RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, May 10. SWIMMERS used the final day of morning finals at the Maria Lenk Trophy as a going away party to not only the meet but many South American records.<\/p>\n
Cesar Cielo clipped his South American record in the men's 100 free with a sterling time of 47.60. That performance beat his standard of 47.67 set en route to the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Fernando Silva finished well behind with a second-place 48.76, while Nicolas Oliveira took third in 48.89.<\/p>\n
Fabiola Molina added to the South American record run at the meet with a 1:00.51 to win the women's 100 back. That readout eclipsed Molina's mark of 1:00.71 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Fernanda Alvarenga placed a distant second in 1:01.68, while Lorena Rezende touched third in 1:03.07.<\/p>\n
Gabriel Mangabeira and Guilherme Guido became the first sub-54 South Americans in the men's 100 back, but Mangabeira completed the finale in 53.81 for the victory and the record. Guido placed second in 53.99, also under the previous record of 54.21 previously owned by Guido. Leonardo Guedes wound up third in 54.47.<\/p>\n
Henrique Barbosa came within a whisker of breaking 59 seconds in the men's 100 breast. After setting the South American record with a 59.12 last night, Barbosa whittled the record down to 59.03 during finals. Barbosa could be within striking distance of Kosuke Kitajima's world record of 58.91 when the Brazilian competes at the World Championships in Rome. Eduardo Fischer took second in 1:00.47, while Felipe Silva rounded out the top three in 1:00.53.<\/p>\n
Joanna Maranhao lowered her South American record in the women's 200 IM with a time of 2:14.13 for the win. The swim beat her previous mark of 2:14.97 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Julia Volkmann placed second in 2:19.83, while Natalia Favoreto finished third in 2:20.87.<\/p>\n
Michelle Lenhardt captured the women's 100 free title in 55.69, while Tatiana Lemos and Nathalia dos Santos tied for second-place honors with matching 55.80s.<\/p>\n
After setting the continental record with a 1:07.67 during prelims last night, Tatiane Sakemi took the women's 100 breast title in 1:08.15. Carolina Mussi placed second in 1:08.74 with Ana Carla Carvalho finishing third in 1:10.44.<\/p>\n
Henrique Rodrigues concluded individual swimming at the meet with a 1:59.67 to win the men's 200 IM. Diogo Yabe placed second in 2:00.53, while Andrew Schultz finished third in 2:00.56.<\/p>\n
In relay action, the men's 400 free squad of Oliveira, Cielo, Nicholas dos Santos and Fernando Silva won with a South American record of 3:14.45. That effort wiped out the 3:15.90 set by Brazil back in July 2007. The women's team of Paula Ferreira, Jessica Cavalheiro, Loren Caballo and Maranhao won the women's title in 3:47.02.<\/p>\n