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Yannick Agnel Sets Out In 49 Flat

Apr 11, 2013  - Craig Lord

A round-up of events in France, Italy and Scotland

Olympic 200m freestyle champion Yannick Agnel got his French nationals campaign off to a solid start with a 49.05 (23.59) in the heats of the 100m in Rennes this morning.

Closest to the pace-setter from Nice - and the other two sub-50 performers in heats - were Grégory Mallet, Marseilles, on 49.76, and Mehdy Metella, Toulouse, on 49.89.

The morning after a 53.06 victory in the 100m backstroke, Jérémy Stravius, Amiens, led the way on 24.87 in the dash heats, ahead of his joint world champion teammate of 2011 Camille Lacourt, Marseilles, on 25.54.

Over in Riccione, after launching a new era for Italy over 100m butterfly yesterday, Matteo Rivolta clocked 23.94 in the dash heats to progress in second place behind Piero Codia, on 23.69.

The battles lines for the 400m free final were drawn by 17-year-old Andrea D'Arrigo, Aurelia Nuoto, on 3:49.28 this morning ahead of the top two in the 1500m free on day 1, Gregorio Paltrinieri and Gabriele Detti, both 18, on 3:51.00 and 3:51.08 respectively.

World 200 and 400m freestyle record holder Federica Pellegrini continued her backstroke adventure, clocking 2:12.28 to claim lane 4 for the 200m final.

In a busy week of racing around the world, world 10km champion Keri-Anne Payne, 25 and now based at the city's Warrender club after her marriage to former Britain and Scotland international David Carry, clocked 4:43.89 in the 400m medley (after 4:47 in heats) and took the 800m freestyle in 8:40.84 at Scottish age group championships in Edinburgh (the event open to seniors this year).

Her Britain Olympic teammate Craig Benson, 18 and also Warrender, won the 200m breaststroke in  2:13.84 ahead of Ross Murdoch,19 and racing for West Dunbarton, on 2:13.92. 

Ryan Bennett, of Preston, took the 100m backstroke in 55.88 and Stephen Milne, 18 and racing for Perth City, was the sole sub-16-min swimmer in the 1500m, on 15:41.32.

In the age 100m butterfly, 16-year-old Craig Bowman, Carnegie, clocked 56.84 for the win, while Kerry Buchan led the way in the 100m breaststroke for seniors on 1:10.38 ahead of Kathryn Johnstone, on 1:10.55.

This morning, Alastair Miley, 18 and racing for Garioch, clocked 4:35.06 in the 400m medley: not long now before he may be able to nudge sister Hannah on the clock.