D’Artagnan Dias contributed to this report.
Brazilian sprinter Bruno Fratus was impressive on Friday morning in the Senior Champs portion of the men’s 100 free in Brazil before flagging in the evening “open” session. He’ll hope to avoid that same pattern on Saturday in the 50 free after swimming a 21.45 for the fastest time of the day.
With Cesar Cielo scratching that 50 (he was a 21.60 leading off a relay, making him 2nd in line for a spot at the long course World Championships next summer), Fratus will be chased in the open most likely by Matheus Santana. Second-and-third fastest swims in the senior division in the morning went to Nicholas Santos in 22.15 and Walter Pereira in 22.17.
The women’s 50 free also had impressive times, as 50 meter backstroke queen Etienne Medeiros swam a 24.99 in the 50 free for the fastest swim. She and the very tall Graciele Hermann (25.05) will battle this one out in finals, though for now both are qualified for the World Championships with still two qualifying meets left to go.
The other Worlds qualifying swim in the morning came in the men’s 100 breaststroke, where Felipe Franca swam a 1:00.44.
Full Saturday Senior Champs Top 3’s Below
200m fly Fem – 1) Yana Medeiros – Corinthians – 2m16s98 / 2) Manuela Lyrio – Minas Tênis – 2m17s22 / 3) Julia Gerotto – Corinthians – 2m19s48
200m fly Masc – 1) Leonardo de Deus – Corinthians – 1m59s93 / 2) Marcos Oliveira – Minas Tênis – 2m00s02 / 3) Luiz Pedro Pereira – Sesi/MT – 2m000s84
50m free Fem – 1) Etiene Medeiros – Sesi/SP – 24s99 / 2) Graciele Hermann – Grêmio Náutico União -25s05 / 3) Lorrane Ferreira – Minas Tênis – 25s44
50m free Masc – 1) Bruno Fratus – Pinheiros – 21s45 / 2) Nicholas Santos – Unisanta – 22s15 / 3) Walter Lessa – Esportiva São José /SP – 22s17
100m breast Fem – 1) Beatriz Travalon – Pinheiros – 1m10s27 / 2) Ana Carla Carvalho – Pinheiros – 1m10s58 / 3) Juliana Marin – Minas Tênis – 1m11s41
100m breast Masc – 1) Felipe França – Corinthians – 1m00s44 / 2) João Gomes Junior – Pinheiros – 1m00s72 / 3) Felipe Lima – Minas Tênis – 1m01s07
800m free Masc -Série Fraca- Melhor Tempo: 1) Elder de Oliveira – Curitibano – 8m22s27
4x100m Medley Relay Fem – 1) Pinheiros – Aline Caetano, Ana Carla Carvalho, Daniele Jesus e Larissa Oliveira – 4m13s62 / 2) Minas Tênis – Roberta Albino, Juliana Marin, Dandara Antonio e Manuella Lyrio – 4m15s06 / 3) Corinthians – Thalandra Borges, Pamela Souza, Bruna Rocha e Isabela Silva – 4m16s95
4x100m Medley Relay Masc – 1) Pinheiros – Guilherme Guido, Raphael Rodrigues, Filipe Nunes e João de Lucca – 3m37s10 – Recorde de Campeonato / 2) Minas Tênis – Henrique Martins, Felipe Lima, Marcos Macedo e Cesar Cielo – 3m39s77 / 3) Unisanta – Pedro Franceschi, Tales Cerdeira, Nicholas dos Santos e Vinicius Waked – 3m43s93.