Rain Shortens Final Day of Sette Colli; Katinka Hosszu, Federica Pellegrini Put on Rain-Soaked Backstroke Battle

ROME, Italy, June 15. ALTHOUGH the 2014 Sette Colli meet came to a close just a bit earlier than anticipated with rain washing out the remainder of the day, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu and Italy’s Federica Pellegrini still managed to have a bit of fun in a head-to-head backstroke swim for the cameras.

Hosszu actually stated on her Facebook account that she swam a lifetime best of 2:08.3, but the time won’t count due to the unofficial exhibition nature of the swim.  The two stars of the meet still managed to have a lot of fun.

Two events did manage to actually be officially swum before meet officials closed the curtains on the 2014 edition.

Italy’s Aurora Ponsele kicked off the final night of action in Rome with an 8:25.86 to win the women’s 800-meter freestyle. That swim vaulted her to seventh in the world rankings as she won by nearly three seconds tonight. Ponsele had already been 11th with an 8:27.65 from the Italian Spring Nationals, but she cut plenty of time off that season best. Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas touched second in the distance event with an 8:28.82 as she took 13th in the world rankings in the process. Isabella Sinisi rounded out the top three in the finale with an 8:33.76.

Hungary’s Peter Bernek needed every bit of the early lead he built up as he held off a hard-charging Luca Mencarini to win the men’s 200-meter back, 1:57.80 to 1:57.90. Mencarini came sprinting home in 29.06, but was just a bit too late in turning on his afterburners. Bernek has been faster this year with a seventh-ranked 1:56.79, while Mencarini stands 20th in the world with a 1:57.72. Christopher Ciccarese raced his way to third in 1:59.01.

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