Ruta Meilutyte Wows Crowd With World-Leading 50 Breast at Sette Colli

ROME, Italy, June 14. THE Sette Colli meet continues to produce some of the top swims in the world this year, and tonight was no different when Lithuania’s Ruta Meiltutyte provided a spark in the women’s 50-meter breast.

Meilutyte grabbed the spotlight from the rest of the swimmer with a scorching time in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke. She raced her way to a 29.90 to win the sprint breaststroke event. Not only did that smashed Leisel Jones’ 2008 meet record of 30.82, but it also beat Meilutyte’s top time of the year this year of 29.92 from the British National Championships in Glasgow. The effort finished just half-a-second off her own world record of 29.48 in the event as well. Sweden’s Jennie Johansson lowered her second-ranked season best of 30.73 to 30.56 with a strong time of her own., while The Netherlands’ Moniek Nijhuis earned her way to third in 31.08. Nijhuis has been a bit faster this year with a 30.93 from the Eindhoven Cup.

The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu cleared 2:08 for the first time this year in the women’s 200-meter fly as she clocked a 2:07.53 for an easy win. That beat her 11th-ranked season best of 2:08.22 from the Maria Lenk Trophy meet and moved her up to seventh in the SwimVortex world rankings. Her compatriot Liliana Szilagyi touched second in 2:09.23 to take 15th in the world, while Switzerland’s Martina Van Berkel finished third in 2:10.44.

Italy’s Carlotta Zofkova entered the world’s top 20 in the women’s 100-meter back with a 1:00.44 for the win. That swim jumped her to 18th in the world overall. Czech’s Simona Baumrtova took second in 1:00.58, while Italy’s Federica Pellegrini charged to third in 1:00.94. Hosszu snared fourth in 1:01.05 immediately following her 200 fly win.

Italy’s Stefania Pirozzi smashed the field in the women’s 400-meter IM with a time of 4:38.06, a second-and-a-half off her seventh-ranked season best of 4:36.75 from the Italian Spring Nationals. Hosszu, in her third straight event, took second overall in 4:43.64, while Luisa Trombetti rounded out the podium with a third-place time of 4:43.82.

It wasn’t her most impressive swim of the year, but Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom matched her amazing double win in the 100 fly/50 free from yesterday with a 53.19 tonight in the women’s 100-meter free. She’s been faster with a second-ranked 52.73 from the Eindhoven Cup, but it was still plenty fast enough to take down a stacked finale. The Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk (53.50) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.86) placed second and third, while Michelle Coleman took fourth in 54.03.

Italy’s Andrea Toniato put up a 27.46 to win the men’s 50-meter breaststroke finale. South Africa’s Giulio Zorzi placed second in 27.58 with Lithuania’s Giedrius Titenis snaring third in 27.66.

In a close contest, Hungary’s Bence Pulai touched out Matteo Pelizzari, 1:58.27 to 1:58.32, for the men’s 200-meter fly title. Pulai had to come from behind by nearly a second, trailing Pelizzari 1:27.29 to 1:28.38 at the 150-meter mark, before summoning a 29.89 final split for the win. Italy’s Francesco Pavone wound up third in 1:59.21.

Germany’s Jan-Philip Glania backhalfed his way to victory in the men’s 100-meter back with a 54.88 for the win. He turned fourth at the wall, but came barreling home in 27.95 for the win. Italy’s Simone Sabbioni (54.96) and Christopher Ciccarese (55.08) finished second and third for the home crowd.

Italy’s Federico Turrini, who stands ninth in the world with a 4:14.58 from the Italian Spring Nationals, pushed his way to the men’s 400-meter IM crown with a 4:18.00. Luca Marin touched second in 4:20.27 with Andrea Velluti snaring third in 4:23.65.

Germany’s Paul Biedermann snagged the men’s 200-meter free crown in 1:47.50, just clipping Hungary’s Dominik Kozma (1:47.78) in the process. Damiano Lestingi finished third in the finale with a 1:48.62.

Full results will be posted when available.

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