Andre Souza, Pedro Spajari Lead Fast 100 Free Field at Brazilian Nationals
The blue ribbon event of the Brazilian Nationals in Rio de Janeiro did not disappoint on Thursday night as Andre Souza scored an upset over a talented field with a 48.15. Souza won ahead of Pedro Spajari (48.31) as both were under the FINA A standard of 48.57.
Brazil has a solid 4×100 free relay ahead of this summer’s Olympics as Breno Correia (48.74) and Marcelo Chierighini (48.83) rounded out the top four, with Felipe Souza (48.87) and Marco Ferreira (48.95) also getting under 49 seconds. Brazil was sixth at the 2019 Worlds in the 4×100 free relay and won the silver at the 2017 Worlds. Souza’s time puts him ninth in the world this year while Spajari is 14th.
Brazil also qualified two women in the inaugural 1500 freestyle with Beatriz Dizotti winning at 16:22.07, well ahead of the 16:32.04 FINA A standard. Ana Marcela Cunha, who was the 2019 world champ in the 5K and 25K, and is one of the greatest open water swimmers of all-time, finished in second for a potential pool Olympic spot with a 16:25.76. If Cunha decides to drop the 1500 from her program in favor of the 10K, that could open the door for Betina Lorscheitter (16:27.73) for the second spot.
Caio Pumputis, who swims at Georgia Tech, missed the A standard in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:11.81 as 2:10.35 was the time to reach for him. Andreas Mickosz (2:13.03) finished in second as Pumputis just finished his senior year at Georgia Tech, where he was eighth at NCAAs in the 200 breast.
In the women’s 200 fly, Giovanna Diamante won with a 2:15.93, which was off the 2:08.43 FINA standard.
Brazil also time trialed a women’s 4×200 free relay as the team of Larissa Oliveira (1:59.21), Nathalia Almeida (2:00.23), Gabrielle Roncatto (2:01.97) and Aline Rodrigues (1:59.51) swam an 8:00.92 to put themselves in contention for the Olympic Games.