Two Meet Records Fall in Two Days at Spanish Long Course Nationals

BARCELONA, Spain, July 21. TWO meet records have fallen after two days of long course competition at the Spanish nationals, held at the Bernat Picornell Pool, the site of the 1992 Olympic Games. Many of the top swimmers are gearing up for competition at the European championships in a few weeks.

Mercedes Peris took the women's 50 backstroke in a meet-record time of 28.69 on Wednesday, eclipsing Marica Strazmester's mark of 28.81 from last year. She had full command of the race, as Lidon Munoz was second in 29.91 and Duane da Rocha was third in 29.92.

Melanie Costa won the women's 400 free today with a meet record time of 4:09.34. She bettered the mark set by Erika Villaecija in 2007 with a 4:09.97. Costa was just a second shy of Villaecija's national record of 4:08.44. Second place in the event went to Eider Santamaria with a 4:14.98 and third place was awarded to Erica Malagon with a 4:18.82.

In other finals action, da Rocha won a close women's 200 IM in 2:16.91, just touching out Beatriz Gomez, who won the silver in 2:17.08. In third place was Maria Pelaez with a 2:17.09.

The men's 200 IM was won by Alan Cabello with a 2:00.96. He was not challenged in the final, as second place finisher – and younger brother – Brenton Cabello touched in 2:04.93. In third was Marcus Garcia in 2:05.48.

Maria Fuster won the women's 50 free final in 26.06, with Ilune Gorbea touching in 26.16 for second place and Araceli Herraez finishing third in 26.27.

Rafael Munoz, the world record holder in the 50 butterfly, won the men's 50 free in 23.00. Joaquin Belza was second in 23.02 and M. Bildosola rounded out the top three with a 23.17.

The women's 200 fly saw national record holder Mireira Belmonte win a close race with Judit Ignacio. Belmonte took the event in 2:10.61, well off her national record of 2:06.90. Ignacio was second in 2:10.92, and Paula Camino rounded out the podium with a 2:12.54.

Carlos Lenador was the winner of the men's 200 fly with a 2:01.57. Carlos Vives won the silver medal with a 2:02.00 and Adrian Mantas was third in 2:03.90.

The men's 50 backstroke was won by Alvaro Vega in 25.87. The silver medal went to Ignacio Martinez in 26.67 and the bronze was awarded to Rufino Regueira with a 26.68.

Teresa Gutierrez was the winner of the women's 200 breast with a time of 2:30.51. Berta Canto was second in 2:32.25 and Sara Perez was third with a 2:34.37.

National record holder Melquiades Alvarez was the clear winner of the men's 200 breast with a 2:13.49, though he was four seconds off his national record of 2:09.69. Second place went to Joaquin Abascal with a 2:17.28. Third place was awarded to Thirault Marand, who swam a 2:17.28.

Melanie Costa posted the winning time in the women's 800 free with an 8:37.79. The silver went to Patricia Castro with an 8:44.68 and third went to Claudia Dasca with an 8:46.04.
In the men's 1500 free final, Victor Goicoechea won the event with a 15:37.04. Juan Luis Rodrqiguez won the silver medal with a time of 15:41.44. Rounding out the podium was Miguel Rozas, who swam a third-place time of 16:00.04.

Thursday's finals began with the men's 400 free, which was won by Alex Sanchez with a 3:56.43. Juan Luis Rodriguez won his second silver medal of the meet, edging out Rufino Regueira for the silver medal, 3:57.33 to 3:57.35.

Alvarez won his second event of the meet with a winning time in the 100 breast of 1:03.40, about three seconds off his national mark of 1:00.45. Hector Monteagudo was second in 1:03.62 and in third was Sergio Lloret with a 1:03.78.

Concepcion Badillo won the women's 100 breast in 1:10.82 over Berta Canto's second-place time of 1:11.20. Third place went to Sara Perez in 1:11.78.

After finishing second in the 50 free, Joaquin Belza won the men's 100 free in 50.42. Antonio Alonso was second in 50.60 and in third was Matias Aguilera in 50.73.

Patricia Castro won the women's 100 free in 55.87, with Maria Fuster claiming second in 56.36. Laura Fernandez rounded out the top three with a 56.98.

In the men's 100 back, Miguel Rando made a run at Aschwin Wildeboer's meet record of 55.27, falling short with a 55.30. Alvaro Vega was second with a 56.02, and David Alcolado was third in 57.37.

The women's 100 back saw da Rocha win her second event of the meet with a time of 1:02.46. Natalia Torne was second in 1:04.13 and Marica Strazmester was third in 1:04.50.

Munoz, the national record holder and reigning world championships bronze medalist in the 100 fly, won the event today with a 53.77, well off his national record of 50.41. Carlos Lenador was in second with a 54.20, and Marcos Garcia wound up third with a 54.35.

Judit Ignacio won the women's 100 fly with a 1:00.20, just ahead of Angela San Juan, who was second in 1:00.87. Rounding out the podium was Laura Gutierrez with a 1:01.24

Alan Cabello followed up his 200 IM victory with a win in the 400 IM. His winning time of 4:22.98 beat second-place finisher Carlos Vives, who touched in 4:23.90. Third place went to Javier Fernandez with a 4:30.12.

Belmonte also won her second event of the meet with a decisive victory in the 400 IM, another event in which she owns the national record: a 4:36.31 set in June. Her time today was 4:42.09, good enough for the win ahead of Claudia Dasca's second-place time of 4:46.86. Third place went to Beatriz Gomez in 4:50.65.

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