David Popovici Adds Third Title of Romanian Champs with Victory in 100 Freestyle; Princeton’s Patrick Dinu Pops Career Best
World champion David Popovici added a third title of the Romanian Championships to his collection on Saturday when the 21-year-old star prevailed impressively in the 100-meter freestyle. Racing in Otopeni, Popovici registered a time of 47.52 and complemented previous meet victories in the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle. He was followed to the wall by Princeton standout Patrick Dinu, who checked in with a career-best time of 48.01.
Coming off a sub-47 split during Friday relay action, Popovici led the entire way in the final of the 100 freestyle. Out in 22.92 for the first lap, Popovici produced a 24.60 split for his homecoming length. The effort is a positive sign for Popovici, as he showed solid speed during the front half of the race and will have greater finishing power once he is rested for international action this summer.
A few months shy of the European Championships in Paris, Popovici seems well-positioned to make considerable noise in the French capital. The Romanian has always excelled at the Euopean Champs, most notably with a then-world record of 46.86 in the 100 freestyle at the 2022 edition of the competition. That meet also saw Popovici clock 1:42.97 in the 200 freestyle, a time that makes him the No. 3 performer in history.
For Dinu, the Ivy League champion in the 100-yard freestyle, his performance was a huge step forward. Dinu was out with Popovici, going 23.09 for the front half of the race. And while Popovici pulled away on the back end, Dinu remained strong and closed in 24.92 to generate a personal best and land himself a berth to the European Champs.
Daria Silisteanu and Denis Popescu claimed victory in the 50 backstroke events. Silisteanu was the only woman to break the 28-second barrier, doing so by the narrowest margins with a swim of 27.99. As for Popescu, he touched the wall in 25.41, which was good for a comfortable margin over runnerup Tudor Iordache (25.66.). The women’s 100 breaststroke went to Daria Asaftei in 1:10.66 while Darius Coman rallied down the stretch to win the men’s version of the event in 1:01.32, just ahead of the 1:01.42 by Danis Volontir.
Irina Preda was quickest in the women’s 100 freestyle as her mark of 55.62 bettered the 55.96 of Andreea Comna.