2022 Mare Nostrum Tour Barcelona – Day 1 Live Finals Recap

2022 MARE NOSTRUM TOUR

• Wednesday, May 25th & Thursday, May 26h
• Club Natació Sant Andreu, Barcelona
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Entries – Barcelona
• Livestream
• Results

With just two days of competition per Mare Nostrum Tour stop, we have back-to-back stacked racing on the agenda each of those days here in Barcelona.

The fields have filled out a bit more than the first stop in Monaco, which means we have even more talent on which to keep an eye as the races transpire.

Already this morning we saw a solid morning swim from the reigning 200m free Olympic champion Tom Dean, with the British swimming logging a 2free top seed of 1:46.89. He’ll be chased by the likes of multi-Monaco title winner Matt Sates of South Africa and Olympic medalist Fernando Scheffer of Brazil, not to mention World Championships medalist in the event Katsuo Matsumoto of Japan.

A highlight of the women’s prelims came in the 100m breast, with German national record holder Anna Elendt staking her claim on the event with a big-time 1:05.82. That results sits just .24 outside of her national standard and lifetime best of 1:05.58 the Texas swimmer logged just this past March.

We’ll see what Elendt has in store tonight when she races in the final against the #1 swimmer in the world in the event right now, Reona Aoki of Japan, the reigning Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby of the United States and the rest of the field.

A showdown in the men’s 50m free among some of the best in the world is also a marquis race, with Bruno Fratus (BRA), Ben Proud (GBR), Thom De Boer (NED), Michael Andrew (USA) and more in the mix.

MEN’S 800 FREE – FINAL

• GOLD – Joris Bouchaut (FRA), 7:53.03
• SILVER – Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA), 7:53.53
• BRONZE – Daniel Wiffen (IRL), 7:55.16

The French earned the first gold medal of this Barcelona stop of the 2022 Mare Nostrum Tour, with Joris Bouchaut getting to the wall in a time of 7:53.03 in this men’s 800m free.

That gave him the edge over teammate Marc-Antoine Olivier who was exactly a half second behind in 7:53.53 while Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen grabbed bronze in 7:55.16.

Bouchaut owns a lifetime best of 7:52.37 in this event, so tonight’s swim checks in less than a second away from his career’s quickest performance.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK – FINAL

• GOLD – Kylie Masse (CAN), 27.47
• SILVER – Ingrid Wilm (CAN), 27.85
• BRONZE – Analia Pigree (FRA)/Silvia Scalia (ITA), 27.89

Reminder, whereas the stroke 50’s were contested as skins at the Monaco stop, the 50’s here in Barcelona are swum as prelims/finals.

Canada went 1-2 in this women’s 50m back, with national record holder Kylie Masse clocking a time of 27.47 to lead Ingrid Wilm who touched in 27.85.

Masse owns the national record in a swift 27.18, a mark she produced at this year’s Canadian Trials. The 26-year-old Masse has broken this record 3 times in 2022, having swum a 27.62 at the Trials Prep Event in March to take out her own 27.64 from the 2017 World Championships. At that same meet, Masse posted a 27.52 to bring down the time by another 0.10. before settling into the 27.18.

We also saw our first tie of the meet, with both French swimmer Analia Pigree and Italy’s Silvia Scalia earning bronze in 27.89. Pigree owns the French standard in 27.39 while Scalia’s Italian record stands at 27.66.

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINAL

• GOLD – Michael Andrew (USA), 27.06
• SILVER – Joao Gomes Junior (BRA), 27.18
• BRONZE – Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 27.26

The United States snagged its first medal of this 2nd stop of the Mare Nostrum Tour, courtesy of multi-Olympic finalist Michael Andrew.

23-year-old Andrew fired off a time of 27.06 to get the edge over Brazilian Joao Gomes Junior who touched in 27.18. Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi was right behind in 27.26.

These 3 men all fall among the top 5 performers in the event so far this season, with Martinenghi owning the top time of 26.49. Andrew is #2 in the world with his newly-minted 26.52 American Record while Gomes Junior checks in as the world’s 4th fastest performer this season with 26.62 from April’s Brazil Swimming Trophy.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

• GOLD – Melanie Henique (FRA), 25.57
• SILVER – Farida Osman (EGY), 25.73
• BRONZE – Louise Hansson (SWE), 26.03

The top 2 finishers of this women’s 50m fly each notched a time under the 26-second threshold tonight. Leading the charge was Melanie Henique of France who fired off a time of 25.57 to beat out Egypt’s Farida Osman by just .16.

Behind Osman’s 25.73 was Swedish standout Louise Hansson who touched in 26.03. Hansson represents Loughborough, as that is where the former USC Trojan moved her training base as of 2020.

For perspective entering this meet, Henique ranked as the 4th fastest performer in the world in this event, owning a season-best of 25.62. As such, the 29-year-old managed to shave another .05 off of that result to remain in that spot.

MEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

• GOLD – Matt Sates (RSA), 4:11.58
• SILVER – David Verraszto (HUN), 4:13.54
• BRONZE – Max Litchfield (GBR), 4:16.21

18-year-old Matt Sates keeps improving times whenever he swims this men’s 400m IM, dropping his 4:12.74 from Monaco down to now a new lifetime best of 4:11.58.

The former University of Georgia Bulldog nearly cracked Hungarian icon Laszlo Cseh’s long-standing meet record of 4:11.22, a time that’s been on the books since 2008. Sates’ head-turning effort here also nearly overtook the reigning South African national record. That time stands at the 4:11.11 former Florida Gator Sebastian Rousseau logged in 2011.

Spits for Sates’ effort here are below, with Hungarian mainstay David Verraszto coming in with 4:13.54 for silver while two-time Olympic finalist in this event, Max Litchfield of Great Britain rounded out the top 3 in 4:16.21.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINAL

• GOLD – Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 54.16
• SILVER – Kayla Sanchez (CAN), 54.24
• BRONZE – Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 54.38

Dutch Short Course European Championships gold medalist Marrit Steenbergen got it done for the top prize in this women’s 100m free, producing the fastest time of 54.16.

Opening in 26.22 and closing in 27.94, 22-year-old Steenbergen of the Netherlands just put up the 5th fastest performance of her career. Her personal best rests at the 53.97 she hit at the inaugural European Games in 2015. She then took a break to focus on her studies while tonight’s 54.16 result marks her fastest in the past 2 years.

A pair of Canadians Kayla Sanchez and Maggie MacNeil were right in the mix for silver and bronze, respectively hitting times of 54.24 and 54.38.

For world champion MacNeil, this meet marks her first racing appearance since having suffered a fractured elbow earlier this year.

MEN’S 100 BACK – FINAL

• GOLD – Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 53.18
• SILVER – Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 53.46
• BRONZE – Pieter Coetze (RSA), 53.72

The top trio of men all got under the 54-second threshold with ease in this 100m backstroke, led by 21-year-old Olympic relay medalist Thomas Ceccon,

Ceccon comfortably got to the wall ahead of the field with a mark of 53.18, not terribly off his season-best of 52.99 he established this past January. He owns the Italian national record with the 52.30 he notched at the Olympic Games.

32-year-old veteran Ryosuke Irie landed on yet another podium, creeping in with a time of 53.46, about a half second off of his 52.88 notched at the Japan Swim in April to qualify for next month’s World Championships. That rendered Irie ranked 4th, one slot ahead of Ceccon, in this season’s world rankings.

As a testament to Irie’s longevity, the man still owns the overall Mare Nostrum record in this event with the 53.08 he produced over a decade ago.

As for Coetze, at 17 he represented South Africa’s youngest swimming Olypian last year in Tokyo. Now an 18-year-old, he has qualified for his first senior World Championships for Budapest and came in with 53.72 here for the bronze. That’s a new season-best for the teen.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – FINAL

• GOLD – Anna Elendt (GER), 1:06.07
• SILVER – Reona Aoki (JPN), 1:06.43
• BRONZE – Sophie Hansson (SWE), 1:06.60

As mentioned above, Elendt of both Germany and the University of Texas fired on all cylinders this morning, registering a super quick prelims time of 1:05.82 in this women’s 100m breast.

The 20-year-old toned it down a tad tonight, although she still wound up on top with a mark of 1:06.07.

Japan’s Reona Aoki, who currently ranks #1 in the world in this event, settled for silver in 1:06.43, while Sophie Hansson of Sweden rounded out the top 3 in 1:06.60.

Of note, the reigning Olympic champion in this event, Lydia Jacoby of the United Stated, clocked a time of 1:06.66 to fall just .06 shy of the podium.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

• GOLD – Bruno Fratus (BRA), 21.78
• SILVER – Ben Proud (GBR), 21.89
• BRONZE – Michael Andrew (USA), 22.06

Although last week was the lightning round skins format of the stroke 50’s, the winner there in Monaco, Bruno Fratus of Brazil, collected another gold here.

Punching a time of 21.78, Fratus was slightly off his final mark of 21.49 from Monaco but was still speedy enough to hold off British national record holder Ben Proud.

Proud produced 21.89 for silver while Andrew secured his 2nd medal of the night with a 22.06 for bronze.

Andrew has been as fast as 21.45 this season, which slotted him as the #2 swimmer in the world this season behind teammate Caeleb Dressel. Fratus’ swim from Monaco inserted him as the 3rd fastest performer while Proud remains 10th with his 21.72 time from the Edinburgh International meet.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINAL

• GOLD – Regan Rathwell (CAN), 2:09.54
• SILVER – Eszter Szab0 (HUN), 2:09.62
• BRONZE – Aviv Barzelay (ISR), 2:11.68

Greater Ottawa’s Regan Rathwell threw down a big personal best to win this women’s 200m back. Opening in 1:03.66 and bringing it home in 1:05.88, the University of Tennessee commit nabbed the gold just .08 ahead of a charging Hungarian.

In the process, Rathwell became Canada’s 4th fastest 17-year-old in history.

Eszter Szabo was a fingernail too late, but still secured silver in 2:09,62, the only other time of the field under 2:11. Szabo’s result here also represents a personal best, slicing .10 off of the 2:09.72 she collected at the 2021 European Championships.

Israeli swimmer Aviv Barzelay was tonight’s bronze medalist in 2:11.68.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINAL

• GOLD – Arno Kamminga (NED), 2:08.65
• SILVER – Yu Hanaguruma (JPN), 2:10.79
• BRONZE – Ryuya Mura (JPN), 2:11.86

Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands nabbed the men’s 200m breast victory here in a time much quicker than Monaco.

Just days ago the 26-year-old national record holder put up a time of 2:10.91 at the first stop while he was 2:08.65 here to beat out a pair of Japanese swimmers.

Racing on the Mare Nostrum Tour for the first time in 3 years, the Japanese squad brought many members who will be representing the nation next month in Budapest. Two of those swimmers are Yu Hanaguruma and Ryuya Mura, who finished with the silver and bronze, respectively here.

Hanaguruma touched in 2:10.79 while Mura posted 2:11.86 behind him. As a reminder, Hanaguruma notched a time of 2:07.99 at the Japan Swim to qualify for Worlds, becoming Japan’s 7th fastest 200m breast performer in the process.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINAL

• GOLD – Laura Stephens (GBR), 2:07.12
• SILVER – Kina Hayashi (JPN), 2:07.27
• BRONZE – Emma Sticklen (USA), 2:08.41

Laura Stephens of Great Britain nearly put up a personal best en route to winning this women’s 200m fly. The once-Plymouth Leander, now Loughborough athlete, stopped the clock tonight in 2:07.12, just .08 shy of the 2:07.04 PB produced last year.

Japan’s Kina Hayashi snagged silver in 2:07.27 while American Emma Sticklen of the University of Texas nabbed bronze in 2:08.41.

For Hayashi, she represents Japan’s 3rd faster performer of all time via her 2:06.41 title-winning effort at the Japan International Trials this past April.

Sticklen checked in with a personal best in this event, with her 2:08.41 surpassing the 2:08.88 she logged at the U.S. International Team Trials meet.

MEN’S 100 FLY – FINAL

• GOLD – Naoki Mizunuma (JPN), 51.46
• SILVER – Kristof Milak (HUN), 51.51
• BRONZE – Noe Ponti (SUI), 51.71

Among the likes of Hungary’s Kristof Milak, Switzerland’s Noe Ponti and South Africa’s Chad Le Clos, it was Japan’s Naoki Mizunuma who got his hand on the wall first for 100m fly gold.

Mizunuma produced a winning effort of 51.46 to out-touch 200m fly world record holder and Olympic champion Milak, with the Hungarian sliding into silver in 51.51.

Just .20 later it was the 100 fly Olympic bronze medalist Ponti who scored bronze in 51.71.

In March of this year, 25-year-old Mizunuma became the first Japanese swimmer ever to delve under the 51-second barrier in this event. At his nation’s International Trials meet, Mizunuma ripped a lifetime best of 50.86 to break the historic barrier.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• GOLD – Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR), 2:10.65
• SILVER – Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2:10.75
• BRONZE – Abbie Wood (GBR), 2:10.99

Israel’s national record holder Anastasia Gorbenko was the fastest woman in a very tight 200m IM field, one which saw the top 3 finishers separated by only .34.

Gorbenko soared to 2:10.65 to edge out Hungarian multi-Olympic medalist Katinka Hosszu. Hosszu was the runner-up in 2:10.75 while yet another Olympian, Abbie Wood, earned bronze in 2:10.99.

Gorbenko remains as the 4th fastest performer in the world with her slightly quicker 2:10.43 from April, while Wood’s season-best of 2:10.64 from March also keeps her as #8 in the world this season.

MEN’S 200 FREE – FINAL

• GOLD – Matt Sates (RSA), 1:45.91 *Meet Record
• SILVER – Tom Dean (GBR), 1:46.27
• BRONZE – Katsuo Matsumoto (JPN), 1:46.46

Although Great Britain’s Tom Dean entered this final as the newly-minted Barcelona meet record holder, it was 18-year-old Sates of South Africa who broke through to lower the mark once again on the same day.

Registering a mark of 1:45.91, Sates not only delved under the 1:46 barrier for the first time in his career, but the teen also outperformed Dean’s morning outing of 1:46.89.

Dean still shined with a silver medal-worthy time of 1:46.27 while Japan’s Katsuo Matsumoto rounded out the top 3 in 1:46.46.

For Sates, the 2free is added to his 4IM victory from earlier in the session, with both results representing personal bests. You can read more about Sates’ 2free record here.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINAL

• GOLD – Simona Quadarella (ITA), 4:06.18
• SILVER – Gabrielle Roncatto (BRA), 4:08.91
• BRONZE – Miyu Namba (JPN), 4:09.59

Italy’s distance queen Simona Quadarella wrapped up this first finals session with a win in the 400m free. Clocking 4:06.18, the 23-year-old Olympic medalist kept her space from runner-up Gabrielle Roncatto of Brazil and 3rd place finisher Miyu Namba of Japan.

Roncatto touched in 4:08.91 while Namba hit 4:09.59 to fill out the podium.

We’ve seen this women’s 400m free event get a major overhaul just recently, with Australia’s Ariarne Titmus breaking the legendary Katie Ledecky’s World Record at the just-concluded Aussie Championships. Titmus is now the fastest woman ever in 3:56.40.