Gregorio Paltrinieri Smashes Italian Record in 1500 Free at Italian Nationals

RICCIONE, Italy, April 11. ALTHOUGH Federica Pellegrini has provided the top star power here at the Italian Spring Nationals so far this week, Gregorio Paltrinieri stole some of that thunder with a remarkable swim in the men’s 1500-meter free to take down the Italian record.

Paltrinieri smoked the men’s 1500-meter freestyle with a 14:44.50. That performance crushed Federico Colbertaldo’s 2009 Italian record of 14:48.20, and challenged Yury Prilukov’s European record of 14:43.21 from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That’s easily the top time in the world this year, trumping the 14:51.55 posted by Aussie youngster Mack Horton at the Australian National Championships in Brisbane last week.

Gabriele Detti chased down second with a 14:56.80 to stand third in the world rankings, joining Paltrinieri, Horton and Kohei Yamamoto as the only sub 15:00s so far this year. Samuel Pizzetti took third tonight in 15:04.83 to crack the top 10.

Pellegrini remained on fire here in Riccione. The former Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year started her meet off with a dominant showing in the 400-meter freestyle on night one. She returned last night with an equally impressive 200-meter back victory before making up more than a five-second disadvantage for her relay as the anchor of the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Tonight, Pellegrini kicked off the session with a smoking 1:55.69 to win the women’s 200-meter free. That put her third in the SwimVortex world rankings behind only Sarah Sjostrom (1:55.50) and Emma McKeaon (1:55.68). Alice Mizzau (1:57.53) placed second in the finale, and moved up to eighth in the world rankings, while Stefania Pirozzi rounded out the podium with a third-place 1:58.18.

Federico Turrini clipped Damiano Lestingi at the wall, 2:00.34 to 2:00.48, to win the men’s 200-meter IM this evening. Davide Cova placed third in 2:00.65. Arianna Barbieri then won the women’s 50-meter back with a time of 28.56, while Elena Gemo checked in with a second-place 28.62. Stefania Cartapani wound up third in 28.95.

Luca Dotto stopped the clock in the men’s 50-meter free with a winning 22.10, while Marco Orsi took second in the splash-and-dash with a 22.34. Luca Leonardi placed third in 22.50, while King Shark himself Federico Bocchia snared fourth in the sprint event with a 22.60.

Lisa Fissneider took down the women’s 50-meter breaststroke field with a 31.09. That performance shot her to sixth in the world rankings in the sprint breast event. Arianna Castiglioni raced her way to second in 31.34 with Martina Carraro snaring third in 31.60.

The 400 medley relays closed the curtain on the penultimate night of action. Gr. Nuoto Fiamme Gialle’s Arianna Barbieri (1:00.51), Lisa Fissneider (1:08.52), Alessia Polieri (1:00.62) and Alice Mizzau (54.36) snatched the women’s title with a time of 4:04.01. GS Fiamme Oro Roma’s Mirco Di Tora (55.42), Mattia Pesce (1:00.42), Francesco Giordano (53.59) and Luca Leonardi (48.23) followed with a 3:37.66 to claim the men’s crown.

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