Fast swimming was the order of the evening in Santos as no fewer than four South American records fell by the wayside here on night two of the Trofeu Finkel Brazilian Winter Championships meet.

Brazilian national team mainstay Fabiola Pulga Molina got the party started this morning by breaking the South American and Brazilian records in the 100 butterfly. Typically known for her backstroke prowess, Molina showed her versatility by breaking the former standard held by Gabrielle Rose, touching in 1:00.23. She was half a second slower in finals (1:00.52), but a win is a win, and the outcome was never in question. In second place half a second back was Laura Azevedo (1:00.94). Though she set continental and national records, she missed the Worlds qualifying standard for this event by six-hundredths of a second.

Molina was back in action for the women's 50 backstroke, where she was almost assured of winning a Worlds berth, but an upset appeared to be on the cards tonight. Talita Ribeiro, 10 years her junior, showed a poise beyond her years, unseating Molina from her typical position at the top of the medal dais at Brazilian Nationals. In a photo finish, Talita came to the wall two-hundredths before Molina, 28.44 to 28.46. Both women not only set best times, but also qualified for Worlds in this event. In addition to gaining selection, Ribeiro also took Molina's South American and Brazilian records.

The most exciting race of the evening was undoubtedly the women's 400 IM, which saw a heated battle between Olympic bronze medalist Georgina Bardach of Argentina, and Brazilian Olympic finalist Joanna Maranhao. Whenever these two hit the pool, fast times are sure to result. Bardach took a strong lead in fly and back only to have Maranhao take a chunk out of that lead in breaststroke, and continue to chip away in freestyle. At the end of the race though, there was not enough pool for Maranhao to catch up, and Bardach sealed the win, and a new South American record in a world-class 4:35.56. Maranhao continued her improvement curve, notching a new Brazilian record just .40 back at 4:35.96. These two will continue the battle for continental and world supremacy in this event in Indy.

The women weren't the only record-setters this evening. Thiago Pereira took inspiration from countrywoman Maranhao, breaking the South American and Brazilian records in the 400 IM with his clocking of 4:09.10. Two male swimmers will represent Brazil in this event at Worlds as Lucas Salatta also touched under the qualifying standard with his second place time of 4:11.90.

Not to be left out, Kaio Almeida went out and set a record of his own, notching a new Brazilian standard in the men's 100 fly. Touching in 52.36, he finished exactly a half second ahead of Marco Sapucaia (52.76), and just a tenth shy of Argentinian Jose Meolans' South American record. Both men will repeat their race in Indy in just a few weeks time as they both notched qualifying standards.

The other record of the evening went to Paula Ribeiro in the women's 200 free, as she clocked a 1:59.32 ahead of Monique Ferreira's 2:00.71 to break the meet record. Unfortunately, her time was just shy of the Indy qualifying standard (1:59.03).

In other individual events, former LSU star Rodrigo Castro won the men's 200 freestyle in 1:48.04, nearly a full second ahead of fresh face Raphael Bydlowski (1:48.78), while Thiago Pinto took the men's 50 back (25.21) over Guilherme dos Santos (25.33).

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