Arianna Barbieri impresses in Women’s 50m backstroke semi-finals: Day five – European Championships
Arianna Barbieri of Italy impressed in the semi-finals of Women’s 50m backstroke on fifth day of the ongoing European Long Course Championships in Debrecen, Hungary on Friday, May 25.
The 23-year-old Barbieri faced strong battle from Mercedes Peris Minguet of Spain from the start but with her laudable efforts, she outsmarted her on the finishing wall and proved her mettle for the fastest qualification spot of the event.
Her gruelling effort remained just a touch ahead of her closest challenger as she clocked a time of 28.30 seconds for first position.
Her strongest competitor, Peris Minguet stayed 0.03 seconds slower from her former finisher and posted a time of 28.33 seconds for second best spot of the event.
Third finest qualification spot of the race was secured by Jenny Mensing of Germany, who was 0.14 seconds apart and clocked a timing of 28.47 seconds to enter the playoff.
With her astonishing efforts, Mensing remained just 0.05 seconds ahead of Sanja Jovanovic of Croatia, who made her way to the final round by submitting a time of 28.52 seconds for fourth position.
Next were the semi-finals of Men’s 50m breaststroke, where Matjaz Markic of Slovenia outsmarted his opponents and proved his eligibility for the fastest qualification spot of the event.
The 29-year-old Markic served notice of his talent and sprinted his way towards the finishing end with the timing of 27.43 seconds.
He was followed by his team-member, Damir Dugonjic, who stayed only 0.17 seconds apart and hit the finishing blockade with the timing of 27.60 seconds for second position.
Dugonjic was trailed by Mattia Pesce of Italy, who was 0.03 seconds behind and surfaced on the finishing end with the timing of 27.63 seconds.
Fourth position of the discipline was secured by Aleksander Hetland of Norway, who was only a touch away and qualified for the finals as fifth best swimmer.
Similarly, Fabio Scozzoli snared fifth best spot of the event as he posted a time of 27.73 seconds.
The arena appreciated furious efforts of all participants in their respective semi-finals while the session ended after the conclusion of all listed events.
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