Rapsys Breaks Into the World’s Top Five at Flanders Speedo Cup

Lithuanian Danas Rapsys won the men’s 200 backstroke on the final day of the Flanders Speedo Cup posting a 1:56.72 which places him fourth in the world rankings. Rapsys’ time also breaks his own Lithuanian record of 1:57.60, which he set in 2014.

Commonwealth Games Champion Fran Halsall of Great Britain put herself in the world’s top ten winning the women’s 50 freestyle in a time of 24.78. Halsall was well off her lifetime best of 23.96, but was not far off the time of 24.51 which she posted at the World Championships in Kazan last summer.

Rachael Kelly of Great Britain is now among the world’s top 10 in the women’s 100 butterfly. Kelly won the event hitting the wall in a time of 57.74, more than a second ahead of the field. Her time was just off her lifetime best of 57.71.

Ranohon Amanova of Uzbekistan took the women’s 200 IM in a time of 2:12.53. Amanova’s time set a new national record and places her 12th in the world rankings. She was followed by Aimee Willmott of Great Britain who finished in a time of 2:13.53.

Vladislav Mutafin of Uzbekistan missed the national record in the 100 breaststroke by one one-hundredth of a second posting a 1:00.64.

Georgina Boyle won a close race between herself and British teammates Rebecca Turner and Eleanor Faulkner. Boyle came back on Turner and Faulkner in the final 100 meters to take the race in a time of 2:00.63. Turner and Faulkner tied for second both posting a time of 2:00.83.

Faulker was the runner up once again in the women’s 400 freestyle. Her teammate Holly Hibbott took the event in a time of 4:13.53 followed by Faulkner who hit the wall in a time of 4:13.88.

Commonwealth Games medalists Georgia Davies and Lauren Quigley battled for gold in the women’s 100 backstroke with Davies coming out on top touching in a time of 1:01.06. Quigley finished second in a time of 1:01.89.

Other winners include:

• Men’s 50 butterfly – Deividas Margevicius – 24.25
• Women’s 200 breaststroke – Katie Matts – 2:27.78
• Men’s 100 freestyle – Jasper Aerents – 49.21
• Men’s 400 IM – Alexandre Vital Joao – 4:25.52
• Men’s 200 butterfly – Louis Croenen – 1:58.82
• Men’s 50 backstroke – Magnus Jakupsson – 25.44
• Women’s 50 breaststroke – Imogen Clark – 31.10
• Men’s 1500 freestyle – Brodie Williams – 16:10.94