Nick Albiero Among SC World Championships Qualifiers On Day 2 Of Jose Finkel

2024 JOSE FINKEL TROPHY

We saw day two of the 2024 Jose Finkel Trophy unfold in Brazil with additional impressive performances by Olympians coming on the heels of their Paris escapades.

Minas’ Nicholas Albiero logged a new lifetime best of 1:52.57 en route to taking the men’s 200m backstroke.

The former University of Louisville standout beat the field by over 3 seconds, with Pinheiros’ Flavio Oliveira next to the wall in 1:55.60.

Leonardo de Deus stopped the clock just .03 later at 1:55.63 to round out the podium.

Albiero represented the sole contestant to clear the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard needed for this year’s Short Course World Championships bound for Budapest in December.

Post-race, Albiero stated to the Brazilian Swimming Federation (CBDA), “The Olympic Games were incredible and going to another competition straight away was intense, I couldn’t be happier with the result and I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s 200m butterfly.”

Ana Vieira was too quick to catch in the women’s 50m breast, grabbing gold in 30.81 as the sole swimmer of the field under the 31-second threshold.

Mercedes Salazar of Venezuela snagged silver in 31.06 and Bruna Leme captured 3rd place in 31.09.

The women were hunting an ‘A’ cut of 30.45 needed for December’s main event.

Leonardo Santos cleared the standard for Budapest en route to winning the men’s 200m IM event.

The 29-year-old who took bronze in this event at last year’s Pan American Games registered a result of 1:54.75. That held a healthy advantage over Vini Lanza who settled for silver in 1:55.89.

Caio Pumputus also landed on the podium, putting up a time of 1:56.16 for bronze.

Santos remains the Brazilian national record holder in the 2IM, courtesy of the 1:52.06 established during the 2020 International Swimming League (ISL) season.

“I have a knack for short-course swimming, I have a knack for turning and underwater skills. We train a lot to be able to get good results in long-course swimming, but I have a great knack for short-course swimming, and I’m very happy with today’s result,” said Leonardo Santos after the race.

Additional Notes

  • The women’s 200m back saw Maria Pessanha get it done for gold, registering a time of 2:11.12. She owns a lifetime best of 2:08.63 in this event from the 2018 Jose Finkel Trophy.
  • Pumputis topped the men’s 50m breast podium, putting up a mark of 26.42. That beat out Joao Gomes Junior who is still going strong at a remarkable 38 years of age. Junior posted 26.67 ahead of bronze medalist Diego Prado‘s 27.33. The ‘A’ standard for Budapest sits at 26.57 so Pumputis made the cut.
  • Fernanda Celidonio of Pinheiros was the sole women’s 200m IM racer to clear the ‘A’ cut for Budapest. Celidonio, who competes for the University of Louisville,  stopped the clock at 2:09.66.

Budapest Qualifiers Through Day 2

  • Maria Fernanda Costa – women’s 400m free
  • Leticia Romao – women’s 400m free
  • Guilherme Costa – men’s 400m free
  • Eduardo Moraes – men’s 400m free
  • Kayky Mota – men’s 100m fly
  • Gabrielle Assis – women’s 200m breast
  • Mixed 4x50m free relay
  • Nicolas Albiero – men’s 200m back
  • Caio Pumputis – men’s 50m breast
  • Leonardo Santos – men’s 200m IM
  • Fernanda Celidonio – women’s 200m IM
  • Women’s 4x200m free relay
  • Men’s 4x200m free relay

 

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Jonathan
1 month ago

I really wish USA Swimming would host a proper SCM meet to select the short course worlds team.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having 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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