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Biczó Holds Off Chasing Cseh By 0.01sec
Mar 31, 2012 - Craig Lord
On day 3 of finals at the Debrecen meet in Hungary, an Olympic qualification event, Bence Biczó struck a hot pace from the start of the 200m butterfly and then held off a late assault from Olympic silver medallist László Cseh, both men inside London 2012 cut and into the 2012 world top 10.
Race reports
Men's 200m butterfly
Bence Biczó, the 18-year-old coached by Béla Sántics at Pécsi Sport, set a blistering pace from the start and refused to yield even as Olympic silver medallist László Cseh, of K‘bánya, chased him down in the closing strokes of the race for a 1:56.33 to 1:56.34 finish in the teenager's favour.
The top two entered the 2012 world top 10 at Nos 6 and 7, Nick D'Arcy (AUS) at the helm on 1:54.71. Both Hungarians made the Olympic cut.
The bronze went to Greek visitor Ioannis Drymonakos in 1:57.32, with Dávid Verrasztó 4th on 1:59.05.
The splits:
Four years ago as he prepared for his last Olympic campaign, Drymonakos tested positive for Methyltrienolone - the same steroid for which 11 Greek weightlifters tested positive in a separate doping scandal - and was suspended for two years. A case brought by the US that questioned the right of the IOC to allow previously banned athletes to compete at the following Games led to the door being opened for a whole shoal of cheats, some who said sorry and made up, some who did no such thing, now heading for London 2012. Under that ruling, Drymonakos is eligible once more for Olympic selection four years on from having tried to cheat his way to the biggest sports show on Earth.
Women's 400m freestyle
Éva Risztov, Debreceni Sport, and Zsuzsanna Jakabos, ANK Úszóklub Pécs, endured a stroke-for-stroke battle that led to victory for Riszov 4:08.21 to 4:08.77. The biggest gap between the two throughout the race was the one that separated them when the clock stopped. The bronze went to Boglárka Kapás, in 4:10.07.
Women's 50m backstroke
Evelyn Verrasztó, of A Jöv‘ SC Veolia, a club that lists Balázs Fehérvári, Péter Horváth and Zoltan Verrasztó as coaches, clocked 29.80 in the backsytroke dash.
Men's 1500m freestyle
Gergo Kiss, RÁJA `94 Úszóklub, edged ahead of Gergely Gyurta from the 500m mark on his way to a 15:06.14 victory and Olympic qualifier. Gyurta, younger brother of daniel, the 200m breaststroke world champion, took second in 15:12.74, a touch outside the FINA A cut (but is likely to be in action when the world gathers in London this summer). Third place went to Patrik Rakos in 15:24.58.
