10:00 AM (London Time) / 5:00 AM (Eastern Time)
• Finals: 6:00 PM (London Time) / 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
• London Aquatics Center, London, UK
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream

The first day of this meet brought some good highs and some confounding lows for host Britain. Their biggest star, James Guy, floundered but Hannah Miley bounced the homecrowd back nicely with a silver medal performance in the 400 Medley. As for the rest, Katinka Hosszu contined her reign as the most consistently high level performer in the world, and France and the Netherlands both won relays that they are in contention for in Rio as well.

The second day is a much shorter session. The men’s 200 freestyle will be a chance for Guy to redeem himself, but also for his teammates to sharpen themselves in preparation to defend their 4×200 relay title from Worlds. In the 100 breaststroke, Ruta Meilutyte continues her comeback from injury and has looked very good recently.  In the women’s 100 freestyle, there is a potential showdown between two of the best in the world- Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and the Netherland’s Femke Heemskerk.

Men’s 200 Freestyle

1. Glenn Surgeloose, BEL 1:46.93
2. Velimir Stepjanovic, SRB 1:47.03
3. James Guy GBR 1:47.11
4. Maarten Brzoskowski, NED 1:47.35
5. Matias Koski, FIN 1:47.48
6. Kacper Majchrzak, POL 1:47.59
7. Mitch D’Arrigo, ITA 1:47.61
8. Sebastiaan Verschuren, NED 1:47.69

James Guy did not repeat his day one mistake, swimming a solid 1:47.03 to qualify in 3rd. Defending champion Stepjanovic tucked in just behind Glenn Surgeloose of Belgium. Stepjanovic was not particularly sharp in the 400 yesterday, adding time that led him to finish 6th in the 400 and fail to defend his Euro title in that event. This could be an event for more than one redemption.

It took 1:48.89 to make the semi-final. The Netherlands got two swimmers in, as did France and Belgium. Host Britain struggled outside of Guy, with both Duncan Scott and Robbie Renwick adding significant time to their personal bests.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

1. Ruta Meilutyte, LTU 1:06.97
2. Jenna Laukkanen, FIN 1:07.67
3. Martina Carraro, ITA 1:07.73
4. Chloe Tutton, GBR 1:07.92
5. Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir, ISL 1:07.99
6. Martina Moravcikova, CZE 1:08.25
7. Arianna Castiglioni, ITA 1:08.31
8. Sophie Hansson, SWE 1:08.56

Meilutye led as expected, she was the only swimmer under 1:07 this morning. That time is still well back of her world record (1:04.35) but she was hardly pressed in this morning session. Meilutyte has been 1:05 since her comeback started a few months ago and should be able to reach that level here.

Britain got two swimmers through to the semi, and Italy did as well. Of the medalists from 2014, only Italy’s Castiglioni (bronze) returns. Viktoria Gunes, who shocked the world with a 2:19 last summer in the 200, qualified 10th in 1:08.59.

Men’s 200 Medley

1. Laszlo Cseh, HUN 1:58.17
2. Alexis Santos, POR 1:59.90
3. Andreas Vazaios, GRE 2:00.00
4. Gal Nevo, ISR 2:00.24
5. Raphael Stacchiotti, ITA 2:00.66
6. Diogo Carvalho, POR 2:00.66
7. Federico Turrini, ITA 2:00.85
8. Philipp Forster, GER 2:00.85

Laslo Cseh swam an almost identical time to what won him the championship two years ago. He was well ahead of the field, which had a surprise second finisher in Santos of Portugal. Santos was seeded behind countryman Carvalho at 2:00.22, so this may be his first swim under 2:00.

Cseh is the only medalist back to defend his title, although Nevo has been a European medalist in his career.

Women’s 100 Freestyle

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED 53.37
2. Jeanette Ottesen, DEN 53,78
3. Femke Heemskerk, NED 53.81
4. Sarah Sjostrom, SWE 54.04
5. Charlotte Bonnet, FRA 54.50
6. Mie Nielsen, DEN 54.55
7. Andrea Murez, ISR 54.67
8. Erika Ferraioli, ITA 54.70, tied with Maud van der Meer who cannot advance due to the country limit

Coming of the fastest split in the field last night (52.50), Ranomi Kromowidjojo blasted to the front this morning.

Behind her was Jeanette Ottesen, the 2011 World Champion who has gone back and forth with whether she wants to compete in this event. Heemskerk and Sjostrom finished 2nd and 1st respectively in 2014 and should have plenty in the tank.

The Netherlands actually placed all four of their competitors in the top 16, but only two will advance due to the country limit. Denmark had three in the top 16 as well, with Pernille Blume getting squeezed by the appearance of Mie Nielsen in this race.

4×100 Mixed Medley

1. Great Britain 3:47.92
2. Italy 3:48.52
3. Sweden 3:51.72
4. Hungary 3:53.78
5. Finland 3:53.94
6. Turkey 3:54.75
7. Norway 3:57.03
8. Moldova 4:13.24

Britain made their way into the top spot at 3:47.92, getting solid splits across the board. No team, it seems, really used their best possible lineup in this race. Instead, there were pieces there, such as Italy using Pellegrini (53.62) on freestyle.

Britain is the defending champion in this event. Moldova, despite being 16 seconds behind 7th, qualified for the final after a pair of disqualifications from Estonia and France.

Men’s 1500 Prelims

1. Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA 14:46.81
2. Gabrielle Detti, ITA 14:58.56
3. Jan Micka, CZE 14:58.62
4. Mykhalylo Romanchuk UKR 14:59.13
5. Henrik Christiansen, NOR 15:00.27
6. Sergiy Frolov, UKR 15:02.33
7. Gergely Gyurta, HUN 15:05.34
8. Wojciech Wojdak, 15:06.56

400 freestyle champion Detti looked relaxed and qualified just beside his own countryman Paltrinieri. The two will aim for an Italian 1-2 finish in the final tomorrow. Paltrinieri held little back in swimming 14:46.81, just a bit off his European record pace.

Two years ago Pal Joensen of the Faroes was the man who split the two, but he will not have a chance to do so this time as he finished well away from qualifying in 15:16.44.

Jan Micka got under 15:00 for the first time and broke his own Czech record to make the final in 14:58.62.