By Taylor Covington, Swimming World College Intern.
The 2019 Italian Swimming Championships entered its fourth day of competition on Friday, but the athletes appeared fresher than ever. Delivering impressive performances across the board, the country’s top swimmers made waves in Riccione despite their loaded event schedules. It wasn’t their resilience that was most impressive however, but the narrow margins that decided every race, making for one climactic day of competition.
The morning’s seven events were all tightly packed, highlighted by another nail-biting sprint to the finish in the men’s 100 fly. In true form, Santo Yukio Condorelli came out victorious, managing to find a way to the wall first yet again. Edging out Federico Burdisso in the final ten meters, Condorelli completed another near-perfect race in which his strategic finish returned to his aid.
Gabriele Detti closed out the morning schedule with a clean swim of his own, as he built to a 1:47.79 finish in the men’s 200 free. Detti wriggled away from the pack in the final 100 meters, building to sprint-like speed in order to cinch a decisive win over Stefano Di Cola.
Men’s 100 Fly
Santo Yukio Condorelli is making his winning ways a pattern, as he proceeded to drop a 52.70 in the men’s 100 fly despite Federico Burdisso (52.84) following close on his heels. Condorelli cannot be out-finished, as the country’s marquee sprinter has managed to find a way to get his hand on the wall first in all of his close races. Burdisso took a note out of his book, as he out-touched Christian Ferraro, who finished with a 52.88 to squeeze his way into the top three. Piero Codia barely conceded a spot in the top-three, finishing just behind Burdisso with a time of 53.09. The race was tightly packed, as Daniele D’Angelo found himself right outside the middle lanes with a time of 53.27, bumping Simone Geni (53.31) to sixth. Alberto Razzetti (53.38) and Matteo Rivolta (53.60) rounded out the top eight, less than a second slower than the top seed.
Women’s 100 Back
The women’s 100 back was a different story, as Margherita Panziera blew past the competition, finishing with a time of 1:00.42. Silvia Scalia led the second wave, crashing the pad with a time of 1:02.05. The race for third between Giulia D’Innocenzo (1:02.24) and Letizia Paruscio (1:02.24) ended identically, with the two tying at the finish to push Costanza Cocconcelli (1:02.47) to fifth. The race was on for the final three spots, as Erika Francesca Gaetani (1:02.58), Elisa Mele (1:02.73), Karen Asprissi (1:03.04) wedged their way into the top eight.
Men’s 200 Back
The men tried their hands at the mid-distance version, with Luca Mencarini manhandling the competition. The only man to go below 2:00, Mencarini posted a 1:59.52, over a second faster than his closest competitor, Emanuel Turchi (2:00.64). Johannes Michael Calloni let Turchi get away at the finish, as he barely conceded second place with a time of 2:00.72. Matteo Restivo eclipsed the top three by a similarly narrow margin, dropping a 2:00.80 to beat Lorenzo Mora (2:01.70). Lorenzo Tarocchi led the charge for the final three lanes, as he surged in to a 2:02.00 finish ahead of Alessandro Baffi (2:02.36) and Michele Lamberti (2:02.61).
Women’s 200 Fly
Ilaria Cusina continues to prove herself time and time again, and this swim was no exception. Cusina left the field in the final 50, touching in at 2:11.48 before Roberta Piano del Balzo (2:12.56) stroked in a second later. Alessia Polieri stayed within striking distance the whole race, finishing with an impressive 2:13.28. She was not alone, as sub-2:13’s took the next three spots, with Stefania Pirozzi (2:13.42), Anna Pirovano (2:13.59), and Ilaria Bianchi (2:13.98) battling it out to the finish. Aurora Petronio (2:14.44) and Marina Luperi (2:14.62) posted impressive swims of their own to round out the final.
Men’s 200 Breast
Luca Pizzini protected his reputation as a breaststroke demigod, leaving the pack to post a winning time of 2:12.97. Edoardo Bressan headed the next group of finishers with a 2:14.38, just ahead of Giovanni Sorriso (2:15.01). Alessandro Fusco and Andrea Castello (2:15. 78) went stroke for stroke at the finish, but Fusco proved victorious with a stellar 2:15.59. Zaccaria Casna was just outside the battle, posting a 2:15.95 of his own to beat Riccardo Cervi (2:17.11) and Christian Ponga (2:17.17) by over a second.
Women’s 50 Free
Silvia di Pietro (25.33) managed to get her hand on the wall first in a competitive one-lapper, as she edged out Lucrezia Raco (24.34) by 0.01. Erika Ferraioli was right in the mix, posting a time of 25.39 in order to fight her way in the top three. Nicoletta Ruberti just missed the middle lanes with a time of 25.42, but found a way to out-touch Costanza Cocconcelli (25.56) at the finish.
Giada Galizi touched in just 0.45 after the top seed, but five places down, as she managed to evade the outside lanes by out-swimming Girogia Biondani (25.79) and Aglaia Pezzato (25.88).
Men’s 200 Free
Gabriele Detti was relentless at the finish, refusing to concede the win by posting a 1:47.79 to fend off Stefano Di Cola (1:48.83). Di Cola had a battle of his own, as Mattia Zuin threatened to come behind in the last ten meters, dropping a time of 1:48.43. Stefano Ballo wasn’t to be forgotten, as he turned in a 1:48.60, followed closely by Filippo Megli (1:48.71). Megli forced Matteo Ciampi to settle for sizth, edging him out by 0.01 at the finish. Marco Belotti and Alessio Proietti Colonna claimed seventh and eighth with times of 1:48.99 and 1:49.12, respectively.
Silvia di Pietro (25.33) managed to get her hand on the wall first in a competitive one-lapper, as she edged out Lucrezia Raco (24.34) by 0.01. Erika Ferraioli was right in the mix, posting a time of 25.39 in order to fight her way in the top three.