The world-best attempt in the 4x50m medley at the Bolzano International by a super quartet from the ADN Swim Project fell just of target but could clearly get to the mark with a little more training under their belts beyond the post Beijing/ post-summer season break.
Randall Bal (USA, 23.98), Vladimir Polyakov (KAZ, 26.37), Milorad Cavic (SRB, 22.76) and Nick Brunelli (USA, 21.46) clocked 1.34.57, shy of the Germany quartet's world best time of 1:34.06. The ADN time is the third best ever, after Auburn Uni's 1:34.25. The ADN quartet were aiming to raise funds for Michael Lohberg, the US-based German coach suffering from cancer.
Elsewhere in Bolzano, Bal clocked 23.90 and 51.60 in the 50m and 100m backstroke; Olympic silver medallist Christine Magnuson (University of Tennesee) took the 50m and 100m 'fly, in both cases ahead of an Olympic silver medallist from a bygone Games, Martina Moravcova (SVK): 26.74 to 27.63 and 58.57 to 58.92.
The men's 50m 'fly went to Thomas Rupprath (GER, Rostock) in 23.69 just ahead of Olympic silver medallist Cavi, on 23.83. But in the 100m, Cavic reversed the order, getting the touch in 52.17 to 52.21 to the German. Polyakov claimed the 100m breaststroke in 59.58 and Brunelli the 50m breaststroke in 21.82.
