Ingram Wins World Cup Swim in Moscow

Veteran New Zealand swimmer Melissa Ingram grabbed her second victory of the series in the FINA World Cup in Moscow today.

The 27 year old from North Shore won the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:05.35 after a tight battle with young American prospect Kylie Stewart. The American led at the halfway mark before Ingram edged in front with 50m remaining and held off the young charger to win by 39/100ths of a second.

Ingram, part of Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre, also finished third in the 400m freestyle in 4:06.20 won by Russia’s Elena Sokolova.

It was the second victory of the series for Ingram, who also won the same race in Stockholm, while she has also enjoyed eight podium placings after four of the eight meets in the FINA Arena series.

Clubmate Glenn Snyders managed third place in the men’s 50m breaststroke in 27.00 although he scratched from his other events, suffering from a virus.

The world cup moves to the final European meet in Berlin this weekend before the final three rounds in Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore next month.

Results, FINA World Cup, Moscow:

Women 200m backstroke: Melissa Ingram (NZL) 2:05.35, 1; Kylie Stewart (USA) 2:05.79, 2; Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:07.29, 3.

Men 50m backstroke: Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) 26.51, 1; Sergei Geibel (RUS) 26.74, 2; Glenn Snyders (NZL) 27.00, 3.

Women 400m freestyle: Elena Sokolova (RUS) 4:04.83, 1; Leah Smith (USA) 4:05.04, 2; Melissa Ingram (NZL) 4:06.20, 3.