Peter Bernek shines in Men’s 200m backstroke semi-finals: Day five – European Championships
Peter Bernek of Hungary shined in the semi-finals of Men’s 200m backstroke on fifth day of the ongoing European Long Course Championships in Debrecen, Hungary on Friday, May 25.
The 20-year-old Bernek stunned the aquatic crowd by dominating the second round of the distant backstroke event. With his epic pace, he stayed comfortably ahead of his rivals and qualified into the playoff as strongest contender for gold medal.
His invincible efforts remained nearly half body length ahead of his closest competitor and he touched the wall with the timing of 1 minute and 56.11 seconds.
His fastest qualification effort was chased by Radoslaw Kawecki of Poland, who stayed 0.57 seconds apart and posted a time of 1 minute and 56.68 seconds for second position.
Kawecki remained in a lead of 1.55 seconds slower from Yannick Lebherz of Germany, who proved his eligibility for third qualifying position of the discipline by producing a time of 1 minute and 58.23 seconds.
Similarly, fourth position of the event was secured by Yakov Yan Toumarkin of Israel, who was 0.10 seconds away from upsetting his preceding swimmer and hit the wall with the timing of 1 minute and 58.33 seconds.
Fifth fastest spot of the event was obtained by Gabor Balog of Hungary, who was only one stroke slower from improving his position and entered the playoff by producing an effort of 1 minute and 58.43 seconds.
The 21-year-old Balog was chased by Sebastiano Ranfagni of Italy, who was nearly half body length apart and posted a time of 1 minute and 58.86 seconds for sixth position.
Ranfagni enjoyed an advantage of 0.23 seconds over Benjamin Stasiulis of France, who concluded his sprint in seventh best place and tapped the wall with an effort of 1 minute and 59.09 seconds.
Last qualification spot of the race was secured by Felix Wolf of Germany, who stayed 0.32 seconds apart and managed to earn his way into the final round with the timing of 1 minute and 59.41 seconds.
Furthermore, the championship ended after the completion of all planned events while these contestants will face each other in the playoffs.
Tags: