2023 Mare Nostrum Barcelona: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 MARE NOSTRUM TOUR – BARCELONA

 

WOMEN’S 1500 FREE – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 15:51.68, Delfina Pignatiello (ARG) 2019
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 16:29.57
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 16:09.09

GOLD – Beatriz Dizotti (BRA), 16:10.37
SILVER – Agostina Hein (ARG), 16:14.19
BRONZE – Angela Guillen (ESP), 16:18.78

Brazil is the first nation to get on the board with gold, courtesy of Beatriz Dizotti in the women’s 1500m free.

23-year-old Dizotti got to the wall in 16:10.37 to come with 6 seconds of her own national record of 16:04.21 set just in March of this year.

15-year-old Agostina Hein fired off a time of 16:14.19 from the slower heats to reap silver overall. Hein’s time represents a monster personal best, blowing her previous PB of 16:40.19 to bits. That time was registered just last month at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale.

Hein now checks in as the 5th-fastest Argentine female ever in this event, and just 15 years of age.

Spanish swimmer Angela Guillen took the bronze in 16:18.78.

MEN’S 50 BACK – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 24.45, Michael Andrew (USA) 2019
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 25.16

GOLD – Miroslav Knedla (CZE), 25.15
SILVER – Shane Ryan (IRL), 25.33
BRONZE – Michele Lamberti (ITA), 25.41

Miroslav Knedla of the Czech Republic punched a time of 25.15 to grab gold in this men’s 50m back, hitting the 3rd fastest time of his career in the process.

17-year-old Knedla owns a lifetime best of 24.93 from the Stockholm Open earlier this season and also has a time of 25.12 on his resume from the 2022 World Junior Championships semi-final. His time of 25.15 this evening dipped under the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut for Fukuoka by .01.

Behind the teen was Irish veteran Shane Ryan, with the World Championships medalist producing a silver medal-worthy 25.33. That sliced .25 off of the 25.58 he logged last week for gold in Canet.

Italy’s Michele Lamberti also landed on the podium in 25.41 for bronze.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 29.88, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) 2015
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 31.02

GOLD – Lara van Niekerk (RSA), 30.21
SILVER – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 30.40
BRONZE – Imogen Clark (GBR), 30.42

It was a tight finish in the women’s 50m breast as the trio of medalists was separated by just .21 this evening.

Leading the pack was South African national record holder Lara van Niekerk, with the 19-year-old clocking 30.21 as the gold medalist. That effort was quicker than the 30.37 it took van Niekerk to earn gold last week in Canet, although she still owns a season-best of 29.78 to remain #1 in the world this season.

Lithuanian Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte snagged silver in 30.40, holding off British national record holder Imogen Clark who bagged bronze in 30.42.

Meilutyte’s time checks in as a season-best while Clark shaved .03 off of her 30.42 from last week.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record: 22.53, Andrii Govorov (UKR) 2018 
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 23.53

GOLD – Szebasztian Szabo (HUN), 23.33
SILVER – Abdelrahman Elaraby (EGY), 23.39
BRONZE – Nicholas Lia (NOR), 23.58

Despite Egyptian athlete Abdelrahman Elaraby heading into this final with a top-seeded morning swim of 23.52, it was World Record holder Szebasztian Szabo who ultimately topped this men’s 50m fly podium.

Szabo earned gold in a winning result of 23.33, beating out Elaraby who touched just .06 later in 23.39. Norwegian national record holder Nicholas Lia also landed on the podium in 23.58 for bronze.

Szabo represents one of four swimmers worldwide who have dipped under the 23-second barrier already this season after clocking 22.93 in April.

As for Elaraby, tonight’s performance is a big-time personal best, overwriting the 23.60 he notched for silver at the 2018 Mediterranean Games.

American Michael Andrew finished 4th in 23.63.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 4:30.75, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2016
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 4:43.06
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 4:38.53

GOLD – Mio Narita (JPN), 4:39.22
SILVER – Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 4:40.76
BRONZE – Boglarka Kapas (HUN), 4:40.97

Japan’s Mio Narita upgraded her 400m IM silver from last week in Canet to gold this time around in Barcelona.

Whereas Narita clocked a time of 4:42.84 at the first stop, the 16-year-old dipped under the 4:40 barrier to earn the top prize tonight in 4:39.22. Her season-best remains at the 4:36.89 posted at the Japan Championships in April, a time which garnered the Junior Pan Pacific Championships gold medalist a spot on the national team for this summer’s World Championships.

Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko busted out a new national record en route to silver this evening, putting up a lifetime best of 4:40.76. That surpassed the 4:41.48 record she previously held since the 2020 FFN Golden Tour.

Gorbenko already established a new 200m IM national record last night in 2:09.41.

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 48.08, Nathan Adrian (USA) 2014
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 48.51
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 48.58

GOLD – Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 48.89
SILVER – Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN), 49.04
BRONZE – Dylan Carter (TTO), 49.09

This men’s 100m free was a little on the subdued side as just one swimmer was able to get under the 49-second barrier.

Thomas Ceccon was the sole 48-point swimmer, scoring the gold in a result of 48.89. Behind him was the 200m freestyle victor from last night, Katsuhiro Matsumoto of Japan, while Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago logged 49.09 as tonight’s bronze medalist.

Last week in Canet Carter was atop the podium in a time of 48.94, so he added slightly to drop 2 slots for 3rd. The 27-year-old set his lifetime best two months ago with a 48.28 to win the event at the Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record: 58.57, Kylie Masse (CAN) 2022
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 1:00.59
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 59.99

GOLD – Ingrid Wilm (CAN), 1:00.02
SILVER – Adela Piskorska (POL), 1:00.50
BRONZE – Hanna Rosvall (SWE), 1:00.66

Ingrid Wilm of Canada skated along the minute border in this women’s 100m back but ultimately touched just over it in 1:00.02. That was a big improvement over last week where she took bronze in 1:00.66 in Canet.

Polish 19-year-old Adela Piskorska carried her backstroke success into this race, following up her 50m back bronze from last night with a silver here. Piskorska stopped the clock in a mark of 1:00.50, although she’s already been as quick as 59.76 this season.

Sweden’s Hanna Rosvall matched her career-best in 1:00.66 as the 3rd place finisher.

Of note, Italy’s Silva Scalia no-showed the final.

MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 58.15, Adam Peaty (GBR) 2019
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 59.75
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 59.79

GOLD – Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 59.98
SILVER – Jan Kalusowski (POL), 1:01.01
BRONZE – Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU), 1:01.30

Olympic bronze medalist Nicolo Martinenghi won this men’s 100m breast decisively, hitting the only time of the field under 1:01.

Martinenghi opened in 28.49 and closed in 31.49 to check in with a mark of 59.98. That’s just under a second away from the 59.06 he produced at April’s Italian Championships, although he’ll still be seeking the World Championships ‘A’ cut for Fukuoka at next month’s Sette Collie Trophy.

Andrew was back in the water in this event after his 50m fly but placed 8th in 1:02.61.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 23.85, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 2017
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 25.04
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 24.70

GOLD – Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 24.67
SILVER – Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 24.86
BRONZE – Anna Hopkin (GBR), 24.96

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey got the job done in the women’s splash n’ dash, getting to the wall in a mark of 24.67.

That gave the former University of Michigan Wolverine the edge over Dutch ace Marrit Steenbergen who touched in 24.86 for runner-up status while British Olympic finalist Anna Hopkin rounded out the top 3 in 24.96. Aussie Olympic icon Cate Campbell was just .01 shy of the podium, placing 4th in 24.97.

Haughey fired off a new Hong Kong national record of 24.56 last week in Canet for silver so the 25-year-old was only .11 off of that outing with tonight’s effort.

Both Steenbergen and Hopkin have also been quicker this season, with the former having notched a mark of 24.42 while the latter owns a season-best of 24.51.

MEN’S 200 BACK – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 1:54.34, Ryosuke Irie (JPN) 2011
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 1:58.07
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 1:58.09

GOLD – Lorenzo Mora (ITA), 1:59.45
SILVER – Brodie Williams (GBR), 2:00.03
BRONZE – Antoine Herlem (FRA), 2:00.24

Just one man made it under 2:00 in the men’s 200m back, with Italy’s Lorenzo Mora clocking 1:59.45 for gold.

Behind him was Commonwealth Games champion Brodie Williams who secured silver in 2:00.03 while Frenchman Antoine Herlem was 3rd in 2:00.24.

Herlem was the champion in Canet with an outing of 1:59.47 while Williams repeated as the silver medalist, although his time tonight was slightly quicker than his 2:00.29 from the previous stop.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 2:19.67, Rikke Moller-Pederson (DEN) 2014
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 2:25.91
  • Paris OQT – 2:23.91

GOLD – Lydia Jacoby (USA), 2:24.03
SILVER – Thea Blomsterberg (DEN), 2:24.50
BRONZE – Ana Blazevic (CRO), 2:26.58

Reigning Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby of the United States carried her momentum from last night’s 100m breast victory into tonight’s 2breast final.

The 19-year-old Alaska native produced a winning result of 2:24.03 for gold, beating out top-seeded Thea Blomsterberg of Denmark.

This morning, Blomsterberg landed lane 4 out of the heats with a time of 2:24.21 but added slightly this evening to settle for silver in 2:24.50. Blomsterberg already ranks 5th in the world with her Danish national record of 2:22.61 logged just last month.

As for Jacoby, her 2:24.03 represents a season-best, now ranking the American 11th in the world on the season. In fact, tonight’s performance establishes a huge lifetime best for the Texas Longhorn, scorching her previous career-quickest of 2:25.98 produced at last year’s Mare Nostrum Monaco stop.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum record: 1:53.89, Kristof Milak (HUN) 2022
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut: – 1:56.71
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 1:56.36

GOLD – Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL), 1:56.26
SILVER – Arbidel Alvarez (ESP), 1:56.75
BRONZE – Noe Ponti (SUI), 1:56.78

Krzysztof Chmielewski of Poland put on a show in the heats of the men’s 200m fly, registering a time of 1:55.04. That beat out the 1:55.95 the 18-year-old World Junior champion produced in Canet for silver last week behind Japan’s short course World Record holder Tomoru Honda.

The teen added time in tonight’s final, however, despite still grabbing the gold. Chmielewski registered a time of 1:56.26 to hold on against a charging Spaniard in Arbidel Alvarez. Alvarez scored silver in 1:56.75 while Olympic bronze medalist Noe Ponti also landed on the podium in 1:56.78 for bronze.

As for Chmielewski, his 1:55.04 from this morning ranks him as the 8th fastest performer in the world this season.

Alvarez’s silver medal-worthy result represents a nice new personal best, surpassing the 1:57.42 he put up for 9th place at last year’s European Championships. He is quickly now approaching the longstanding Spanish national record of 1:56.42 Carlos Piralta put on the books at the 2016 European Championships.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 55.76, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 2017
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 58.33
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 57.92

GOLD – Louise Hansson (SWE), 57.52
SILVER – Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 57.83
BRONZE – Katarine Savard (CAN), 58.77

Sweden’s Louise Hansson led a pair of Canadians onto the podium in the women’s 100m fly, with the former USC Trojan posting a winning effort of 57.52.

Hansson opened in 27.13 and closed in 30.39 to beat out the reigning Olympic champion Maggie MacNeil of Canada, despite MacNeil crushing a 26.98 opener.

MacNeil settled for silver in 57.83 while teammate Katarine Savard garnered bronze in 58.77.

MacNeil ranks #2 in the world due to the 56.54 she registered at Canadian Trials while Hansson was also quicker last month with her 57.00 to rank 4th on the season.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 1:56.31, Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) 2021
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 1:59.53
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 1:58.53

GOLD – So Ogata (JPN), 1:58.09
SILVER – Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN), 1:58.49
BRONZE – Finlay Knox (CAN), 1:59.12

Japan swept the 400m IM podium last night in Barcelona and nearly accomplished the same feat in this 2IM tonight.

So Ogata got to the wall first, clocking 1:58.09 for the gold while teammate Tomoyuki Matsushita posted 1:58.49 for the silver. Canada got on the board with bronze, courtesy of Finlay Knox‘s result of 1:59.12.

Ogata took the 2IM in Canet with a mark of 1:58.47 so he managed to shave just under half a second from last week’s performance.

For his part, Matsushita improved significantly, getting well under the 2:00.64 he raced from stop #1.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 1:54.66, Camille Muffat (FRA) 2012
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 1:58.66
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 1:57.26

GOLD – Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 1:55.56
SILVER – Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 1:56.10
BRONZE – Ella Jansen (CAN), 1:58.09

It was another 1-2 finish for Siobhan Haughey and Marrit Steenbergen, mimicking their 50m free result from earlier in the session.

Haughey once again got her hand on the wall first producing a swift 1:55.56 to take this women’s 200m free. Steenbergen secured the silver in 1:56.10 while Canadian Ella Jansen touched in 1:58.09 for the bronze.

Haughey was just off the 1:55.42 she produced in Canet for gold last week, while Steenbergen’s time this evening dipped under the 1:56.22 earned in April.

MEN’S 400 FREE – FINAL

  • Mare Nostrum Record – 3:41.71, Ian Thorpe (AUS) 2001
  • World Championships ‘A’ cut – 3:48.15
  • Paris 2024 OQT – 3:47.91

GOLD – Ayoub Hafnaoui (TUN), 3:47.13
SILVER – Joris Bouchaut (FRA), 3:49.47
BRONZE – Daniel Jervis (GBR), 3:50.95

Tunisian Olympic champion Ayoub Hafnaoui topped this men’s 400m free event with a time of 3:47.13. That beat the field by over 2 seconds, with French swimmer Joris Bouchaut clocking 3:49.47 for silver while Daniel Jervis of Great Britain took bronze in 3:50.95.

Hafnaoui’s season-best rests at the 3:46.02 put up at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale this past March.

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KeithM
10 months ago

The official results show 15 year old Augustina Hein of Argentina claiming silver on 16:14.

Southswim
10 months ago

Was there a DQ in the women s 1500? hein?

KeithM
Reply to  Southswim
10 months ago

There’s no DQ indicated on the official results. Maybe the swim was missed because it was in the “slow” heat?

Billy
10 months ago

Here’s a question that some of you might find stupid, but here goes.. When an athlete like Lydia Jacoby or Michael Andrews or any other American elite level swimmer goes to a meet in Spain or some other foreign country, who pays for it? You’ve got airfare, hotels, food and a bunch of other stuff and it has to cost a few thousand bucks or more for a couple of days.

Enlighten me if you can. FYI, I’m an old guy who swam a long, long time ago. Thanks!

Meow
Reply to  Billy
10 months ago

Sponsors, I imagine.

Sub13
Reply to  Billy
10 months ago

Mare Nostrum actually pays swimmers to attend. I believe that if you’re a Worlds medallist from the previous year they will cover your entire costs to appear, and if you’re a worlds finalist they will cover some of it.

I’m sure some national associations would contribute for some others but I imagine most would be covering it themselves or sponsors would be paying.

Lap Counter
Reply to  Sub13
10 months ago

They probably also will pay for a coach or parent or partner to come also! Flights, food, hotel. It is a big expense for the organizers! World LC record holders, gold medalist get more perks obviously!

Billy
Reply to  Lap Counter
10 months ago

Thank you!

Billy
Reply to  Sub13
10 months ago

Thank you for answering!

Luigi
10 months ago

My god, the meet record for the 400 free is Thorpe’s 3:41.7 from over 20 years ago. Still a monstrous time.

IM FAN
Reply to  Luigi
10 months ago

He would still hold the 400 free WR if not for supersuits helping Biedermann get it by .01

Sun Yang missed it by gliding into the wall in London, but with events since then I think we can let that slide

Luigi
Reply to  IM FAN
10 months ago

Well if we are talking about gliding just watch Thorpe’s 400 free at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and tell me that wasn’t going to be 3:39 if he didn’t glide!

Brownish
Reply to  Luigi
10 months ago

Cseh’s meet record in 400 IM is from 2004, 4:07.96 🙂

USA
Reply to  Brownish
10 months ago

That record was from 2008. The WR in 2004 was 4:08 from Phelps.

Bud
10 months ago

When did Hafnoui change his name?

Swimmerfromjapananduk
Reply to  Bud
10 months ago

Well he didn’t technically change his name, his name had ayoub in it anyway.

Sometimes you see athletes competing under their middle names

Last edited 10 months ago by Swimmerfromjapananduk
gisco
Reply to  Bud
10 months ago

here, some guys and girls in tunisia have 2 names you can put whatever you want.

NMQ
10 months ago

A correction: Agostina Hein was actually the silver medalist in the 1500 FR with a 16:14.19 from the slowest heat. It’s another massive PB for her (the former was a 16:40.19 from the Pro Swim in Fort Lauderlale), 5th fastest time ever for an argentinian at just 15yo.

Taa
10 months ago

I am gonna have to say I am getting worried about MA’s breast.

Wow
Reply to  Taa
10 months ago

Potentially opens the door for someone like Matheny or Miller in the 100 to qualify for this summer’s world championships

Last edited 10 months ago by Wow
Summer is Titmus’ Sleep Paralysis Demon
Reply to  Wow
10 months ago

Cody Miller??? Lol. That medley relay is going to suffer

Wow

Fink should be there…

Last edited 10 months ago by Wow
RealSlimThomas

Huh??? If he qualifies individually, then he has earned the spot. He will literally be one of two possible options. I think the medley relay would suffer more if they took let’s say the 5th place finisher at trials…wouldn’t you agree?

Summer is Titmus’ Sleep Paralysis Demon
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
10 months ago

Those 59.03 split times will do wonders 🤩

Swimmerfromjapananduk

Better than what matheny or MA could do lol

RealSlimThomas

A gold medal is a gold medal.

Anonymous
Reply to  Wow
10 months ago

Cody did a 1:02 in prelims at Indy spring cup yesterday. Finals not up yet

Anonymous
Reply to  Wow
10 months ago

Matheny, Cope, and Miller all went 1:01 in finals tonight at Indy Spring Cup. They don’t look like they can go under 1:00.

Wanna Sprite?
Reply to  Taa
10 months ago

While I am also worried, I think the bigger concern is that he just simply can’t do doubles no matter how much he changes things up in his training. His 50 breast last night would suggest he’s in better shape than we might think

Koen
10 months ago

I think Steenbergen also swam a PB in that 200 free

the past future
Reply to  Koen
10 months ago

Yes 0.1 pb

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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