Budapest 2024, Day 1 Semifinals: Hubert Kos & Regan Smith Look Ominous Into 100 Back Finals
Hubert Kos went within 0.7 of Coleman Stewart’s WR as he booked lane four for the final of the 100 back at short-course worlds in Budapest.
The Hungarian, who was given a rousing welcome by the home crowd at the Duna Arena, posted 49.03 to move in sight of Stewart’s global mark of 48.33 set in August 2021.
Kos lowered the national record he set in prelims as he rattled Kliment Kolesnikov’s European mark of 48.58 set at the very same Duna Arena during the ISL in November 2020.
Neutral athlete Miron Lifintsev (49.07) and Kacper Stokowski of Poland (49.20) were next into Wednesday’s final as Blake Tierney of Canada claimed the eighth and last spot in 50.03 with Frenchman Mewen Tomac locked out by o.03 in 50.06.
Smith was 0.78 off the WR of 54.27 she set at the final leg of the World Cup at the start of November as she clocked 55.05.
Katharine Berkoff booked lane five alongside her USA teammates in 55.37 with Canadian Ingrid Wilm (55.85) and Australia’s Iona Anderson (55.99) the other women inside 56.
Louise Hansson claimed the final spot in 56.17 with Frenchwoman Pauline Mahieu missing out in 56.36.
