The 2017 Italian Nationals concluded in Riccione with Giacomo Carini posted a new national record in the 200 fly and Gabriele Detti strutting his sprinting abilities in the 200 free.
Gabriele Detti uncorked a dominating 1:46.38 in the men’s 200 free final to finish off the meet. Detti, commonly known as a distance freestyler, rocketed to first in the world rankings and punched his ticket to Budapest, but just missed Emiliano Brembilla’s 2009 national record of 1:46.29. Filippo Megli joined him on the podium with a 1:47.38 for silver, while Filippo Magnini took third with a 1:48.32.
Martina Carraro delivered a 1:07.87 to pick up the gold in the women’s 100 breast final. Carraro’s time moves her into the top 20 world rankings for 2017, but just missed the FINA ‘A’ cut of 1:07.58. Arianna Castiglioni was a close second with a 1:07.95 while Ilaria Scarcella finished third with a 1:08.11.
Giacomo Carini unleashed a 1:55.40 in the men’s 200 fly to rocket to fifth in the world rankings and easily qualify for Budapest later this summer. Carini’s time broke his own national record of 1:55.48 set at the Rio Olympics. Joining him on the podium was Filippo Berlincioni (1:57.63) and Mateo Pelizzari (1:58.34).
Silvia di Pietro flirted with her own national record in the final of the women’s 50 free. Di Pietro posted a 24.93 to sprint past the FINA ‘A’ cut of 25.18. Erika Ferraioli and Giorgia Biondani finished second and third respectively with times of 25.30 and 25.34.
The men’s 50 back was highlighted by a tight race between Niccolo Bonacchi and Simone Sabbioni. The two stopped the clock a shy .01 seconds apart to finish with times of 25.36 and 25.37, just missing out on the FINA ‘A’ cut of 25.29. Matteo Milli completed the podium with a 25.37.
Simona Quadarella topped the competition in the women’s 1500 free, delivering a 16:10.66, well under the FINA ‘A’ cut of 16:32.04. Giulia Gabbrielleschi posted a 16:15.56 for the silver, also under the FINA ‘A’ cut, while Alisia Tettamanzi took this with a 16:25.61.
Veteran Luca Pizzini delivered a personal best time in the men’s 200 breast, stopping the clock at a 2:09.23. For years Pizzini could not shake the 2:10 barrier, but in Riccione he finally has, qualifying well under FINA’s ‘A’ cut of 2:11.11. Flavio Bizzarri just missed the ‘A’ cut with a 2:11.17, while young sprint-star Nicolo Martinenghi took third with a 2:11.63.
In the women’s 200 IM, Ilaria Cusinato snuck past the FINA ‘A’ cut of 2:13.41 to punch her ticket to Budapest with a 2:12.73. Sara Franceschi joined her beneath the ‘A’ cut time with a 2:13.05 for second, followed by Laura Letrari’s 2:14.10.
