Recap of Day 1 Prelims at the 2025 World Junior Championships

By Spencer Penland on SwimSwam

2025 World Junior Swimming Championships

• August 19-24, 2025
• Otopeni, Romania
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Meet Packet
• Team Leaders’ Guide
• SwimSwam Event Page
• SwimSwam Preview
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

DAY 1 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

Welcome to the 2025 World Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania! We’re in for a great week of racing amongst many of the best junior swimmers in the world. Let’s take a look at this morning’s event schedule:

TUESDAY MORNING PRELIMS EVENT SCHEDULE:

• Boys 400 Freestyle
• Girls 50 Breaststroke
• Boys 100 Backstroke
• Girls 400 IM
• Boys 100 Breaststroke’
• Girls 100 Backstroke
• Boys 4×100 Freestyle Relay
• Girls 4×200 Freestyle Relay

This morning’s prelims session is set to be a fairly long one, clocking in at about 3.5 hours. One of the most exciting events on today’s schedule is the girls 100 back, where American Charlotte Crush enters the meet just 0.19 seconds off the championship record. Crush comes in with a 59.30, the only sub-1:00 entry time in the field.

Japan’s Shin Ohashi should be another star of the day. Ohashi set the World Junior Record in the men’s 100 breast earlier this year with a 58.94. Ohashi is entered slower than that, and he actually comes in as the 2nd seed. Great Britain’s Filip Nowacki is the top seed, coming in with a 59.59.

BOYS 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:39.96 – Lukas Maertens, GER (2025)
• World Junior Record: 3:44.31 – Petar Mitsin, BUL (2023)
• Championship Record: 3:46.06 – Gabor Zambori, HUN (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Egor Babinich (NAB) – 3:49.72
2. Aiden Hammer (USA) – 3:49.74
3. Kazushi Imafuku (JPN) – 3:50.13
4. Grigorii Vekovishchev (NAB) – 3:50.19
5. Kuzey Tuncelli (TUR) – 3:50.77
6. Tex Cross (AUS) – 3:51.05
7. Johannes Liebmann (GER) – 3:51.43
8. Haibo Xu (CHN) – 3:51.47

The action kicked off this week and this morning with the boys 400 free, where NAB’s Egor Babinich posted the top time with a 3:49.72. That was a strong morning swim out of Babinich, who was entered with a 3:48.71.

American Aiden Hammer clocked a 3:49.74 for 2nd this morning, touching within half a second of his personal best. Hammer also pulled off a negative split this morning, going 1:55.26 on the opening 200m, then coming home in 1:54.48. The other American in the field, Norvin Clontz, came in 9th this morning with a 3:51.86, missing out on tonight’s final.

Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku, who came into the morning as the top seed, was 3rd in prelims with a 3:50.13. Imafuku has been as fast as 3:47.77, which still gives him a bit of an edge heading into tonight’s final.

GIRLS 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2023)
• World Junior Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato, ITA (2021)
• Championship Record: 30.19 – Eneli Jefimova, EST (2023)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Ralina Giliazova (NAB) – 30.89
2. Smilte Plytnykaite (LTU) – 31.11
3. Elle Scott (USA) – 31.16
4. Theodora Taylor (GBR) – 31.23
5. Rachel McAlpin (USA) – 31.25
6. Irene Burato (ITA) – 31.41
7. Lena Ludwig (GER) – 31.43
8. Hayley Mackinder (AUS) – 31.45
9. Madyson Hartway (CAN) – 31.50
10. Mikayla Tan (SGP) – 31.60
11. Lily Koch (AUS) – 31.68
12. Wui Kiu Man (HKG) – 31.78
13. Mia Franco (ITA) – 32.02
14. Pui Lam Chen (MAC) – 32.03
15. Yijing Wang (CHN) – 32.05 (TIE)
16. Pinar Donmez (TUR) – 32.05 (TIE)

NAB’s Ralina Giliazova had an excellent swim in prelims of the girls 50 breast this morning, cracking the 31-second barrier with a 30.89. That performance has earned her the top seed for semifinals tonight.

The American duo of Elle Scott and Rachel McAlpin both made it through to semifinals comfortably, seeing Scott take 3rd with a 31.16, while McAlpin was 5th in 31.25. Scott tied her career best with the swim this morning.

Lithuania’s Smilte Plytnykaite came in 2nd this morning with a 31.11. She chipped 0.09 seconds off her entry time with the swim.

Australia also saw both their swimmers make it through to the semifinals, with Hayley Mackinder coming in 8th with a 31.45, while Lily Koch was 11th in 31.68.

BOYS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• World Junior Record: 52.08 – Miron Lifintsev, NAB (2024)
• Championship Record: 52.91 –  Ksawery Masiuk, POL (2022)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Henry Allan (AUS) – 54.15
2. Gavin Keogh (USA) – 54.18
3. Georgii Iakovlev (NAB) – 54.27
4. John Shortt (IRL) – 54.39
5. Tudor Iordache (ROU) – 54.83
6. Aukan Goldin (ISR) – 54.84
7. Daniele del Signore (ITA) – 54.90
8. Liam Carrington (TTO) –
9. Jack Morrow (AUS) – 55.20
10. Collin Holgerson (USA) – 55.28
11. Olivier Urbaniak (POL) – 55.35
12. Lev Shteinberg (ISR) – 55.49
13. Parker Deshayes (CAN) – 55.54
14. Mark Shibanov (NAB) – 55.75
15. Toya Hirata (JPN) – 55.82
16. Matteo Venini (ITA) – 55.86

While men’s backstroke has been a slight weak point for Australia at the senior level over recent years, things are looking great on the junior front for the Aussies. Henry Allan led prelims this morning in 54.15, touching within half a second of his career best 53.73. Allan showed off some impressive early speed this morning, going 25.66 on the opening 50m, marking the only 1st split under 26 seconds in this morning’s field.

On top of Allan, Australia’s Jack Morrow also made it through to semifinals tonight with a 55.20, which was good for 9th.

American Gavin Keogh was 2nd this morning in 54.18, touching just off his career best of 53.83. Keogh has the next-fastest opening 50 split behind Allan this morning, clocking a 26.01 on the 1st lap. The US also saw Collin Holgerson advance to semifinals, taking 10th in 55.28.

Georgii Iakovlev (NAB) was 3rd this morning, swimming a 54.27. Iakovlev came into the morning as the top seed with a 53.65.

GIRLS 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:23.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• World Junior Record: 4:24.38 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• Championship Record: 4:36.84 – Leah Hayes, USA (2023)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Agostina Hein (ARG) – 4:37.87
2. Audrey Derivaux (USA) – 4:39.86
3. Misuzu Nagaoka (JPN) – 4:41.78
4. Amalie Smith (GBR) – 4:42.29
5. Shuna Sasaki (JPN) – 4:43.36
6. Vivien Jackl (HUN) – 4:43.69
7. Kayla Han (USA) – 4:43.97
8. Amelie Smith (AUS) – 4:47.19

Argentina’s Agostina Hein had a huge performance this morning in the girls 400 IM, clocking a 4:37.87. With the swim, Hein shredded her previous best by over 3 seconds and led the field this morning by 2 seconds. Additionally, Hein just missed the Argentine Record by 0.36 seconds. That record has stood since 2004 and she’ll have another chance to break it tonight.

American Audrey Derivaux also had a huge performance this morning, swimming a 4:39.86 for 2nd. Derivaux came into the morning with a best of 4:41.39. She was good across the board this morning but was particularly great on backstroke, where she split a field-leading 1:08.93.

The other American in the field, Kayla Han, came in 7th with a 4:43.97 this morning, also advancing to tonight’s final. Han was excellent on the free leg of the race this morning, splitting 1:04.47.

Japan also saw both its swimmers advance to finals tonight, with Misuzu Nagaoka taking 3rd in 4:41.78, while Shuna Sasaki was 5th with a 4:43.36.

BOYS 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
• World Junior Record: 58.94 – Shin Ohashi, JPN (2025)
• Championship Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Shin Ohashi (JPN) – 59.64
2. Filip Nowacki (GBR) – 59.84
3. Oliver Dawson (CAN) – 1:00.28
4. Evengelos Ntoumas (GRE) – 1:00.43
5. Oleg Plotnikov (NAB) – 1:00.49
6. Junteng Wang (CHN) – 1:00.51
7. Gabe Nunziata (USA) – 1:00.57
8. Jan Grafe (GER) – 1:00.66
9. Jan Gajda (POL) – 1:01.07
10. Max Morgan (GBR) – 1:01.08
11. Nikita Batuev (NAB) – 1:01.11
12. Kaua Santos Carvalho (BRA) – 1:01.44
13. Darius-Stefan Coman (ROU) – 1:01.52
14. Nusrat Allahverdi (TUR) – 1:01.53
15. Andrew Eubanks (USA) – 1:01.57
16. Mark Teler (ISR) – 1:01.63

Japan’s Shin Ohashi led the way in the boys 100 breast this morning, swimming a 59.64. The swim marks a very solid morning performance, coming in just off his career best of 58.94, which also stands as the World Junior Record in the event. Ohashi had the fastest opening 50 in the field this morning, clocking a 28.01.

Filip Nowacki (Great Britain) was right behind Ohashi this morning, taking 2nd overall with a 59.84. Like Ohashi, Nowacki was just off his personal best of 59.59.

Canada’s Oliver Dawson rounded out the top 3 this morning, swimming a 1:00.28.

GIRLS 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• Championship Record: 59.11 – Regan Smith, USA (2017)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Charlotte Crush (USA) – 59.82
2. Kim Seungwon (KOR) – 1:00.32
3. Li Jiawei (CHN) – 1:00.72
4. Milana Stepanova (NAB) – 1:00.79
5. Madison Kryger (CAN) – 1:00.91
6. Aissia Prisecariu (ROU) – 1:00.94
7. Zoe Ammundsen (AUS) – 1:01.00
8. Julie Mishler (USA) – 1:01.04
9. Sun Yidan (CHN) – 1:01.07 (TIE)
10. Milan Glintmeyer (NZL) – 1:01.07 (TIE)
11. Daria-Mariuca Silisteanu (ROU) – 1:01.08
12. Daria Zarubenkova (NAB) – 1:01.39
13. Varvara Hlushchenko (POL) – 1:01.61
14. Jessica Thompson (RSA) – 1:01.90
15. Song Jaeyun (KOR) – 1:01.92
16. Isabel Sheldrick (AUS) – 1:01.94

Charlotte Crush (USA) came in as the top seed this morning and wound up clocking the top time in prelims. Crush was the only swimmer under 1:00 this morning, swimming a 59.82. That’s a very good morning swim for Crush, whose career best comes in at 59.30.

The other American in the field, Julie Mishler, took 8th this morning in 1:01.04. Mishler was about half a second off her career best of 1:00.64.

South Korea’s Kim Seungwon came in 2nd this morning with a 1:00.32. Of note, Kim was out fast this morning, splitting 29.08 on the opening 50, which was just 0.03 seconds slower than Crush.

BOYS 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:08.24 – USA (2008)
• World Junior Record: 3:15.49 – USA (2023)
• Championship Record: 3:15.49 – USA (2023)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Great Britain – 3:16.58
2. USA – 3:17.37
3. Neutral Athletes B – 3:17.59
4. Italy – 3:18.23
5. Brazil – 3:18.43
6. Japan – 3:19.35
7. Canada – 3:19.83
8. France – 3:20.33

Great Britain was exceptional in prelims of the boys 4×100 free relay this morning, swimming a 3:16.58. They got off to a phenomenal start with Jacob Mills leading off in 48.17. Incredibly, despite being a lead-off split, Mills’ leg this morning was the fastest in the field. Gabriel Shepherd was 2nd on the GBR relay with a 49.04, Harry Milne was 3rd with a 49.77, and Rio Daodu anchored in 49.60. Additionally, Great Britain was roughly a second off the World Junior Record this morning. The record stands at 3:15.49.

The USA also looked great this morning, swimming a 3:17.37. Austin Carpenter (49.86), Luke Vatev (49.25), Kenneth Barnicle (49.31), and Michael Rice (48.95) combined to earn the 2nd seed for finals tonight.

Italy’s Carlos D’Ambrosio put up a fantastic split this morning, anchoring the Italian relay in 48.19, which was the 2nd-fastest split in the field this morning, behind only Mills.

GIRLS 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 7:37.50 – Australia (2023)
• World Junior Record: 7:51.47 – Canada (2017)
• Championship Record: 7:51.47 – Canada (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. USA – 7:58.10
2. Italy – 8:01.26
3. China – 8:01.82
4. Neutral Athletes B – 8:03.66
5. Canada – 8:06.71
6. Australia – 8:09.25
7. Lithuania – 8:11.24
8. Hungary – 8:15.89

The USA earned the top seed for finals in the girls 4×200 free relay tonight, coming in as the only team under 8:00 with a 7:58.10. Kennedi Dobson got the Americans off to a great start, splitting 1:58.14 on the lead-off leg. Liberty Clark then clocked a 2:00.18 on the 2nd leg, followed by Brinkleigh Hansen with a 2:01.39 on the 3rd leg. Lily King then took charge on the US anchor, bringing the team home in 1:58.39. Dobson and King were the two fastest splits in the field this morning, giving the US some really great momentum heading into finals tonight.

Italy took 2nd this morning with an 8:01.26. Lucrezia Domina (2:00.62), Alessandra Mao (2:00.16), Chiara Sama (1:59.76), and Bianca Nannucci (2:0.72) teamed up to get the job done, earning a middle lane for tonight’s final.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2025 World Junior Championships: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap