2019 Mare Nostrum Series Canet Day 2: Yuliya Efimova Sweeps Breaststroke Events, Proud Swims 23.0 50 Fly (QUOTES)

yuliya-efimova-rus-breast-2017-world-champs
Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

The 2019 Mare Nostrum Series wrapped up its second stop in Canet-en-Roussillon with a full slate of events, showcasing some of the best international talent the swim community has seen this year. The World Championships teaser continues to draw impressive times from its participants, boasting some of the biggest names in the sport all vying for prize money.

Yuliya Efimova was one of the more notable this evening, sweeping both the 50 and 200 breaststroke to further her winning streak. Likewise, Adam Peaty has also yet to concede a breaststroke race, finishing his lap tonight in record fashion.

Katinka Hosszu closed out the homestand in Canet with her seventh win of the series in the 400 free, proving herself the true Iron Lady time and time again.

Quotes from some of Great Britain’s best swimmers via British Swimming can be viewed below.

Live Results

Swimming World’s Mare Nostrum Series Page

Women’s 50 Breast

Russia’s Yuliya Efimova (30.60) was in no mood to snap her winning streak, managing to get a fingertip on the wall ahead of Brazil’s Jhennifer Alves da Conceicao (30.64) in a photo finish. Having swept all the breaststroke events in Monaco, Efimova has yet to concede a race in the series and appears in good form for next month’s World Championships in South Korea.

Sweden’s Sophie Hansen clocked in at 31.13 to secure the bronze, as the youngster continues to be the face of women’s breaststroke for her country.

50 Breaststroke – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:00)
1. EFIMOVA Yuliya 1992 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 30.60
2. ALVES DA CONCEICAO Jhennifer 1997 BRA   ESPORTE CLUBE PINHEIROS 00: 30.64
3. HANSSON Sophie 1998 SWE   HELSINGBORGS SIMSALLSKAP 00: 31.13
4. SEBASTIAN Julia 1993 ARG   ARGENTINA 00: 31.33
5. TEMNIKOVA Mariia 1995 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 32.24
6. DEBERGHES Fanny 1994 FRA   ASPTT MONTPELLIER 00: 32.30
7. COYNE Niamh 2001 IRL   IRELAND 00: 32.46
8. SZTANKOVICS Anna 1996 HUN   HUNGARY 00: 32.48

Men’s 50 Breast

The men’s 50 breast also brought no surprises, as Britain’s Adam Peaty has made record-breaking a habit. Turning in a 26.71 for the meet record, Peaty took down Brazils’s Felipe Lima (26.85) once again for the title. Yet to be defeated in the series thus far, Peaty has become a household name while revolutionizing the stroke due to his utter dominance in his specialty. He will be looking to come home with the World Championships gold come July.

Nic Fink is continuing to force his name on the international scene, as he nabbed a bronze for the United States with a time of 27.59.

50 Breaststroke Men – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18h02)
1. PEATY Adam 1994 GBR   BRITAIN 00: 26.71 RMEET
2. LIMA Felipe 1985 BRA   BRAZIL 00: 26.85
3. FINK Nic 1993 USA   ATHENS BULLDOGS 00: 27.59
4. KOSEKI Yasuhiro 1992 JPN   JAPAN 00: 27.65
5. GREENE Darragh 1995 IRL   IRELAND 00: 27.69
6. WHITLEY Reece 2000 USA   UNITED STATES 00: 27.76
7. BUSSIERE Theo 1995 FRA   CN MARSEILLE 00: 27.99
8. PRIGODA Kirill 1995 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 28.05

Women’s 50 Fly

Canada’s Penny Oleksiak has been quite relentless thus far in the series, proving her resilience and versatility with unmatched consistency. Today was no exception, as she surged to a 26.05 finish to take the women’s 50 fly, fending off France’s Beryl Gastaldello (26.15) for top honors.

Russia’s Arina Surkova touched out her compatriot Mariia Kameneva (26.26) to reserve her spot at the medal ceremony, posting a 26.17 for third.

50 Butterfly Ladies – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:04)
1. OLEKSIAK Penny 2000 CAN   CANADA 00: 26.05
2. GASTALDELLO Beryl 1995 FRA   LA FRANCE 00: 26.15
3. SURKOVA Arina 1998 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 26.17
4. KAMENEVA Mariia 1999 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 26.26
5. HENIQUE Mélanie 1992 FRA   CN MARSEILLE 00: 26.34
6. HINDS Nathalie 1993 USA   ATHENS BULLDOGS 00: 26.42
7. WATTEL Marie 1997 FRA   LA FRANCE 00: 26.46
8. HOPKIN Anna 1996 GBR   BRITAIN 00: 26.72

Men’s 50 Fly

Benjamin Proud continues to be Britain’s sprinting specimen. Today, Proud nabbed yet another gold with a 23.09 50 fly, muscling out America’s USRPT poster child, Michael Andrew (23.12). The two men sprinted to a nearly identical finish, with Proud seizing the imperceptible victory in true form.

Russia’s Andrey Zhilkin was not far behind, as his 23.43 was good enough for the bronze.

Proud upgraded the silver he won in the freestyle last night to gold in the Men’s 50m Butterfly final, producing a season’s best time, which was a full second quicker than his heat swim, to take the title. A strong start set him up well as he beat a quality field, afterwards reflecting:

“I changed my mind-set this afternoon and tried to execute my race plan as best as I could. I spoke to my coach James and he said to execute my start as I’m supposed to and that was the only thing to focus on. I did that and then found my rhythm.”

50 Butterfly Gentlemen – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:06)
1. PROUD Benjamin 1994 GBR   BRITAIN 00: 23.09
2. ANDREW Micheal 1999 USA   RACE PACE CLUB 00: 23.12
3. ZHILKIN Andrey 1995 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 23.43
4. GKOLOMEEV Kristian 1993 GRE   GREECE 00: 23.62
5. GRASSI Santiago 1996 ARG   ARGENTINA 00: 23.65
6. HVAS Tomoe-Zenimoto 2000 NOR   NORWAY 00: 23.79
7. STRAVIUS Jeremy 1988 FRA   LA FRANCE 00: 23.91
8. VEKOVISHCHEV Mikhail 1998 RUS   RUSSIA 00: 24.22

Men’s 800 Free

Norway’s Henrik Christiansen shattered the Mare Nostrum series record with one of the cleanest races of the meet, setting an ambitious initial pace only to carry it throughout the race. Throwing down a time of 7:48.19, Christiansen ran away from his closest opponent, Britain’s Daniel Jervis (7:50.65) in the final meters.

Hungary’s Gergely Gyurta (7:59.82) continues to represent the country well, helping Hungary gain leverage as a threat in international competition with another bronze.

Afterwards Jervis commented:

“I was nervous for that as I’m in a tough block of swimming at the moment and that was a really good time. I’m really looking forward to Worlds in a few weeks now – to do that time, when I’m nowhere near tapered, is really good. In fact before I came out here I was saying to my coach how nervous I was, because I knew how hard this competition was going to be because I knew how much training we had done. I’m looking forward to swimming my main event in Barcelona now.”

800 Men’s Freestyle – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:14)
1. CHRISTIANSEN Henrik 1996 NOR   NORWAY 07: 48.19 MNR
2. JERVIS Daniel 1996 GBR   BRITAIN 07: 50.65
3. GYURTA Gergely 1991 HUN   HUNGARY 07: 59.82
4. BOUCHAUT Joris 1995 FRA   STAGE OF VANVES 08: 02.71
5. JOHANSSON Victor 1998 SWE   JONKOPINGS SIMSALLSKAP 08: 03.74
6. ESCORTS MANOSA Albert 1998 ESP   CLUB NATACIO SANT ANDREU 08: 05.27
7. MICKA Jan 1995 CZE   CZECH REPUBLIC 08: 10.55
8. VALENTE Miguel 1993 BRA   BRAZIL 08: 14.80

Women’s 400 Free

Hungary struck again, this time with a gold, as Kesely Ajna finished with renewed vigor in the final lap of the 400 free. Engaging in a tight stroke race with Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello (4:06.61), Ajna found a way to force herself on top, turning in a 4:06.55 for the victory. With only six hundredths separating them, the women were in a race all their own, bettering the rest of the field by close to three seconds.

It was Anna Egorova who headed the second wave, crashing the pads with a 4:09.53 to break into the top three while holding off Japan’s Miyu Namba (4:09.73).

400 Ladies Freestyle – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:24)
1. KESELY Ajna 2001 HUN   HUNGARY 04: 06.55
2. PIGNATIELLO Delfina 2000 ARG   ARGENTINA 04: 06.61
3. EGOROVA Anna 1998 RUS   RUSSIA 04: 09.53
4. NAMBA Miyu 2002 JPN   JAPAN 04: 09.73
5. HAUGHEY Siobhan-Bernadette 1997 HKG   HONG KONG 04: 11.90
6. FOOS Reva 1993 GER   SG FRANKFURT 04: 12.02
7. HIBBOTT Holly 1999 GBR   BRITAIN 04: 12.59
8. IGARASHI Chihiro 1995 JPN   JAPAN 04: 13.25

Women’s 100 Back

Phoebe Bacon was not about to let the States depart Canet empty-handed, as she secured America’s first gold of this finals session with a 59.92 100 back. The only woman under 1:00 in the field, the teen proved that age is but a number when it comes to elite competition, as she singlehandedly placed herself on the international radar heading into World’s.

The Czech Republic’s Simona Kubova kept Bacon honest throughout, clocking in soon after with a time of 1:00.18. Canada’s Taylor Ruck proved Gen Z’s dominance with a third place finish of her own, dropping a 1:00.18 to round out a tightly packed top three.

100 Ladies Back – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 6:36 pm)
1. BACON Phoebe 2002 USA   UNITED STATES 00: 59.92
2. KUBOVA Simona 1991 CZE   CZECH REPUBLIC 01: 00.01
3. RUCK Taylor 2000 CAN   CANADA 01: 00.18
4. SANCHEZ Kayla 2001 CAN   CANADA 01: 00.68
5. DAVIES Georgia 1990 GBR   BRITAIN 01: 01.37
6. BERRINO Andrea 1994 ARG   ARGENTINA 01: 01.94
7. AU Hoi Shun Stephanie 1992 HKG   HONG KONG 01: 02.42
8. WALSH Gretchen 2003 USA   UNITED STATES 01: 02.85

Men’s 100 Back

Michael Andrew and Shane Casas followed Bacon’s lead, tallying two more medals for the U.S. in the men’s 100 back. As per usual, Andrew’s uncanny ability to maintain speed proved valuable, as he surged ahead of the pack in the final 10 meters to post a 54.11. Bettering his compatriot’s time by a little over half a second, Andrew reclaimed his title as one of the world’s most versatile sprinters. Casas was not to be ignored, with his time of 54.69 proving well enough to beat Brazil’s Guilherme Guido (54.78) for the silver.

100 Dos Messieurs – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18h39)
1. ANDREW Micheal 1999 USA   RACE PACE CLUB 00: 54.11
2. CASAS Shaine 1999 USA   UNITED STATES 00: 54.69
3. GUIDO Guilherme 1987 BRA   BRAZIL 00: 54.78
4. TELEGDY Adam 1995 HUN   HUNGARY 00: 55.11
5. GREENBANK Luke 1997 GBR   BRITAIN 00: 55.37
6. CHRISTOU Apostolos 1996 GRE   GREECE 00: 55.42
7. BEDEL Paul-Gabriel 1994 FRA   CN MARSEILLE 00: 55.97
8. FERGUSON Conor 1999 IRL   IRELAND 00: 56.36

Women’s 200 Breast

It was a clean sweep for Efimova in Canet, as she made her second victorious appearance of the day in the women’s 200 breast. Throwing up a time of 2:23.41 for the win, Efimova rounded out her individual schedule in France flawlessly, giving spectators a peek of what’s to come.

Canada’s Kierra Smith gave the champion a decent run, riding her hip throughout the race to a 2:24.92 finish. Spain’s Jessica Vall took the last spot on the podium with an impressive time of 2:25.54.

200 Breaststroke – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18:48)
1. EFIMOVA Yuliya 1992 RUS   RUSSIA 02: 23.41
2. SMITH Kierra 1994 CAN   CANADA 02: 24.92
3. VALL Jessica 1988 ESP   CLUB NATACIO SANT ANDREU 02: 25.54
4. GARCIA URZAINQUI Marina 1994 ESP   CLUB NATACIO SABADELL 02: 25.56
5. RENSHAW Molly 1996 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 26.23
6. SEBASTIAN Julia 1993 ARG   ARGENTINA 02: 26.98
7. O’CONNOR Siobhan 1995 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 30.21
8. TEMNIKOVA Mariia 1995 RUS   RUSSIA 02: 31.21

Men’s 200 Breast

Britain continued to flaunt its dominance in the men’s breaststroke events, as James Wilby cruised to a 2:09.55 in the men’s 200 breast to nail down the win. Picking up his stroke rate in the final lap, Wilby still managed to create a perfect finish for himself, crashing the pads with a sound, clean race behind him.

Compatriots Yasuhiro Koseki (2:09.84) and Shoma Sato (2:10.00) of Japan surged down the middle of the pool alongside him, taking second and third, respectively.

Pleased with his efforts over the two days, Wilby said:

“It’s been a tough couple of days of racing, but I’m really happy with the results, especially considering the training work load that has been going on in the lead up to the meet. I feel like I’m in a good place and am looking forward to Barcelona now at the weekend and the rest of the cycle.”

200 Breaststroke Men – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 18h52)
1. WILBY James 1993 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 09.55
2. KOSEKI Yasuhiro 1992 JPN   JAPAN 02: 09.84
3. SATO Shoma 2001 JPN   JAPAN 02: 10.00
4. KOCH Marco 1990 GER   SG FRANKFURT 02: 10.53
5. PERSSON Erik 1994 SWE   KUNGSBACKA SIMSALLSKAP 02: 11.27
6. PRIGODA Kirill 1995 RUS   RUSSIA 02: 11.45
7. FINK Nic 1993 USA   ATHENS BULLDOGS 02: 12.38
8. ARAI Yuta 2002 JPN   JAPAN 02: 16.71

Women’s 200 Fly

Alys Thomas furthered the British winning streak with an epic 2:07.92 200 fly, leaving the rest of the pack to partake in a race all her own. Russia’s Svetlana Chimrova made a salient attempt to chase her in the event’s final lap, but it proved too little too late. Chimrova’s final time of 2:09.17 landed her at second, while Zsuzsanna Jakabos from Hungary tallied another bronze for her country with a time of 2:09.27.

Afterwards she confessed:

“That felt a lot better – much more like my swim. I wanted to have a bit more attack and a bit more bite tonight, especially down the last 50. It was always going to hurt and you’ve just got to fight it!”

200 Butterfly Ladies – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 19h02)
1. THOMAS Alys 1990 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 07.92
2. CHIMROVA Svetlana 1996 RUS   RUSSIA 02: 09.17
3. JAKABOS Zsuzsanna 1989 HUN   HUNGARY 02: 09.27
4. STEPHENS Laura 1999 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 09.41
5. HOSSZU Katinka 1989 HUN   HUNGARY 02: 09.54
6. MONTEIRO Ana-Catarina 1993 POR   PORTUGAL 02: 10.13
7. HUFNAGL Claudia 1996 AUT   AUSTRIA 02: 10.54
8. BERECZ Blanka 2002 HUN   HUNGARY 02: 10.76

Men’s 200 Fly

Japan’s Daiya Seto sprinted to a decisive victory with a 1:56.25 200 fly, earning top honors for Japan for the first time this evening. Fueled by Canada’s Mack Darragh (1:57.89) at his shoulder, Seto was forced to set an aggressive initial pace, but found a way to close in strong fashion.

Luis-Altamir Melo of Brazil nabbed third with a time of 1:58.85, boxing American Carson Foster (1:59.30) out of the top three in the final lap.

200 Butterfly Gentlemen – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 7:06 pm)
1. SETO Daiya 1994 JPN   JAPAN 01: 56.25
2. DARRAGH Mack 1993 CAN   CANADA 01: 57.89
3. MELO Luiz-Altamir 1996 BRA   BRAZIL 01: 58.85
4. FOSTER Carson 2001 USA   UNITED STATES 01: 59.30
5. ROCH Nans 1996 FRA   CN ANTIBES 01: 59.54
6. HONDA Tomoru 2001 JPN   JAPAN 02: 01.07
7. GSCHWENTNER Xaver 1999 AUT   AUSTRIA 02: 01.17
8. MATHIAS Van 2000 USA   UNITED STATES 02: 02.62

Women’s 100 Free

France’s Béryl Gastaldello defended the homeland with a stellar showing in the women’s 100 free, going stroke for stroke with Sweden’s Michell Coleman before cinching the win. In a climactic sprint to the finish, the women surged down their lanes in almost identical fashion, sending murmurs throughout the bleachers as to whom would be declared victor.

Boasting a time of 54.17, Gastaldello was merely a tenth removed from the bronze medal, which went to compatriot Charlotte Bonnet (54.27).

100 Freestyle Women – Finale A (Mercredi 12 Juin 2019 – 19h15)
1. GASTALDELLO Béryl 1995 FRA   FRANCE 00:54.17
2. COLEMAN Michelle 1993 SWE   SPARVAGEN SIMFORENING 00:54.23
3. BONNET Charlotte 1995 FRA   FRANCE 00:54.27
4. ANDERSON Freya 2001 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 00:54.31
5. KAMENEVA Mariia 1999 RUS   RUSSIE 00:54.35
6. SANCHEZ Kayla 2001 CAN   CANADA 00:54.65
7. HOPKIN Anna 1996 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 00:54.77
8. WALSH Gretchen 2003 USA   ETATS-UNIS 00:54.91

Men’s 100 Free

Britain’s Duncan Scott (49.43) seized an even narrower victory in the men’s 100 free, out-touching Russia’s Andrey Zhilkin (49.43) by a hundredth of a second. With the entire heat posting times sub-50.00, the race appeared much like a white-water frenzy, with half a second separating first from eighth.

Britain continued to collect medals with another top-three placement from James Guy, whose 49.53 edged out France’s Jérémy Stravius (49.59) for the bronze.

Speaking post-race Stirling based Scott said:

“It was a really close race in the end, which was good as it’s going to be like that at all major internationals, so it was good to have that sort of race. I wasn’t really aware of my position as I was breathing away from everyone – I could see the boy inside me and just lanes seven and eight, which was quite good as Jimmy [Guy] came back strong.

“Getting an opportunity to race world class athletes quite a few weeks from Worlds is always really good and if anything it just puts you in your place – it’s good I’m learning some lessons here rather than in five or six weeks’ time.”

100 Freestyle Men – Finale A (Mercredi 12 Juin 2019 – 19h18)
1. SCOTT Duncan 1997 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 00:49.43
2. ZHILKIN Andrey 1995 RUS   RUSSIE 00:49.44
3. GUY James 1995 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 00:49.53
4. STRAVIUS Jérémy 1988 FRA   FRANCE 00:49.59
5. MIGNON Clément 1993 FRA   FRANCE 00:49.69
6. GROUSSET Maxime 1999 FRA   FRANCE 00:49.71
7. DE LUCCA Joao 1990 BRA   BRÉSIL 00:49.74
8. KISIL Yuri 1995 CAN   CANADA 00:49.95

Men’s 200 IM

As predicted by the heat sheets, Jeremy Desplanches of Switzerland manhandled the competition in the men’s 200 IM. Seizing an early lead, Desplanches seemingly elongated his lead with each passing lap, cruising to a 1:58.14 finish for the win.

British compatriots Tom Dean (1:59.55) and Max Litchfield (2:01.34) managed to tally two more medals for good measure, rounding out Britain’s men’s schedule on a high.

200 Medley Men – Final A (Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 19:27)
1. DESPLANCHES Jeremy 1994 SUI   OLYMPIC NICE SWIMMING 01: 58.14
2. DEAN Tom 2000 GBR   BRITAIN 01: 59.55
3. LITCHFIELD Max 1995 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 01.34
4. SMITH Kieran 2000 USA   UNITED STATES 02: 01.64
5. MANACAS SANTOS Alexis 1992 POR   PORTUGAL 02: 01.87
6. FOSTER Jake 2000 USA   UNITED STATES 02: 02.31
7. CARVALHO Diogo-Filipe 1988 POR   PORTUGAL 02: 02.34
8. LITCHFIELD Joe 1998 GBR   BRITAIN 02: 02.36

 

Women’s 400 IM

Katinka Hosszu defended her honor as reigning short course champion, snatching her seventh silver with a time of 4:33.77 in the women’s 400 IM. Just shy of the Canet record, Iron Lady Hosszu nevertheless proved herself as one of the top female IMers in the world.

American Madisyn Cox put forth an impressive showing of her own, clocking in at 4:37.23 to add yet another medal to her collection. France’s Fantine Lesaffre chased her to the end, but conceded second by a narrow margin, posting a 4:37.40 for third.

400 4 Nages Dames – Finale A (Mercredi 12 Juin 2019 – 19h31)
1. HOSSZU Katinka 1989 HUN   HONGRIE 04:33.77
2. COX Madisyn Lynn 1995 USA   TEXAS AQUATICS 04:37.23
3. LESAFFRE Fantine 1994 FRA   FRANCE 04:37.40
4. WILLMOTT Aimée 1993 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 04:39.29
5. WEYANT Emma 2001 USA   ETATS-UNIS 04:42.85
6. CREVAR Anja 2000 SRB   SC DINAMO 04:43.48
7. WOOD Abbie 1999 GBR   GRANDE-BRETAGNE 04:44.31
8. JAKABOS Zsuzsanna 1989 HUN   HONGRIE 04:49.23
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Coach Wayne McCauley
5 years ago

. WHITLEY Reece 2000 USA UNITED STATES 00: 27.76

Surprised at his time I think that is a PR. He needs to get even faster to be able to go under 57.5 in the 100 brasse in 2020.

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