ACC Youngsters Sara Curtis and Eneli Jefimova Are Golden at European Short Course Championships
When Sara Curtis (Virginia) and Eneli Jefimova (North Carolina State) joined Atlanta Coast Conference programs earlier this fall, they were tabbed as instant game-changers for their respective college programs. The freshmen are expected to excel in their individual events, while also contributing in relay events. But this week, Curtis and Jefimova have turned their attention to competition across the Atlantic Ocean.
Competing on the second day of the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland, Italy’s Curtis and Estonia’s Jefimova earned gold medals. Curtis propelled Italy to the title in the mixed 200-meter medley relay. Teaming with Francesco Lazzari (backstroke), Simone Cerasuolo (breaststroke) and Silvia Di Pietro, Curtis handled the anchor leg and brought the Italians to the wall in a championship record of 1:36.09.
A rising star in the sprint-freestyle events, Curtis anchored for Italy in 22.92, an effort that rallied her country to a come-from-behind victory over the Netherlands. Italy was timed in 1:36.09, with the Dutch following in 1:36.18. Curtis had the second-fastest split among the female athletes on the freestyle leg, topped only by Poland’s Kasia Wasick (22.82), who helped her team to the bronze medal. Based on her performance, Curtis figures to contend for the podium in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
As for Jefimova, she defended her European short-course crown in the 100 breast, thanks to a championship record of 1:02.82. That performance handed the 18-year-old a comfortable margin over silver medalist Florine Gaspard of Belgium, who recorded a time of 1:03.73. Come the NCAA Championships, Jefimova will be one of the favorites in the 100 breaststroke.
