World Cup Budapest, Day 2 Prelims: Benedetta Pilato Goes 1:05.75 For 100 Breaststroke Meet Record, Rattles Italian Mark
Benedetta Pilato set a 100m breaststroke meet record of 1:05.75 on day two of prelims at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest.
It was the second best time of her career and third-swiftest by an Italian all-time, eclipsed only by her 1:05.70 at the 2022 national championships and Arianna Castiglioni’s domestic record of 1:05.67.
The 18-year-old lowered Alia Atkinson’s World Cup record of 1:05.93 that had stood since the Dubai stop of the 2015 tour in a time swifter than that in which she won the world title (1:05.93) in the same Duna Arena in June 2022.
It was also quicker than the 1:05.97 in which she claimed gold at the European Championships weeks later in Rome and would have secured silver at this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Here’s what unfolded on day two of prelims:
Women’s 400m Individual Medley Slowest Heat
Timea Noemi Urogi was the only woman inside 5mins in 4:56.98.
Men’s 50m Backstroke
Michael Andrew returned to the pool after claiming 50 free silver to book lane four in 24.89, the American eyeing the triple crown.
World junior champion Miroslav Knedla will be alongside him after clocking 25.01.
Women’s 200m Freestyle
European junior champion Nikolett Padar will have the Hungarian home crowd roaring her on at the Duna Arena.
She booked lane four in 1:58.04 with Erika Fairweather – winner of the 400 free triple crown – alongside her in 1:58.20, 0.01 ahead of 2022 European champion Marrit Steenbergen.
Siobhan Haughey – fresh from 50 free silver – is aiming for the triple crown after winning in Berlin and Athens and she progressed fifth in 1:59.27.
Men’s 200m Individual Medley
Matt Sates booked lane four in 1:59.78 as he bids for the triple crown with Danas Rapsys alongside him in 2:00.05.
Noe Ponti – who won the 100 fly on Friday – was third through in 2:00.33.
Women’s 100m Backstroke
Kylie Masse headed the field in 59.37 ahead of Kaylee McKeown who clocked 59.91 the morning after her 50 back world record of 26.86 with Ingrid Wilm next through in 1:00.15.
Progressing fourth was Anastasiya Shkurdai of Belarus, now swimming as a neutral athlete after World Aquatics’ decision to allow swimmers from Russia and Belarus to compete.
She clocked 1:00.35.
Dora Molnar of Hungary was the woman locked out in ninth in 1:02.33.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
Superlatives are running out for Qin Haiyang: the winner of the 100 triple crown clocked 26.57 to book lane four as he seeks to repeat the treble in the one-length event.
Arno Kamminga – second in the 100 on Friday and a man with a love-hate relationship with the 50 – will be alongside him in 27.00.
Ilya Shymanovich – the Belarusian back as a neutral athlete – clocked 27.01 with Adam Peaty and Nic Fink both going 27.05.
Nicolo Martinenghi – the 2022 world silver medallist – was DQd for doing more than one butterfly kick following the start in a swim-off for eighth with Koen de Groot.
Women’s 50m Butterfly
Crowns, crowns and more crowns!
Sarah Sjostrom – who claimed the 50 triple crown on Friday – renews acquaintance with Zhang Yufei with the Swede going 25.42 for top spot in her quest to repeat that treble in the fly.
Zhang won the 200 fly treble and set her sights on buying a “nice, new bag” with her winnings, the Chinese swimmer clocking 25.56 on Saturday morning.
Men’s 100m Freestyle
This promises to be a thriller of a final after Thomas Ceccon went 48.73 to head the prelims with the Italian seeking the triple crown.
Dylan Carter will be alongside him after a 48.92 heat with Alessandro Miressi – who won bronze at the 2022 Europeans as David Popovici broke the world record – through in 48.94.
Cody Simpson of Australia squeaked into the final in eighth by 0.01 from Sean Niewold in 49.21.
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
Pilato split 31.12/34.63 en-route to booking lane four ahead of Tes Schouten, who returned to the pool after setting a Dutch record and World Cup mark of 2:21.52 to win the 200 treble on Friday.
Schouten touched in 1:06.69 with Ireland’s Mona McSharry next through in 1:06.78.
Men’s 200m Butterfly
Richard Marton will have the Duna Arena behind him, the Hungarian touching in 1:59.04 ahead of the USA’s Trenton Julian (1:59.42).
Matt Sates – going for the treble – was seventh through in 2:01.01.
Men’s 1500m Freestyle Slowest Heat
Fourteen-year-old pair Mate Karpati and Balint Kreisz claimed the top two slots in 16:02.90 and 16:15.24.
