Although the weather failed to warmup any today (still low 70’s and very windy for the outdoor meet), the swimming certainly did in the second final’s session of the 2011 Maria Lenk Trophy/Brazilian National Championships. The weather was just as cold, windy, and miserable as it was on the first day, but the swimmers seem to be getting adjusted to it.
The first big fireworks of the day were in the 400 IM’s (on both the men’s and women’s sides). Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry (Minas) set a meet record in the women’s 400 IM with her 4:37.21: a time that ranks 3rd in the world this year, and is only a second off of her textile personal-best from 2007. The podium was dominated by foreign swimmers, in one of the most internationally interesting races of the meet, as Spain’s Mireia Belmonte (who currently sits atop the world rankings with her time from Spanish Nationals) placed second in 4:41.45 for Flamengo. This is her second lackluster swim (by her standards anyways) of the meet, showing that she is likely still at peak training. Argentinian swimmer Georgina Bardach, who took the bronze medal in this event at the 2004 Olympics, placed third in 4:49.22. She, along with teammates Joanna Maranhao, Larissa Cieslak, and the aforementioned Coventry, showed off Minas’ impressive depth with a 1-3-4-5 finish.
In the men’s version of the event, Brazilian Thiago Pereira (Corinthians) also stamped his time 3rd in the world rankings with a 4:12.52. Pereira is having a dominant meet, and is the early favorite for swimmer of the competition, with this being his 3rd win in two sessions (on top of his 200 breaststroke and backstroke double from yesterday).
In the 50 free finals, which is the race that likely brought most spectators out to the pool today, Cesar Cielo did his thing and took the win (after having only the second-best time in each of the previous rounds). His winning mark of 21.95 was a touch off of his 21.73 leadoff from Day 2, but was still a very good follow-up mark for him. In post-race interviews, he stated that he was happy to go sub-22 unshaved an untapered. Bruno Fratus, who is becoming an important relay piece for Brazil at the least, and an elite sprinter in his own right at the most, took second in 22.20. This was not his best time of the three rounds at the meet, but his 22.08 from the preliminary rounds will get him to Shanghai.
In the women’s version, we got our first individual-final swim from Jessica Hardy after she learned that the IOC has deemed her eligible for the 2012 London Olympics. Her swim showed the weight that had been lifted off of her shoulders, and she won the race in 24.80: her season-best time and the 5th best in the world (though, with 3 Dutch swimmers ahead of her, that sits her 4th in a World Championship setting). That swim gave Flamengo the sweep of the sprint freestyles. The top finishing Brazilian swimmer was Flavia Delaroli-Cazziolato, the Brazilian National Record holder, who swam a 25.48, meaning that she will be left off of the World Championship team barring a relay spot or some relief from the CBDA.
The 200 freestyles didn’t live up to the other races, though those have never been strong events for the Brazilians. After setting a meet record in the 1500 yesterday, Ous Mellouli came back with a solid 1:50.01 to win the men’s 200 free for Corinthians. (This is precisely 3 seconds off of his season best from Ann Arbor, where he posted the world’s 5th-best time of 1:47.01). This was not his best swim, but at the least it kept the race close. Nicolas Oliveira, of Minas, took second in 1:50.37, and Vinicius Waked (also of Minas) was 3rd in 1:50.59.
Minas picked up more points in the women’s 200 free, with a win by Jessica Cavalheiro in 2:03.00. This betters her mark (slightly) from the World Championship Trials 2 weeks ago, but still isn’t enough to get her to Shanghai. At only 19, however, she definitely has some long-term potential for the Brazilian squad.
Full Day 2 Finals Results are available here.
Semi-Finals
The big semi-final on the day was the men’s and women’s 100 breaststrokes. On the women’s side, a great battle is shaping up between the American and Trojan Aquatics teammates Rebecca Soni (1:06.48) and Jessica Hardy (1:06.74). For Hardy, that is another season-best time, and moves her up to 3rd in the world rankings. She’s seen as one of the few swimmers around the world who has a chance at beating Soni in a breaststroke event in the next 2+ years, but with a shift in her training focus to freestyle, we might not see that happen.
The men’s 100 breaststroke for the Brazilians has shaped up to nearly rival the quality and depth of their 100 freestylers. For the second-straight round, three swimmers were under a 1:01 (Felipe Silva-1:00.34, Henrique Barbosa-1:00.80, and Felipe Lima-1:00.88). All three of those marks are under the Brazilian World Championship qualifying time, and several other swimmers are very close, so it will be an awesome battle tomorrow to see who the first three to touch the wall are. If weather conditions continue to improve, a :59 is definitely on tap for tomorrow.
Food for thought: It took a 1:02.03 to be amongst the top 7 finalists in the 100 breaststroke at Maria Lenk. At the 2010 US Nationals? Only a 1:02.17. Yikes!
Team Scoring
Through 14 events, Minas continues to dominate the scoring thanks to their depth. Corinthians has jumped Flamengo, despite several Flamengo wins, for 2nd place, and Pinheiros is still in 4th. Minas appears in excellent position to win this meet right now, as they continue to get stronger each day of the meet.
1. Minas 1001
2. Corinthians 657
3. Flamengo 542
4. Pinheiros 464.5
5. Unisata 327
6. Curitibano 134
7. Gremio 106.5
8. Fluminese 99
9. Praia 49
10. Botafogo 44
11. Santa Maria 41
T-12. Paineiras 18
T-12. Alvares Cabral 18
14. Santa Catarina 7
T-15. Industria 6
T-15. Iate 6
17. Ribeirao Preto 3
18. Ass Doc Esc Sup Ed Fisica 2
Braden Keith – actually there is more to this, and I guess it depends on the International Federation’s rules. We had an athlete who competed my USA club team (grew up here), but has dual citizenship for another country and he has to be Unattached for 6 months prior to trying to represent the other country internationally.
Tisha, if I’m understanding your story, he was trying to represent the other country internationally? Or he was trying to represent another club in that other country?
Yeah, it’s a bit of a different culture down there. Given that the 7th and 8th Brazilian swimmers out of prelims are incredibly unlikely to make the World Championship teams (whereas in the US, there’s a much better shot), there may be a benefit for giving their top swimmers superstars to chase in the Championship finals.
Joe, in Brazil you can only swim for ONE club per year, and its only allowed 2 foreigners per club team.
John26,
i agree with you.And if the weather don t improve, don t be surprised if 49 mark is not cracked.
I don t know Cielo 100 free final time, but you can know his first 50:Always around 1.2 seconds slower than his 50 free best time.With rainy/windy conditions, i doubt he will be capable to open in 22.9.
Brint,
Silva, at World SC Champs was weighting 106 kilograms(with 14 % of body fat against 6 of a normal swimmer).His first goal was to lost around 14 kilograms to swim a faster 100 breast.I don t… Read more »
that does help! thanks! the 2 person rule does make it an equal playing field, but this is their Trials meet for Worlds, so surprising they let foreigners in their finals!
Joe- I think I can clear up the clubs issue. Clubs are regulated directly by the National Federations, not FINA, so each National Federation sets their own rules. Additionally, the clubs within different federations are not related, so swimming for one club in one country doesn’t have much bearing on swimming for a different one in another country (it’s not uncommon for foreign swimmers training in the USA to have a club they represent in the US, and a different club they represent in domestic competition). So in that regard, there’s no conflict. The 120 day rule only applies between different USA-Swimming clubs, and he’s not representing a federation, so the FINA rules don’t apply there either. I’m not sure… Read more »
Oh, wow, I didn’t realize that Silva was actually close to 59. Not too long ago he could only power through the 50. That is some improvement.
Berens said he had about five minutes between races. Under the circumstances, you can only expect so much. That said, a 1:50-low 200 is pretty good from prelims, and hopefully we’ll see him under 1:50 in Charlotte when he’s up against the big dogs.Doubt the ‘SC swimmers are tapered, considering the relatively slow swims we’ve seen from Mellouli and Soni (she’ll also do better in Charlotte). Also nice to see Nicholas Nilo dipping under 1:50 in prelims. Look for a good 48 100 from him. Might not make an individual for Shanghai, but he’ll definitely be on the 400 free relay. It was he, remember, who held off Lochte for Brazil’s bronze in Dubai.
As for Hardy, I am seriously… Read more »
I’d like to see a 59 too, but who is going to do it? Cerdeira is off, Barbosa is nowhere near where he was suited. I guess Silva has a chance if he has continued to improve his endurance. I think only five have done it unsuited; I’ll be surprised if we see any more before Shanghai.