World Cup Baku, Day 2 Finals: Egor Kornev Ties World Record in 100 Free
The second day of the World Cup Baku stop was a busy one for Russia’s Egor Kornev.
He started with a World Cup record and title in the men’s 50 backstroke. In the 100 free, it somehow got better, Kornev outdueling Cameron McEvoy and tying the world record of Kyle Chalmers in 44.84 seconds.
All the action from Azerbaijan:
Men’s 1,500 freestyle
In the timed final, Lucas Henveaux won gold in a surprisingly engrossing race. His time of 14:34.98 was just .43 up on Germany’s Sven Schwarz. Henveaux was behind by more than five seconds at 1,200 meters and by 1.06 seconds as they turned for the final 50, but Henveaux closed the gap.
Third was American Carson Foster, well outside his usual distance, in an impressive 14:40.83. Countryman Charlie Clark was fifth, with South Africa’s Matthew Caldwell in between.
Women’s 400 individual medley
Yu Yiting built on her Asian mark in the 100 IM with a time of 4:24.09 to dominate the 400 IM. She was nearly four seconds clear of the field to win.
Abbie Wood was second in 4:27.95. Chang Mohan of China was third in 4:28.76, ahead of Japan’s Waka Kobori. Ellen Walshe was the only other swimmer to break 4:30.
Men’s 50 backstroke
The first step for Egor Kornev was a win in the 50 back. He went 22.23 to blitz the World Cup mark from Australia’s Isaac Cooper of 22.58 from 2024 in Shanghai. He is within a tenth of the 22.11 from Kliment Kolesnikov that is the world record.
Russia had three in the top four and four in the top six. Pavel Samusenko tied for second in 22.51 with Pieter Coetze. The South African’s time ties his African record. Kolesnikov was fourth in 22.99.
Women’s 200 freestyle
Siobhan Haughey continued her strong fall with a win in 1:51.08. She was 1.4 seconds ahead of American Anna Peplowski’s time of 1:52.48.
In third was Fan Yaqi of China in 1:53.07, three tenths ahead of countrywoman Yan Tiaoshan. Freya Colbert was fifth, ahead of Canadian Brooklyn Douthwright.
Men’s 200 individual medley
American Luke Barr picked up the win with a time of 1:51.34, a wire-to-wire victory over the field. Second was Italian Alberto Razzetti in 1:52.41.
Finlay Knox of Canada picked up third, just ahead of Japan’s So Ogata. They were both in the 1:52s. Lewis Clareburt was the only 1:53. Ilia Borodin was further back in seventh.
Women’s 100 backstroke
Marrit Steenbergen dominated to take home a victory, the Dutchwoman going 55.17. She was first at each wall and 1.3 seconds up on the field. Her third win of the meet puts her atop the women’s points standings after two days.
Taylor Rick picked up second in 56.49. She stayed a half-second up on Anna Peplowski, on the back end of a quick double, in 56.97. Fourth was Abbie Wood of Great Britain, with fellow Brit Lauren Cox fifth.
Men’s 50 breaststroke
Qin Haiyang added another win for the Chinese delegation, rallying on the second 25 to get to the wall at the touch in 25.67. He snuck past Michael Houlie, the South African going 25.70. Russia’s Kirill Prigoda was third in 25.88, and then it was another two tenths back to Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands.
The final 10 included an American in Brian Benzing, who was seventh. Arno Kamminga finished 10th.
Women’s 50 butterfly
In a crowded field, Roos Vanotterdijk of Belgium worked the wall to rally form third to first, winning in 24.96. She was two tenths ahead of Sara Junevik of Sweden, who went 25.15. Junevik turned first.
Russians Arina Surkova and Aleksandra Kuznetsova were third and fourth, respectively. Wang Yichun of China finished fifth.
Men’s 100 freestyle
Egor Kornev certainly maximized his busy day in the water. In the 100 free, he not only swam away from Cameron McEvoy but did so as fast as anyone ever, stopping the clock in 44.84. That ties the world record of Kyle Chalmers, set on the World Cup circuit in Kazan in 2021. It earns Kornev a $10,000 World Aquatics bonus.
McEvoy was quick in 45.36 but no match for the Russian. Russia had three in the top four, with Vasilii Kukushkin going 46.77 and Ivan Girev 46.92. Sean Niewold and Dylan Carter tied for fifth in 46.95.
Women’s 100 breaststroke
Mona McSharry swam away from the field in the second 50 go to 1:04.21 and win the race. She was nearly a second clear of Evgeniia Chikunova, who went 1:05.13. Aimee Canny of South Africa, the leader at the midway point, lost out to her on the touch by .03. Her countrywoman Rebecca Meder was fourth.
Sophia Angus of Canada was fifth. Also in the A final was a pair of one-time Olympic medalists, Russian Yuliya Efimova in ninth and Tes Schouten in 10th.
Men’s 200 butterfly
