Benedetta Pilato & Margherita Panziera Book Tickets To Fukuoka As Italian Championships End In Riccione
Benedetta Pilato and Margherita Panziera booked their places on the team for the Fukuoka worlds as the Italian Championships concluded in Riccione.
The championships were the first of two meets where swimmers can book a spot on the team for the World Championships with the second being the Sette Colli – held at the iconic Foro Italico – in June.
Pilato won the 50br – in which she holds the world record of 29.30 – in 30.08, inside the qualifying standard, although Arianna Castiglioni (30.57) and Martina Carraro (30.71) failed to make the cut and must fight once more at the Foro Italico.
Margherita Panziera: Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA
Panziera, winner of the 100/200 backstroke double at last year’s European Championships in Rome, booked a spot in the longer event in 2:08.12.
Nicolo Martinenghi – who won silver behind Nic Fink at Budapest 2022 – won the men’s 50br in 26.90 to book his second race in Japan after making the 100 cut.
Simone Cerasuolo (26.96) and Federico Poggio (27.19) were outside the qualification standard.
Simona Quadarella completed a clean sweep of the 200-400-800-1500 with victory in the eighth-length event in Riccione.
The Tokyo 800 bronze medallist came home in 4:05.83 to book her third swim in Fukuoka after qualifying in the 8 and the 15.
Gregorio Paltrinieri won the 1500 although his time of 14:49.02 was 0.02 outside the cut, the 2016 Olympic champion having not booked a spot on the team in Riccione.
Alberto Razzetti won the 400IM in 4:14.37 to secure the medley double and will fly to Fukuoka
Viola Scotto di Carlo won the women’s 50 fly in 26.22.