GENOVA, Italy, November 23. FOR the second day in a row of the Italian Grand Prix series, Alessia Filippi lowered an Italian record before a partisan crowd. After cutting her national record in the 400 IM yesterday, Filippi surpassed one of the oldest records in the Italian book during a short course meter meet held in Genova, Italy.
Filippi dominated the field in the women's 200 backstroke with an Italian record time of 2:06.36. That performance made her the first Italian woman under 2:07 as Lorenza Vigarani previously held the standard with a time of 2:07.30 set way back on March 26, 1994. With the readout, Filippi moved into fourth in the world this year behind only Elizabeth Simmonds (205.21), Fran Adcock (2:05.37) and Antje Buschschulte (2:05.92).
Meanwhile, the United States' Hongzhe Sun shined as the only multiple titlist with wins in the 100 back (52.83) and 200 fly (1:57.44).
Italians won the bulk of the titles as they claimed four other women's titles with Erika Ferraoli (100 free – 55.00), Renata Fabiola Spagnolo (400 free – 4:08.12), Cristina Maccagnola (50 fly – 27.14) and Francesca Segat (200 fly – 2:07.35) each touched first. Additionally, Filippo Magnini (200 free – 1:44.84), Federico Colbertaldo (1500 free – 14:48.51), Christian Galenda (100 IM – 54.60) and Alessio Boggiatto (200 IM – 1:57.96) each pocketed men's titles.
Australia's Michelle Engelsman (50 free – 24.90), Brazil's Fabiola Molina (100 back – 59.87), New Zealand's Zoe Baker (50 breast – 30.74), South Africa's Suzaan van Biljon (100 breast – 1:07.79) and Spain's Mireia Belmonte (200 IM – 2:12.48) topped women's events, while Great Britain's Mark Foster (50 free – 21.38), Brazil's Cesar Cielo (100 free – 47.00), the United States' David Cromwell (200 back – 1:53.92), South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh (50 breast – 27.01), Ukraine's Oleg Lisogor (100 breast – 59.53) and Serbia's Milorad Cavic (50 fly – 23.75) grabbed men's crowns.
Click here to view event results PDF file.