The first of four days at the Italian National Championships in Riccione produced X qualifying times for the FINA World Championships, with Olympic bronze medalist Gabriele Detti and World Junior Record-holder Nicolo Martinenghi leading the way.
In the first final of the meet, Tania Quaglieri won the women’s 100 back in 1:00.96, edging out Carlota Zovkova (1:01.03) and Federica Pellegrini (1:01.13). Those times did miss the FINA “A” standard of 1:00.61 but all easily cleared the “B” standard of 1:02.73. Quaglieri could qualify for this summer’s World Championships in Budapest with that time, while Pellegrini will have plenty more chances in the upcoming freestyle events.
In the men’s 50 breast, Martinenghi finished in 26.97 in his prelims swim, breaking the 27.32 he had set as the World Junior Record last year. The time also a new Italian national record, breaking the 27.06 previously held by Andrea Toniato. He also became the second man to break 27 this year, joining Adam Peaty (26.86) and the 11th-fastest performer in history.
In the final later that day, Martinenghi could not quite match his strong prelims time, finishing in 27.09 to win the national championship. Fabio Scozolli took second in 27.33, followed by Mattia Pesce (27.52) and Toniato (27.72).
Alice Mizzau won the women’s 400 free in 4:07.92, just edging out Simona Quadarella. Both women easily cleared the FINA “A” cut of 4:10.57, which should allow both to swim at the World Championships. Third went to Martina Rita Caramingnoli (4:11.41).
Detti then destroyed the field in the men’s 400 free final. He posted a time of 3:43.36 to edge out Massimiliano Rosolino’s national record of 3:43.40 set on his way to Olympic gold in the event in 2000. The time is a hair quicker than the 3:43.49 Detti swam on his way to an Olympic bronze medal last year and moves him up from 15th to 11th all-time in the event.
Also finishing in the top three (but off the FINA “A” standard) were Filippo Megli (3:50.28) and Domenico Acerenza (3:50.40).
In a tight finish, Stefania Pirozzi held off Aurora Petronio to win the women’s 200 fly. Pirozzi led by more than a second at the final turn but ended up digging deep to hold on, 2:08.64 to 2:08.86, both under the FINA “A” time. Ilaria Cusinato took third in 2:10.87.
Luca Dotto held off a quick pack to touch first in the men’s 100 free. He finished in 48.66, just two one-hundredths ahead of Ivano Vendrame (48.68) and both under the “A” cut. Just three one-hundredths back of Vendrame was Alessandro Miressi (48.71), and veteran Filippo Magnini, the 2005 and 2007 World Champion in the event, finished fourth in 48.85, setting up a strong 400 free relay for the Italians.
Misha Romanchuk is the best !!!
Massimiliano Rosolino won the Silver in the 400fr in Sydney 2000 not the Gold. Did you really forget about the amazing Ian Thorpe?:)