Anna Elendt & Alberto Razzetti Twice Visit Podium In Barcelona
Anna Elendt and Alberto Razzetti each enjoyed two top-three finishes on the second day of the Mare Nostrum in Barcelona.
Elendt has been on consistently fine form in recent weeks during which she set a German 200 breast record of 2:23.54 at the national championships. She won the 100m breaststroke on the opening day in the Catalonian city before returning for the 50 on Thursday which she took in 30.82, 0.02 ahead of four-time world medallist Benedetta Pilato (30.84) with neutral athlete Yuliya Efimova third in 30.97.
Elendt was back in the water for the 200m breaststroke where Alina Zmushka led throughout to win in 2:23.30 ahead of the German (2:24.26) with Kotryna Tetervkova completing the podium places in 2:24.60.
Alberto Razzetti: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Razzetti had a quick turnaround between his races with the 200 fly up first. The 2024 world silver medallist was in charge throughout to win in 1:57.44, 0.90secs ahead of Richard Marton who finished in 1:58.34.
The Italian had little time to dust himself down and return to the pool for the 200IM. Noè Ponti intends to start contesting the short medley rather than the 200 fly and he was out like a shot, reaching halfway in 54.77 thanks to a 24.05 fly split and 30.72 backstroke leg.
Matt Sates was the Swiss’ closest challenger, 2.66secs adrift in 57.43. Ponti still led at the final turn, 1.05 ahead of Tom Dean but it was all change over the last 50 as the Briton went past for victory in 2:01.26. He was followed by Razzetti – who split 27.87 for 2:01.64 – and Sates (2:02.46) with Ponti fourth as he came home in 2:02.73.
Seemanova Dominates 200 Free
Barbora Seemanova moved into the world top five for the year in the 200 free where she enjoyed a clear win in 1:55.85. It was the seventh swiftest of her career for the Czechia swimmer who finished sixth at Paris 2024, weeks after being crowned European champion in Belgrade. Siobhan Haughey – who won bronze in the French capital – was next home in 1:57.38 with Francisca Soares Martins third in 1:59.54.
Barbora Seemanova: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Milou van Wijk clinched the 50/100 free double with a 24.56 victory in the dash ahead of Tessa Giele (24.74) and Sara Curtis (24.99).
Doha world champion Simona Quadarella dominated the 1500 free as she posted her second-fastest time of the season in 16:04.21 to head the field by 23 seconds with Emma Giannelli next home in 16:27.25.
Anastasia Gorbenko was the only woman inside the minute mark in the 100 back (59.25), Mizuki Hirai won the 100 fly in 57.21 and Emma Carrasco Cadens took the 400IM in 4:41.29.
Scott & Kolesnikov At The Double
Duncan Scott added the 100 free to his 200 victory on the opening day, overcoming a 0.18 deficit at the turn to move past Manuel Frigo and take the touch by 0.01 in 49.28 to 49.29. Kamil Sieradzki followed the pair home in 49.58.
Daniel Wiffen led the 400 free until the 300m mark when Ahmed Jaouadi and Marco De Tullio both made their moves. Jaouadi pulled away for victory in 3:47.58 to add to his silver behind the Irishman in the 800m. De Tullio was second in 3:49.28 with Wiffen third in 3:50.53.
Nicolo Martinenghi: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi led home an Italian 1-2 in the 100m breaststroke in 1:00.01, 0.16 ahead of teammate Ludovico Viberti (1:00.17) with Ilya Shymanovich third in 1:00.25.
Kliment Kolesnikov won the 50 back in 24.75 ahead of Ksawery Masiuk (24.84) and Adam Jaszo (25.22) as the trio replicated the outcome of the 100 back on Wednesday. Masiuk also picked up a silver medal in the 200 back in 2:00.71 with winner Jan Cejka well clear in 1:58.15.
Oleg Kostin won the 50 fly in 23.09 with Abdulrahman Elaraby – who took a maiden voyage inside 22secs en-route to the 50 free title – second in 23.18.