World Junior Championships – Day 6 Prelims: Ksawery Masiuk Pursuing Backstroke Sweep; Chmielewski Twins Shine
The last day of action at the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru will be highlighted by David Popovici and his night swim in the final of the 100-meter freestyle. The world-record holder in the event, Popovici has registered several 47-second performances during the week. How close he can get to his global standard will be closely watched.
Prior to that race, the final session of preliminaries will feature six events. Here is a look at what unfolded during the Day Six prelims.
Men’s 200 Backstroke
The third clash between Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk and South Africa’s Pieter Coetze will include a third individual, as Japan’s Hidekazu Takehara earned the top seed for the final of the 200 backstroke, going 1:59.07. Coetze, the runnerup to Masiuk in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke, advanced as the second seed in 2:01.69, with Masiuk next in 2:01.84. A victory would hand Masiuk a sweep of the backstroke events.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Spain’s Emma Carrasco Cadens and Japan’s Yumeno Kusuda separated themselves from the field in the heats of the 200 breaststroke. Advancing more than a second ahead of the opposition, Carrasco Cadens covered her race in 2:30.57, followed by Kusuda in 2:30.96. Lurking at 2:32.13 is Korea’s Sieun Park.
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Twins Krzysztof Chmielewski and Michal Chmielewski of Poland positioned themselves for a family sweep of the gold and silver medals in the 200 butterfly. Krzysztof earned the top seed in 1:59.27 and Michael was also under two minutes in 1:59.78. A little more than a second back in third place was Japan’s Ei Kamikawabata, who checked in at 2:00.94. The Chmielewski siblings went one-two in the 200 fly at the European Junior Champs.
Women’s 200 Freestyle
Hungarian Nikolett Padar and Italian Giulia Vetrano posted identical times in the 200 freestyle, although Padar will be the favorite when the medals are on the line. Padar split 1:58 in the 200 freestyle during the 800 freestyle relay earlier in the week. Qualifying for the final in seventh was Turkey’s Merve Tuncel, who has already grabbed gold in the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle.
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
Japan took the top seed for the final of the 400 medley relay as the foursome of Hidekazu Takehara, Asahi Kawashima, Tomoyuki Matsushita and Yuta Watanabe qualified in 3:43.06. Poland was next in 3:44.76, followed by France at 3:45.55.
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
The Italian quartet of Sara Curtis, Irene Mati, Anna Porcari and Marina Cacciapuoti narrowly edged Japan for the top time of prelims in the 400 medley relay. Italy went 4:10.33, with Japan going 4:10.41.
