PESCARA, Italy, May 28. ILARIA Scarcella completed a remarkable two-day progression of the Italian record in the women's 100 breast at the Italian Long Course National Championships.
Scarcella clocked a time of 1:06.86 to lower her short-lived record of 1:06.99 from semis. Coming into the meet, Chiara Boggiatto held the mark with a 1:08.09 that she set in April. Robert Panara then dipped under that standard with a 1:08.01 before Scarcella crushed it with a 1:06.99 in the following semifinal.
Giulia Fabbri finished a distant second in finals with a 1:08.52, while Ombretta Plos took third in 1:08.53. Panara (1:08.62) and Boggiatto (1:08.75) fell back to fourth and fifth, respectively.
Federica Pellegrini cruised in the women's 400 free finals with a 4:06.30. The time was well off her Italian record of 4:01.53, but more than enough to earn her a spot at the World Championships. Flavia Zoccari (4:10.61) and Giulia Bolgiani (4:11.84) finished second and third. Notably, Pellegrini also clocked a swift anchor leg of 54.30 during 400 free relay action to close the night.
Samuel Pizzetti took home the men's 500 free title in a close triumph over Italian record holder Massi Rosolino, 3:47.14 to 3:47.57. Cesar Sciocchetti finished third in 3:48.51, just beating out Federico Colbertaldo (3:48.61).
Luca Pizzini followed in the men's 100 breast with a winning time of 1:00.65. The swim just missed Domenico Fioravanti's national record of 1:00.46 from 2000. Mattia Pesce took second in 1:00.69 with Fabio Scozzoli placing third in 1:00.85.
Laura Letrari touched out Arianna Barbieri, 28.87 to 28.97, to claim the women's 50 back crown. Valentina De Nardi pocketed third in 29.22. Meanwhile, Federico Bocchia snared the men's 50 free title in 21.93. Andrea Rolla (22.32) and Fabio Gimondi (22.47) completed the podium.