Povoa de Varzim International: Todd Patrick Posts Title Trifecta

PORTO, Portugal, February 7. WITH a meet that is quickly becoming Indiana University Europa as Kevin Swander competed last year and Swander returned with fellow Hoosiers Ben Hesen and Todd Patrick this year, Patrick shined during the first night of long course meter swimming at the Povoa de Varzim International meet in Portugal. By the end of the night, Patrick cashed out with three wins as well as a second-place prize to lead the way.

Yuliya Banach stopped the clock in 32.73 to claim the women's 50 breast meet record, just beating Ana Marisa Brito (32.86) to the wall. Stefanie Cartapani joined Banach in the meet-record category with a dominant time of 1:03.59 in the women's 100 back. Marta Marinho was a distant second in 1:06.22.

In an exciting battle between two world-class sprint backstrokers, Hesen topped Mirco Di Tora, 25.36 to 25.50, for the men's 50 back crown and the meet record.

Susanna Negri opened the first night of finals with a winning time of 4:56.49 in the women's 400 IM. Meanwhile, Matteo Montanari clocked a time of 15:56.95 to win the men's 1500 free.

Amit Ivry sprinted to victory in the women's 100 free with a time of 58.09, while Patrick claimed the men's 200 free title in 1:51.95. Swander dominated the men's 100 breast with a time of 1:02.88 as Ricardo Varela proved to be his closest competition in 1:05.43.

Alisa Tsypin of Israel grabbed the women's 200 fly title in 2:18.57, while Patrick beat teammate Hesen, 53.89 to 54.12, for the men's 100 fly title – his second gold of the evening.

Giulia Bolgiani clinched the women's 400 free title in 4:20.68, while Patrick earned his third title of the evening with a 2:07.89 for the men's 200 IM win. Banach completed a breaststroke sweep for the evening with a winning time of 2:33.79 in the women's 200 breast.

Patrick came within one place of grabbing his fourth gold medal of the evening, but could not keep up with Rafed El-Masri in the men's 50 free. El-Masri checked in with a meet-record 22.86, while Patrick stopped the clock second in 23.44.

Ivry added to her women's 100 free title with a meet-record effort in the women's 50 fly when she hit the wall in 27.07. Teammates Kristina Tchemychev (27.88) and Doron Levy (28.60) gave Israel a podium sweep.

Di Tora bounced back from his second-place finish in the men's 50 back to post a meet-record time of 2:02.20 for the win in the men's 200 back.

Israel's team of Danielle Clinger (1:07.48), Ivry (1:00.49), Banach (1:10.76) and Nicol Samsonyk (57.68) set the meet record in the women's 400 medley relay with a time of 4:16.41. Team Lombardia's foursome of Luca Lavezzari, Davide Montrasio, Matteo Montanari and Rudy Goldin captured the men's 400 free relay in 3:35.01.

Ben Hesen at Povoa de Varzim 2009

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