Femke Heemskerk Breaks Meet Record to Close 2013 Jose Finkel Trophy in Brazil

Thanks to D’Artagnan Dias for contributing to this report.

The final day of the 2013 Jose Finkel Trophy saw the completion of what was a very blustery and chilly post-Worlds meet in Sao Paolo, Brazil, for their winter National Championship meet.

The swim of the session, as were most of the top swims at the home of Corinthians, was done by an international swimmer. Femke Heemskerk, who has become a regular contributor for the Minas Tenis team at these meets, won the women’s 100 free in 54.74, beating home-grown swimmers Daynara de Paula (55.52) and Graciele Hermann (55.72).

For Heemskerk, not only did that swim get big points as a victory, but it garnered huge bonus points as a new Championship Record, and was honored as the second-best performance of the meet, as Minas Tenis rolled to a huge margin of victory by 600 points over runners-up and hosts Corinthians. The top 5:

1. Fiat Minas 2593.50
2. Corinthians/ABDEM 1919.50
3. Pinheiros 1631.50
4. SESI-SP 877.50
5. UNISANTA 741

In other victories on the final day of the meet, Marcelo Chierighini won the men’s 100 free in 49.20, ahead of Henrique Rodrigues (49.81) and Vinicius Waked (49.93). For Chierighini, that’s far from his season-best, but he now is turning toward the NCAA season where his aspirations are high as the country’s top sprinter.

Julia Sebastian from Argentina, representing Unisanta, won the women’s 50 breaststroke in 32.02. That breaks the four-year old Argentine National Record of 32.18 held by Liliane Guiscardo. Sebastian swept the three breaststroke events at this meet, and this was her third National Record as well. The top-finishing Brazilian was Ana Carvalho of Pinheiros in 32.23, and Minas’ Carolina Bergamaschi was 3rd in 32.29.

In the men’s race, Joao Gomes, who was 5th at Worlds, won in 27.59. He was followed by a tie for 2nd between the two Felipes, Felipe Lima and 2011 World Champion Felipe Franca, who posted matching 27.72’s.

In the last individual event of the meet, Wendy van de Zanden from Minas won the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:15.77, and the men’s race went to Leonardo de Deus in 1:59.51.

Full, live meet results available here.

Top male performers (points):

1. Leonardo de Deus, Corinthians 125
2. Juan Pereyra, Minas 112
3. Henrique Rodrigues, Pinheiros 104

Top female performers (points):

1. Julian Sebastian, Unisanta 141
2. Poliana Okimoto, Corinthians 140
3. Femke Heemskerk, Minas 138

Best Male Performance, FINA points:

1. Joao Gomes, Pinheiros – 958 (50 breaststroke final)
1. Felipe Lima, Minas – 958 (50 breast prelims)
3. Nicholas dos Santos, Pinheiros – 956 (50 fly final)

Best Female Performance, FINA points:

1. Ettiene Medeiros , SESI- 950 (50 back finals)
2. Federike Heemskerk, Minas – 949 (100 free finals)
3. Poliana Okimoto, Corinthians 946 (1500 free)