Spanish Long Course Nationals, Day Four: Impressive Swims Close Out Meet

MALAGA, Spain, April 25. THE final day of competition at the Spanish Open featured a few close battles.

Women's 400 free final
The first final of the night featured a thrilling three-way contest with Patricia Castro, Agnes Mutina and Melanie Costa. The three were even for 350 meters, with Castro and Mutina pulling away in the final stretch from Costa. Castro got to the finish first in 4:09.64. Mutina was second in 4:09.69. Costa faded just a little bit to place third in 4:10.13.

Men's 400 free final
Hungary's David Verraszto posted his second win of the meet with a 3:53.23. Adrian Mantas was second in 3.56.56 and in third was Ignacio Fernandez with a 3:58.26.

Women's 200 breast final
Maria Garcia was the clear winner with a 2:26.89, the 10th-fastest time in the world this year. Teresa Gutierrez was second in 2:30.93 and Sara Perez finished third in 2:33.79.

Men's 200 breast final
Akos Molnar of Hungary won the event in 2:12.04, good for a top 15 time in the world. Melquiades Alvarez touched second in 2:13.54 and in third place was Sergio Garcia in 2:15.53.

Women's 100 back final
Duane Da Rocha was the victor with a 1:01.65, with Mercedes Peris finishing second with a 1:02.20. In third was Ane Saseta with a 1:03.18.

Men's 100 back final
National record holder Aschwin Wildeboer won the event with a 54.56. Out first at the 50-meter mark was Miguel Rando, who could not hold off Wildeboer, finishing second in 54.88. Rounding out the podium was David Cromwell of the USA with a 55.18.

Women's 100 free final
National record holder Maria Fuster was able to hold off strong challenges by Melanie Costa and Laura Fernandez with a 56.02 win. Costa was second in 56.43, while Fernandez was third in 56.55.

Men's 100 free final
Poland's Konrad Czerniak won the men's freestyle sprint with a 49.98, well ahead of Antonio Alonso and George Bovell, who both tied for second with matching times of 50.63. Bovell, of Trinidad and Tobago, had posted a 50.16 in the semifinal on Saturday.

Women's 200 IM final
After setting a national mark in the 400 IM on Friday, Maria Belmonte won the shorter medley in 2:12.27, a little more than a second off her national mark of 2:11.16. Finishing second was Hungary's Jakabos Zuszsanna with a 2:14.29. Third place went to Slovenia's Anja Klinar with a 2:15.80.

Men's 200 IM final
Alan Cabello used a strong back half to overtake Carlos Vives for the victory with a 2:02.12. Vives was second with a 2:03.34. In third was Poland's Marcin Tarczynski with a 2:03.93.

Women's 50 fly final
Silvia Di Pietro took a run at Angela San Juan's 2007 national record of 26.78, winning the event in 26.90. San Juan was second in 27.48, with Aida Marti rounding out the podium in 27.77.

Men's 50 fly final
World record holder Rafael Munoz finished a second off his mark with a 23.45 win, putting him at the top of the world list, just one-hundredth faster than Geoff Huegill. Czerniak, who won the 100 fly on Saturday, touched second in 24.15. In third place was Joaquin Belza in 24.75.

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