Stephanie Balduccini Sets Brazilian Record in 100 Free at 53.87 at Maria Lenk Trophy
Stephanie Balduccini downed the Brazilian record in the women’s 100 freestyle Wednesday at the Maria Lenk Trophy, going 53.87 to win her second event in as many days.
Balduccini downed the national and continental record that had been held since 2016 by Larissa Oliveira, her time of 54.03 set at this meet. Balduccini, based at the University of Michigan and swimming for Unisanta, was nearly four tenths under the A standard to qualify for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Gabi Albiero was second in 55.46, one of five swimmers in the 55s. Maria Fernanda Costa was third in 55.68.
Balduccini wasn’t the only record-breaker at Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro on the third night of the six-day international qualification meet. Gui Caribe set the meet record in the men’s 100 free in 47.10. That is 1.24 seconds under the Worlds A standard. It downs the meet record set in 2009 by a super-suited Cesar Cielo, who maintains the national and continental record in 46.91 from that summer’s World Championships in Rome.
Second place went to Marcelo Chierghini, the veteran going 48.38 to miss the A cut for Worlds by .04 seconds. Vinicius Tavares Assuncao was third in 48.67, followed by Kaique Alves in 48.92. Alves was .01 ahead of Gabriel Santos and .03 up on Pedro Spajari in the reckoning for relay spots.
Joao Gomes Junior went 27.23 to pick up the seventh Worlds qualification time in three days. The 39-year-old was a half-second ahead of the field and a tenth under the A cut. Henrique Borges Fonseca was second in 27.86. Joao Vieira Garcia was also under 28 at 27.94, while 100 breast winner Caio Pumputis was fourth.
Gabrielle Silva won the women’s 50 breast in 31.98, .01 seconds ahead of Manuela Ballan Sega. The top nine finishers were within eight tenths. That included Mercedes Toledo, who delivered the fastest swim of the day in prelims at 31.71, a reduction of .13 seconds on her Venezuelan record from 2019. Toledo finished third in finals in 32.08.
Gabrielle Roncatto won the women’s 400 individual medley in 4:50.80, more than a second clear of Agatha Amaral. Brandonn Almeida won the men’s 400 IM in 4:18.08, a second up on two-time Worlds qualifier Stephan Steverink’s 4:19.17. Almeida was six tenths shy of the Worlds standard.
