Exciting prospects and thrilling emotions await as the second day of the 59th edition of the Sette Colli International Swimming Trophy approaches, scheduled to take place until Sunday, June 25th.
Opening with the 100 butterfly. The best time (57"61) is held by Swedish swimmer and European gold medalist from Rome 2022, Louise Hansson, who finished third in the 50 yesterday. However, the initiative of the young and talented Roman swimmer Giulia D'Innocenzo is noteworthy. She is typically more comfortable in backstroke but managed to achieve the fourth-best time. The 20-year-old athlete from Rome, who represents the Carabinieri and CC Aniene clubs and is coached by Sandro Signori, clocked in at 58"87 seconds, just four hundredths of a second away from her personal best of 58"84 seconds set twenty days ago. Also qualifying for the final are Viola Scotto Di Carlo (Napoli Nuoto), finishing fifth in 59"10 seconds, and Ilaria Bianchi (Fiamme Azzurre/NC Azzurra 91), finishing seventh in 59"32 seconds.Noè Ponti, yesterday's winner in the 100, is the fastest in the 200 butterfly. The 21-year-old Swiss swimmer from Locarno, who won silver in the 100 at the European Championships in Rome 2022 and bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, touched the wall in 1'58"31. Following closely behind the Swiss champion is Giacomo Carini. The 25-year-old athlete from Piacenza, representing Fiamme Gialle and Can. Vittorino da Feltre, coached by Matteo Giunta and holding a law degree, finished with a time of 1'58"41. Claudio Antonio Faraci (CC Aniene) achieved an excellent fourth place with a time of 1'58"62.Kylie Masse dominates the 100 backstroke, being the only one to swim under one minute in the morning session. The 26-year-old athlete from Salle, who won a silver medal at the Olympics, finished in 59"94 seconds and is aiming for another victory after her success in the 50. Behind the North American swimmer are British swimmers Medi Harris (1'00"40) and Lauren Cox (1'00"50).Moving on to the 50 backstroke. Thomas Ceccon sets the fastest time, leaving everyone in anticipation for yet another evening of his outstanding performances. The European runner-up and Italian record holder (24"40 seconds), representing Fiamme Oro and Leosport, coached by Alberto Burlina, who is a former world record holder and champion in both short and long course, comfortably swam in 25"02 seconds. Simone Stefanì from Puglia (Fiamme Oro/Time Limit) finished third in 25"31.Next up were the 400 individual medley. Leading the pack is the young British swimmer Freya Colbert, who just turned 18, with a time of 4'41"51. In second place is Anna Pirovano (Fiamme Azzurre/In Sport Rane Rosse) in 4'43"14, followed by Northern Irish swimmer Katie Shanahan in 4'43"47. Sara Franceschi (Fiamme Gialle/Livorno Acquatics) easily qualifies for the final, finishing fourth in 4'43"65, despite not being in peak physical condition and focusing on her preparation for the Fukuoka World Championships, for which she is already qualified. Among the men, Max Litchfield, another British swimmer, finishes first with a time of 4'16"30.Moving on to the 100 freestyle. The world record holder (51"71), Sarah Sjostrom, dominates the event. The Swedish champion, with an impressive collection of 90 medals from Olympics, Europeans, and World Championships, finishes in 53"43, ahead of British swimmer Anna Hopkin in 54"15 and Siobhan Haughey from Hong Kong in 54"17. The fastest time among the men is set by the emerging star David Popovici. The Romanian sensation, a world and European champion, swims in 48"35, just one hundredth of a second ahead of English swimmer Matthew Richards, who finishes second in 48"36. Good performances also come from Alessandro Miressi (Fiamme Oro/CN Torino), finishing third in 48"53, and Manuel Frigo (Fiamme Oro/Team Veneto), finishing fourth in 48"84.
The 50-meter breaststroke events conclude the second session of heats with a bang. Italian record holder (26.33 seconds), Nicolo Martinenghi, is the fastest. The European champion and world runner-up, representing CC Aniene and coached by Marco Pedoja, touches the wall in 26.76 seconds. However, he is closely pursued by an outstanding performance from Simone Cerasuolo, who finishes second in 26.81 seconds, setting a new Italian cadet record. The 21-year-old from Imola, affiliated with Fiamme Oro and Imolanuoto, trained by Cesare Casella, and the continental silver medalist in Rome 2022 just behind Martinenghi, erases "Tete"'s 2019 record of 26.85 seconds at Settecolli, lowering his personal best by four hundredths of a second. Ludovico Viberti (CN Torino) takes third place with a personal best of 27.02 seconds (previously 27.41 seconds), followed by Alessandro Pinzuti (Esercito/In Sport Rane Rosse) in fourth place with a time of 27.34 seconds, and the Italian team captain Fabio Scozzoli (Esercito/Imolanuoto) in fifth place, bidding farewell to competitions this afternoon, with a time of 27.36 seconds.
Among the women, Lithuanian world champion Ruta Meilutyte roars with a time of 30.02 seconds, setting the best time. However, emerging talent Anita Bottazzo shines behind her. The 21-year-old from Romagna, affiliated with Fiamme Gialle and Imolanuoto, swims a personal best of 30.33 seconds, erasing her previous record of 30.69 seconds set on March 18th at the "Città di Firenze" meet, propelling her to fourth place among Italian performers. Lisa Angiolini (Carabinieri/Virtus Buonconvento) also performs well, finishing fifth with a time of 30.72 seconds, followed by Arianna Castiglioni (Fiamme Gialle/Team Insubrika) in sixth place with a time of 30.90 seconds.
Heats Day 2. Results
100 butterfly women
1. Louise Hansson (Swe) 57''61
200 butterfly men
1. Noe Ponti (Sui) 1'58''31
100 backstroke women
1. Kylie Masse (Can) 59''94
50 backstroke men
1. Thomas Ceccon (Ita) 25''02
400 individual medley women
1. Freya Colbert (Gbr) 4'41''51
400 individual medley men
1. Max Litchfield (Gbr) 4'16''30
100 freestyle women
1. Sarah Sjostrom (Swe) 53''43
100 freestyle men
1. David Popovici (Rou) 48''35
50 breaststroke women
1. Ruta Meilutye (Ltu) 30"03
50 breaststroke men
1. Nicolò Martinenghi (Ita) 26"76
800 freestyle women
1. Emma Vittoria Giannelli (Ita) 8'45"20
800 freestyle men
1. Hoang Huy Nguyen (Vie) 7'58"71
Photos by Giorgio Scala and Andrea Staccioli / DBM The use of the photographs is permitted solely and exclusively for registered editorial publications. It is mandatory to credit the photographers.