The fifth and final day of the 2017 Brazilian National Championships was highlighted by swift swims in the men’s and women’s 50 free. Olympians Bruno Fratus, Cesar Cielo, and Etiene Medeiros splashed and dashed into the top ten of the world rankings.
Women’s 200 Breast
Julia Sebastian delivered the top time of the morning in the women’s 200 breast, clocking a 2:29.73. Sebastian’s time places her beneath the FINA ‘B’ qualifying standard of 2:31.02.
Pamela Souza qualified second overall with a 2:32.49, followed closely by Macarena Ailen Ceballos’ 2:33.74.
Men’s 200 Breast
Thiago Teixeira Simon turned in the fastest time of the morning in the men’s 200 breast, grabbing the top seed with a 2:14.09.
Felipe Lima posted a 2:15.08 to qualify second overall, while Andreas Mickosz touched a close third with a 2:15.91.
Both Simon and Lima turned in times beneath the FINA ‘B’ qualifying standard of 2:15.70, while Mickosz fell just outside of the standard.
Women’s 50 Free
Etiene Medeiros put herself within shooting range of her own Brazilian National Record in the 50 free, clocking a 24.78 for the first place seed. Medeiros holds the record at a 24.45 set at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her time moves her to ninth in the world rankings for 2017 and sits beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 25.18.
Allesandra Marchioro touched second overall with a time of 25.22, just ahead of Lorrane Ferreira’s time of 25.45. Both athletes finished beneath the FINA ‘B’ cut of 26.06.
Men’s 50 Free
Bruno Fratus held off Cesar Cielo, the Brazilian National Record holder, in the men’s 50 free prelims by a slim .04 seconds. Fratus stopped the clock at a 21.83 over Cielo’s 21.87. Their times move them to fifth and sixth in the world rankings respectively.
Italo Manzine was third in prelims with a 22.08.
All three athletes fell beneath the FINA ‘A’ cut of 22.47.
Cielo back in form finally