2016 Bolzano Swim Meeting
- Bolzano, Italy
- Saturday, November 5th & Sunday, November 6th
- Meet Program
- Meet Results
Several familiar American faces who competed earlier this week at the 43rd Annual Nico Sopio Trophy made their way from Genoa to Bolzano, Italy for another annual swimming competition. Madison Kennedy, Jacob Pebley and Matthew Josa each found themselves on the podium amidst the estimated 700 athletes racing across 20 individual contests and 2 relays. Most competitors belong to the 50 Italian clubs said to be in attendance, while others compose the 25 European and Overseas clubs that also came ready to stake their claim on the approximately €15,000 prize money up for grabs.
SwimMAC Elite star Kennedy kicked off her 2nd Italian meet with a win in the women’s 100m freestyle. She clocked a swift time of 53.24 to top a charging Aglaia Pezzato from Team Veneto, who scored the only other sub-54-second time of the field (53.75). Kennedy’s effort leaves her just outside the top ten females in the world rankings thus far this SCM season. The Charlotte, North Carolina native went on to earn a silver medal in the women’s 100m IM (1:02.16), finishing behind Bolzano Nuoto’s Laura Letrari who touched in 1:00.81 for the gold.
Josa earned two silver medals in Bolzano, beginning with a 2nd place finish in the men’s 100m freestyle. His time of 48.29 landed the to-be-Cal swimmer with a medal, but it was well behind first place finisher Marco Orsi from Italy. Orsi’s time was 47.59, although even that effort falls short of the top 10 times in the world.
The men’s 100m backstroke was a thrilling duel between Josa and American mate Jacob Pebley, with Pebley scorching the field in 51.31 to Josa’s silver medal-winning 52.66. Josa’s final race was the 100m IM, where he wound up 3rd behind winner Orsi (53.12) and 2nd place Italian Fabio Scozzoli (53.68).
