Estonia's Jefimova wins three breaststroke events as NC State takes title

Estonian swimmer Eneli Jefimova, 19, won all three breaststroke events at the College Swimming League final in Indianapolis. Her results helped North Carolina State University (NC State) win the league title for the first time.

Jefimova led the 200-yard breaststroke from start to finish and won in 2:05.70, a new personal best for the distance. In October she had swum 2:06.19. Tennessee's McKenzie Siroky took second in 2:06.02, and Virginia's Sophia Umstead was third in 2:06.47.

She also won the 50-yard skins event. Tennessee had won the 4x50 freestyle relay and therefore picked breaststroke for the skins, hoping to favour Siroky. Jefimova nevertheless was fastest in all four rounds and won the final in 26.55, 1.03 seconds ahead of Siroky. A few dozen minutes later she took the 100 breaststroke in 58.13, almost a second ahead of Indiana's Anita Bottazzo. Virginia's Smilte Plytnykaite was third in 59.46.

NC State finished ahead of Tennessee and Virginia, who had begun the meet as favorites.

What comes next

Jefimova will race once more at college level before the short course World Championships in Beijing, which run from 1 to 6 December. "I like racing a lot with the university," she said, adding that all of her preparation is aimed at the short course Worlds.

She was named NC State's rookie of the year for last season. She went to Raleigh to study and compete in August last year.