Martinenghi Snaps 50 Breast Italian Record at Day Three Italian Trials Prelims

ITALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

• March 31 – April 3, 2021
• Prelims at 9am local/Finals at 4:30pm local
• Riccione – Swimming Stadium
• Long course meters (LCM)
• Qualification Standards
• Meet Site
• Start Lists
• Live Stream
• Live Results

After he smashed his own 100 breast national record last night, Nicolo Martinenghi had a big swim in the men’s 50 breast prelims this morning. Martinenghi clocked a 26.47, almost a second ahead of the rest of the field, to shave .09 off of his old best and the old Italian record.

He now ranks #4 all-time in this event, jumping Cameron van der Burgh.

MEN’S 50 BREAST, TOP PERFORMERS ALL-TIME

1. Adam Peaty (GBR) – 25.95
2. Felipe Lime (BRA) – 26.33
3. Joao Gomes (BRA) – 26.42
4. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 26.47
5. Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) – 26.54

After Benedetta Pilato‘s big 1:06.02 Italian record at the Italian Open Championships in December, she’s not alone at the top of the field in the event today. Pilato was second this morning at 1:06.38, a hundredth behind Arianna Castiglioni (1:06.37). Meanwhile, after going 1:06.43 about a month ago, Martina Carraro was third in 1:06.97.

Castiglioni and Carraro both hold lifetime bests of 1:06.3, with Castiglioni dropping .02 off of her old best this morning. With Pilato already qualified based on going the faster cut needed in Riccione in December, Castiglioni needs to hold off Carraro and again break 1:07 tonight to secure her spot. Castiglioni recently had COVID-19, too, testing negative only on March 24th. The same goes for Carraro– to make the team in the individiual event, beat Castiglioni and finish under 1:07 (the relay consideration is 1:07.07).

In the men’s 100 fly, a huge battle is forming for tonight. Five men broke 53 seconds, led by Piero Codia at 52.19. Codia’s 50.64 best time is the Italian record. Santo Condorelli was second this morning in 52.30, ahead of 200 fly specialist and record-holder Federico Burdisso (52.59), Georgia Tech standout Christian Ferraro (52.62) and last night’s 200 fly runner-up Alberto Razzetti (52.97).

Matteo Rivolta was sixth in 53.14, just ahead of teen phenom Thomas Ceccon (53.22). The Olympic cut is a 51.59, while anyone who can go 51.96 can be considered for a medley relay alternate spot.

Federica Pellegrini looks primed to blow away the field in the 200 free final tonight, going 1:59.38 this morning as the only finisher under 2:00. At this meet in 2019, the last time it was held, Pellegrini dropped a 1:56.60 in the final. She went 1:57-mids at both the Italian Open Championships in December and the Golden Tour FFN – Marseille in March, and she’ll look to snag the Olympic cut of 1:56.99 tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE FINISHES

• Marco De Tullio led the way in the men’s 200 free, going 1:48.48 as nine men broke 1:50.
• Silvia Scalia went 28.45 to lead the women’s 50 back prelims over Margherita Panziera (28.56).
• Simone Sabbioni was the fastest in the men’s 100 back at 54.42; Italian record-holder Ceccon, who set the record of 52.84 in December, qualified for Tokyo with that swim so he’s not swimming it here.
• Elena Di Liddo was 58.37 to lead the women’s 100 fly prelims, a little over a second off of her best and the Italian record of 57.04.