Costanza Cocconcelli set a national 100IM record as Beijing selections were locked in during the first two days of the Italian Championships in Riccione.
Cocconcelli posted 58.18 to erase her own Italian mark of 58.45 put on the books during the 2021 International Swimming League (ISL) season. It also booked her a place on the roster for next month’s short-course worlds in the Chinese capital.
Several swimmers have already booked their Beijing slots thanks to their performances at the European Championships in Paris.
Thomas Ceccon (100/200 back); Simone Cerasuolo (50/100 breaststroke); Sara Curtis (50/100 back & 50/100 free); Anita Gastaldi (200IM); Nicolo Martinenghi (50/100 breaststroke); Benedetta Pilato (50/100 breaststroke); Simona Quadarella (200-400-800 free) and Alberto Razzetti (400IM) have all booked their places on the Beijing plane.
Simone Cerasuolo: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Aside from Cocconcelli’s record, other notable day one performances included Simone Stefani’s maiden voyage inside 49secs in the men’s 100 fly. Stefani posted 48.92 to go second all-time in the Italian s/c rankings surpassed only by Matteo Rivolta and his 48.64 in 2021.
Gabriele Mancini dominated the men’s 100m breaststroke in 56.46 to book his Beijing ticket ahead of Martinenghi (57.11) and Cerasuolo (57.15), who are already on the plane to China.
Pilato headed the women’s race in 1:04.42 ahead of Sara Franceschi (1:04.52) and Ilaria Cusinato (1:05.76). Pilato has already qualified with the second two women outside the cut so no new qualifiers there.
Alessandra Mao won the 200 free in 1:54.98 with the 15-year-old likely booking a relay slot. Andrea Candela was inside the men’s 50 free QT in 20.89.
There were more qualifiers on day two with 11-time world short course medallist Lorenzo Mora booking his place in the 50 back in 22.75. Michele Lamberti was also inside the cut in 22.79 as Gianluca Andolfi rounded out the podium in 23.25.
Emma Menicucci’s 52.06 PB in the 100 free saw her go inside the worlds QT of 52.29. Mao added silver to her 200 gold in 53.40 with Matilde Biagotti bagging bronze (53.81).
Carlos D’Ambrosio headed the men’s 100m freestyle in 46.41 followed by Lorenzo Zazzeri (46.42) and Deplano (46.87). The trio fell short of the 46.09 QT although D’Ambrosio has already qualified for the Beijing team.
After dealing with injury, national record holder Franceschi posted the second-best 400IM time of her career en route to gold in 4:29.9 to go inside the cut.
Pilato and Cerasuolo won their respective 50 breast titles in 29.38 and 25.81 with Quadarella taking the 800 free in 8:08.84.
