With Ryan Lochte, Tyler Clary, Natalie Coughlin and Madison Kennedy on the program, there wasn’t an empty seat in the house for prelims of Day Two of the 41st Nico Sapio Trophy in Genoa, Italy. SwimSwam photographer Rafael Domeyko, who is at the meet, said that even in prelims, the fans were audibly impressed with the swims of the American stars, even against their own home-grown Italian swimmers.
The Americans didn’t disappoint the crowd. Lochte raced to a 2:01.34 in the 200m IM, posting the second-fastest time out of prelims behind the Italian Francesco Pavone (2:01.09). Lochte also turned in a 49.87 100m free, qualifying him for finals tonight. Tyler Clary qualified seventh in the 100m back.
Natalie Coughlin was the top qualifier in both the 100m free (54.14) and 100m back (59.19). Madison Kennedy qualified third in the 100 free with 55.49.
The Nico Sapio Trophy marked the return of French backstroker Camille Lacourt, after a six-month absence from racing. He was the top qualifier in the 100 back with 52.74 but scratched finals.
Notable results
Women’s 100 fly
1. Ilaria Bianchi in 57.43
Women’s 100 back
1. Natalie Coughlin in 56.98.
Women’s 100 free
1. Natalie Coughlin in 52.91
Men’s 100 fly
1. Mehdy Metella in 50.35
Men’s 100 back
1. Benjamin Stasiulis in 52.11
3. Tyler Clary in 54.05
No Lacourt in final.
Men’s 100 breast
1. Fabio Scozzoli in 58.45
4. Florent Manaudou in 59.85
Men’s 100 free
1. Mehdy Metella in 47.96
2. Ryan Lochte in 48.50
5. Fabien Gilot in 49.05
Men’s 200 IM
1. Ryan Lochte in 1.57.24
3. Tyler Clary in 2.00.36
Men’s 400 free
1. Gabriele Detti in 3.42.89
Looks like Chad and Hagino are miles ahead of Lochte in the SCM season. He’s going to need a demon shave and taper to come close to them at the SC Worlds.
Why would he waste all his energy in a meet where he knows he is the best? instead of worlds where you need to be at your best to qualify for finals
I’d wait until finals to make that call. Those look like strategic prelim swims to me.
Happy to see Natalie racing back again!
Is this scm or lcm?
Short course meters.