Brazil’s best continued to turn up the heat at the Maria Lenk Trophy meet, with more stellar times going on the scoreboard on day four. Leonardo De Deus provided some major fireworks in the first event with a world-leading time in the 200 butterfly.
De Deus popped a 1:55.19 to win the event, putting himself at the top of the global mountain so far in 2015, beating out the 1:55.39 that Dane Viktor Bromer swam last week. That’s a lifetime best for De Deus, and puts him in position for another appearance in a long course world championship final. De Deus was seventh in the 200 fly at the 2013 worlds, then earned a podium spot at the Pan Pacific championships last year, finishing second with a then-best time of 1:55.28. De Deus is still a little more than a second off the Brazilian record of 1:53.92 that Gabriel Mangabeira swam in 2009.
Kaio Almeida, the former short course 200 fly world record holder, finished second with a 1:56.99. That’s 13th in the world so far and two tenths off Brazil’s internally-set qualifying time for world championships. Almeida, however, is likely to earn a trip to worlds with the swim. In third place was Marcos Ferrari with a 1:58.36.
Felipe Silva and Felipe Lima continue to dominate the men’s 100 breast in Brazil, and the two finished 1-2 tonight in Rio de Janeiro. Silva posted a 59.84 to become the sixth man under 1:00, and tying him with South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh for fourth in the world. It’s a fast swim, but not his fastest. He won at this meet in 2012 with a 59.63 for his current lifetime best, and was second at last year’s Pan Pacific championships with a 59.82. Silva has won two long course world championship medals in the 50 breast but has yet to get on the medal podium for the 100 distance. Lima was a part of the 2013 world championship final in the 100 breast, earning a bronze medal with a 59.65. Tonight, he was second to Silva with a 1:00.03. That will get him on the international racing squad with the chance to return to the podium at the year’s biggest meet.
Two others broke 1:01 in a fast final. Pedro Cardona was third with a 1:00.88, while Raphael Oliveira took fourth with a 1:00.99.
A day after just missing her national record in the 400 IM, Joanna Maranhao fell short of her Brazilian record of 2:09.41 in the 200 fly with a 2:10.33. Maranhao doesn’t rank as high in this event as she does in the 400 IM, placing 21st among global competition. But it gives her a second event at this year’s international meets. As was the case in the 400 IM, Maranhao was racing the clock, with Gabriela Rocha finishing a distant second with a 2:14.84 and Manuella Lyrio third with a 2:15.06.
Julia Sebastian almost broke her own Argentinian record of 1:08.76 in the 100 breast tonight, taking the win with a 1:08.85. She took the race out hard, splitting 32.77 at the 50 to give herself a body length lead over fellow Argentine Macarena Ceballos. The two appeared to give their home country a 1-2 finish, but Renata Sander got by Ceballos in the final strokes with a 1:09.62 for second place. Ceballos settled for third with a 1:09.75.
Miguel Valente got some revenge on his competition from the 1500 free, winning the 800 tonight with a 7:58.44. Valente was passed in the final 400 meters in the mile on Tuesday, but he could not be caught in the shorter distance. Valente’s swim missed the Brazilian record of 7:58.20 swum in 2009 by Luis Arapiraca, but the time is 12th in the world for the non-Olympic event. He will likely not be able to join the world championship team with the swim, as it falls short of FINA’s and Brazil’s automatic qualifying standards. Because it beats the FINA “B” cut, Brazil could allow him to swim it in Kazan this summer. Since there is no 800 free at the Pan American Games, the 800 at worlds could be Valente’s only racing opportunity. Well back in second place was Lucas Kanieski with an 8:01.10, while new 1500 national record holder Brandon Almeida took third with an 8:01.60.
Etienne Medeiros went after Larissa Oliveira’s 100 free national record of 54.61 as a leadoff swimmer for SESI tonight in the 400 free relay, but missed it with a 54.99. Look for her to chase it again on Saturday. Medeiros’ leadoff helped SESI win the event with a 3:41.62, just missing the national and continental record of 3:41.05 from the 2013 world championships.
Matheus Santana was the only swimmer under 49 seconds on the leadoff legs of the men’s 400 free relay, posting a 48.99. That’s seven tenths off his lifetime best of 48.25 that stands as the junior world record. Santana turned 19 one week ago today, making him ineligible to lower that standard. But, he’ll still be in the running for his first senior-level international roster when the 100 free final takes place on Saturday. Santana’s leadoff wasn’t good enough to help Unisanta win the race, finishing third with a 3:16.38. Pinheiros won with a 3:15.83 to Minas’ 3:16.12.