The 2017 Sette Colli International kicked off today in Rome, Italy and runs through Sunday, June 25th. Day one of the meet saw a total of four meet records fall, in addition to a new Italian National Record and a World Junior Record by Nicolo Martinenghi.
Women’s 50 Back
Australia’s Holly Barratt dashed to a top showing in the women’s 50 back, setting a new meet record at 27.57. The previous meet record was a 27.67, set in 2016 by Canada’s Kylie Masse. Barratt’s time moves her to fourth in the 2017 world rankings, just behind the Chinese trio of Yuanhui Fu (27.36), Xueer Wang (27.55), and Xiang Liu (27.56).
Etiene Medeiros of Brazil grabbed second overall with a time of 27.82, followed by Simona Baumrtova (27.89) of the Czech Republic.
Men’s 50 Back
Hungary delivered a 1-2 punch in finals of the men’s 50 back as Richard Bohus and Gabor Balog cruised to the finish. Bohus touched first with a final time of 25.04, followed by Balog’s time of 25.12.
Italy’s Matteo Milli rounded out the top three with a time of 25.21.
Women’s 400 Free
Boglarka Kapas collected another win for Hungary with a strong showing in the women’s 400 free. Kapas took charge of the race around the 200 meter mark and never looked back, holding off the competition to finish first with a time of 4:06.05.
Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey fought her way to the podium after flipping seventh at the 150-meter mark. Harvey overtook the Australian duo of Jessica Ashwood and Kiah Melverton, touching with a final time of 4:09.78.
Ashwood and Melverton were third and fourth with times of 4:10.85 and 4:10.98 respectively.
Men’s 400 Free
Park Tae Hwan of South Korea touched first overall in finals of the men’s 400 free, stopping the clock at a time of 3:44.54. That time sits just off his 2017 best of 3:44.38 from the Atlanta stop of the arena pro Swim Series.
Italian Olympian Gabriele Detti finished second overall with a 3:45.88, but is currently ranked second in the 2017 world rankings with a 3:43.36 from the Italian Championships.
Mack Horton of Australia completed the podium with a time of 3:47.58, a few seconds off his 2017 best of 3:44.18.
Women’s 100 Breast
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of Great Britain capitalized on a strong back half in the women’s 100 breast to grab a close win over the competition. O’Connor turned third at the 50-meter mark behind fellow countrywoman Sarah Vasey (31.34) and Denmark’s Rikke Moeller Pedersen (31.45) with a split of 31.57, but turned up the heat and brought the race home with a final time of 1:07.35.
Italy’s Martin Carraro jumped from fourth at the 50-meter mark to second overall with a final time of 1:07.74, while Vasey faded to third and a 1:07.76
Men’s 100 Breast
World Record holder and British Olympian Adam Peaty dominated the competition in the men’s 100 breast, leading the podium trio beneath the one-minute mark. Peaty stoppced the clock at a 58.72, downing the previous meet record of 59.63 set in 2016 by Lithuania’s Giedrius Titenis.
Italy’s Nicolo’ Martinenghi turned in a second place finish of 59.31, slipping beneath the Italian Record of 59.42. His time also improves his own World Junior Record of 59.46, set this spring at the Italian National Championships.
Titenis finished third overall with a time of 59.69.
Women’s 50 Fly
Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands collected her first win of the meet in the women’s 50 fly. Kromowidjojo soared to a final time of 25.59, nearing the meet record of 25.23 set in 2015 by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom.
Australia’s Barratt added a silver medal to her collection with a second place finish of 25.91, while Maaike de Waard of the Netherlands was third with a 26.11.
Men’s 100 Fly
South Africa’s Chad le Clos demolished the meet record in the men’s 100 fly, delivering a top time of 51.65. The previous met record was set in 2008 by Australia’s Andrew Lauterstein at a time of 52.14. Le Clos holds the fastest time of 2017, so far, at a 51.29 from the South African Championships.
The Italian duo of Piero Codia and Matteo Rivolta finished second and third, respectively, with times of 51.93 and 52.30.
Women’s 200 Free
Italy’s Federica Pellegrini and Sweden’s Michelle Coleman battled for gold in finals of the women’s 200 free. Coleman jumped to an early lead in the race, while Pellegrini rebounded from a fourth place turn at the 100-meter mark, steadily gaining on Coleman throughout the next 50 meters. Pellegrini powered to a final time of 1:56.16, just off her 2017 best of 1:55.94 from the Italian Championships.
Coleman settled for second and a time of 1:56.49, finishing off her second-ranked 2017 best of 1:55.64.
Femke Heemskerk of the Netherlands delivered a third place finish of 1:56.51.
Men’s 50 Free
The men’s 50 free final played host to multiple sprint Olympians from across the continents. Brazil’s Bruno Fratus splashed to the top of the podium with a 21.86, close to his 2017 best of 21.70.
Second was picked up by Great Britain’s Ben Proud, who currently holds the 2017 fastest time at a 21.32. Proud collected the silver with a final time of 21.95, just ahead of Australia’s Cameron McEvoy and his time of 21.96.
Women’s 1500 Free
Italy’s Simona Quadarella dominated the women’s 1500 free, finishing in 16:03.55 to move to second in the world this year. Only Katie Ledecky (15:35.65) has swum quicker.
Quadarella’s time was also a meet record, knocking off the 16:05.62 set by Lotte Friis four years ago.
Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas, previously the No. 2 swimmer in the world at 16:04.19, swam much slower than that on her way to finishing second in 16:16.79, and Australia’s Kiah Melverton came in third at 16:23.64.
Congratulations