Jose Finkel Trophy: Cesar Cielo, Inge Dekker Win Sprints; Joao Gomes Jr. Downs Meet Record in Prelims

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, August 31. A day after meet management issues marred the Jose Finkel Trophy, swimmers returned to the water with victory on their minds. Additionally, Joao Gomes Jr. provided the first meet record of the competition with a sterling time in the men's 100 breast prelims.

Cesar Cielo emerged triumphant from the men's 50 free finale with a 21.97 for the win. The swim is Cielo's sixth sub-22 second effort this year. He holds the top-ranked time in the world with a 21.52 from Worlds earlier in the summer. Nicholas Dos Santos finished second in 22.28, while Bruno Fratus claimed third overall in 22.57.

Inge Dekker, who stands eighth in the world in the women's 50 free with a 24.69 from March, cruised to victory in the splash-and-dash with a 25.36. Flavia Delaroli-Cazziolato touched second with a 25.51, while Alessandra Marchioro earned third in 25.72. Daynara De Paula just missed the podium with a fourth-place 25.74.

Thiago Pereira posted a 4:24.61 to earn the men's 400 IM title, while Renato Barufi placed second in 4:25.52. Diogo Yabe completed the podium with a third-place effort of 4:27.13. Mireia Belmonte, the fourth-ranked swimmer in the world with a 4:34.91 from April, won the women's 400 IM in 4:51.63. Georgina Bardach placed second in 4:53.19, while Julia Gerotto posted a third-place 5:01.91.

Daniele Tirabassi touched out Rodrigo Casto, 1:50.61 to 1:50.76, for the men's 200 free triumph. Eduardo Duarte wrapped up the top three with a 1:51.78. Jessica Cavalheiro followed in the women's 200 free with a 2:02.62 for the win. She also had a close call, as Kim Vandenberg clocked a second-place 2:02.70. Manuella Lyrio turned in a third-place 2:02.90.

In semifinal racing, Daniel Paoli Jesus paced the women's 100 fly in 1:00.85, while Daynara De Paula qualified second in 1:00.90. Gabriel Mangabeira led the way in the men's 100 fly with a 53.06, while Glauber Silva posted a 53.20 for second.

Tatiana Sakemi hit the wall in 1:11.38 for the top time in the women's 100 breast semis, while Renata Sander placed second in 1:12.98. Felipe Lima earned the top seed in the men's 100 breast with a 1:01.60, while Joao Gomes Jr. finished second in 1:01.90. Last night, Gomes Jr. set the meet record in the event during prelims with a scorching time of 1:00.47. That swim moved him up to 17th in the world rankings in the event.

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