Kornev Matches Chalmers' 100 Free S/C WR In His 2nd Day 2 Cup Clash
And Cam McEvoy on a best time of 45.36, says: "“I’m stoked. My PB before this was 46.1, so I’m almost a second faster, so couldn’t ask for anything better. I think there’s room for improvement in the next two stops which is exciting"
Egor Kornev matched Kyle Chalmers' World short-course 100m freestyle record of 44.84, from 2021, an arm swing ahead of another Australian, Cameron McEvoy, on day 2 at the World Cup in Baku.
Kornev's previous best was a 44.99 from last November. Speaking through World Aquatics, he said:
“I am very excited about the race, even if it is now a repeat record. There was a bad stroke [in the race], so I’ve got my potential, and I’ll show what I’ve got in the next stops."
A day after beating Kornev in the 50m free, McEvoy raced the 100m for the first time since 2023, his 45.36 also a best time, and highlighting two things: confirmation that the work he has done to become all-time fastest man in water - hits 50m free World long-course record of 20.88 taking no prisoners earlier this year; the impact of a potential addition of McEvoy to Australia's 4x100m free squad for LA2028. Early days - thrilling prospect.
That 20.88 WR:
Craig Lord
And day 1 On the Silk Road Cup Tour:
Craig Lord
The fastest man in the world going into the 2016 Olympic final over 100m in Rio, and the fastest man that year coming out of it, McEvoy celebrated no prize. He did win respect and hearts back home and further afield though as he waited for his then teenage teammate Chalmers to raise aloft the hand of the first Australian to claim the blue ribband crown since Mike Wenden in 1968.
A happy moment, then to have passed his first serious test of 100m speed since he became dash king. Said McEvoy:
“I’m stoked. My PB before this was 46.1, so I’m almost a second faster, so couldn’t ask for anything better. I think there’s room for improvement in the next two stops which is exciting, but the bar is high. To win the 100 Free you have to get a World Record, which is pretty crazy."
- The 900-plus points swims: Kornev, 1000; McEvoy, 966.
Kornev’s World mark unfolded in his second blast of the day: he took the 50m backstroke in 22.23, a Cup record inside the 22.58 at which Australia's Isaac Cooper had helped the standard.
South Africa’s Pieter Coetze and Pavel Samusenko we're a snap for silver in 22.51, for Coetze an African record – and a rare mirror image of the same share-in-silver outcome for the same two athletes at long-course World titles in Singapore last year.
- The podium 900+ points: 983 - and 947, twice.
The top women's perfomamnce of the day came from Siobhan Haughey, of Hong Kong, her dominant 1:51.08 victory in the 200m freestyle mustering 954 points:
In other finals with 900-point wins and podium places:
Women's 100 back:
Men's 100IM:
Men's 200 'fly
\Women's 100m breast:
Men's 50m breast:
Women's 400IM:
