Brazil Dominates South American Championships

MEDELLIN, Colombia, March 9. TRADITIONAL powerhouse Brazil dominated the South American Long Course Championships, held in Medellin, Colombia, March 1–6, but the meet produced no South American records and few world-class times.

Presumably, the top South Americans training at home were focused on the World Short Course Championships, to be held in Shanghai in April, while those training at US colleges and universities undoubtedly were pointing toward the NCAA Championships later this month.

Here are the meet’s highlights:

Brazil’s Guilherme Roth Dos Santos was a double winner, taking the 50-meter freestyle in 22.65 — arguably the highest-quality swim of the meet – along with the 50 fly (24.24).

Kaio Almeida, who set a world short course record earlier this season in the 50 fly, breezed in the 100 and 200-meter butterfly events with times of 53.58 and 1:59.05. His 100-meter time was a meet record, the only one set in Medellin.

Cesar Cielo, who hopes to score big points for Auburn at NCAAs, won the 100 free in a solid 50.42. Thiago Pereira won the 200 IM in 2:02.15.

On the women’s side, Brazil’s Rebecca Gusmao dominated the freestyle sprints, winning the 50 in 25.43 and the 100 in 57.06. Fabiola Molina won both backstroke sprints, posting times of 29.83 and 1:04.17.

Cecillia Bagioli of Argentina was an easy winner in the 200 free, touching in 2:03.46 while teammate Georgina Bardach, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the 400 IM, aced her event in 4:53.72.

Chile’s Kristel Kobrich took the three women’s distance races, highlighted by a strong 16:46.90 outing in the 1,500 meters.

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