Ustinova Puts Up World’s Second Fastest Time To Break Junior World Record

On the second night of the Russian National Championships 15 year old Daria Ustinova took the women’s 200 backstroke in a time of 2:08.02, breaking her own Junior World Record, which she set in the semi-finals.

Yesterday Ustinova put up a time of 2:09.02 to qualify for the final of the women’s 200 backstroke breaking American Kylie Stewart‘s Junior World Record of 2:09.74. It wasn’t until today though that she beat her lifetime best of 2:08.39, a time she posted in April of 2013 before the Junior World Records were recognized.

Her time now puts her in the second place position in the world rankings with only Australian Belinda Hocking having swum faster.

Alexandra Papusha finished second in a time of 2:10.90 followed by Kristina Vershinin who touched in a time of 2:11.68.

Vladimir Morozov had a great 2013 winning the silver at the World Championships in the 50 freestyle and winning gold at the European Short Course Championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 IM and both the men’s and mixed 4 x 50 freestyle and medley relays. Morozov has begun his push towards the European Championships this summer in Berlin with a strong swim in the semi-finals of the men’s 100 freestyle at the Russian National Championships.

Morozov posted a 48.25 qualifying with the fastest time going into the final. His time puts him fifth in the world rankings and ranks him just ahead of German Paul Biedermann (48.31) as the fastest European this year.

Nikita Lobintsov recorded the second fastest qualifying swim finishing in a season’s best of 48.78 followed by Sergey Fesik who qualified third in a time of 48.85.

Veronika Popova took the women’s 100 freestyle in a time of 54.21, winning her latest battler with rival Viktoriya Andreeva who finished well behind with a time of 55.02. Margarita Nesterova finished third in a time of 55.23.

Nikita Ulyanov won the men’s 100 backstroke in a time of 54.08 he was followed by Andrey Shabasov who recorded a 54.63 and Vitaliy Borisov who hit the wall in a time of 54.93.

Aleksandr Palatov took the men’s 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:10.94. He was followed by Girory Falko who posted a 2:11.45 and Ilya Khomenko who finished in a time of 2:11.60.

Yana Martynova won the women’s 200 butterfly posting a time of 2:10.85. Daria Shmakovo finished second in a time of 2:13.49 followed by Svetlana Chimrova who touched in a time of 2:13.60.

Anastasia Ivanenko was able to hold off a fast charging Arina Openysheva in the women’s 400 freestyle to take the event in a time of 4:14.35. Ivanenko lead at the 200 meter mark by almost a second and a half, Openysheva came close to making up that ground finishing in a time of 4:14.69. Anna Egorova finished third in a time of 4:16.85.

Alexander Kudashev was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 200 butterfly finishing in a time of 1:57.82 followed by Nikolay Skortsov who posted a 1:58.84.

Alexander Tikhonov was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 200 IM by almost two seconds recording a time of 2:00.63.

Vitalina Simonova is leading the way in the women’s 200 breaststroke heading into the final with a time of 2:26.61.

For full results click here