Federico Grabich and Andrea Berrino Break National Records At Argentina Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Jorge Emilio Aguado

Two national records fell yesterday at the Argentina long course nationals in Mar del Plata, which is serving as the selection meet for this summer’s Pan American Games and world championships.

Federico Grabich was responsible for one of those records, taking more than a second off his own mark in the 200 freestyle with a 1:47.78. His old record of 1:49.13 isn’t that old; it was set last October at the South American championships. That time puts Grabich ninth in the world, ahead of Brazilian Joao De Lucca, and second among swimmers from the Americas, though Conor Dwyer is not racing at the Pan American Games. It not only qualifies Grabich for the Pan American Games and the world championships, but it beats the “A” standard for next year’s Olympics by two tenths of a second.

Interestingly, Grabich swam the 100 backstroke at the 2012 Olympic Trials and is Argentina’s national record holder with a 54.32, but appears to be switching to the freestyle for the 2016 Games. With Grabich out of the 100 back yesterday, Benjamin Hockin of Paraguay handily won with a 56.89. Look for Hockin to be a medal contender in the 100 back at the Pan American Games in Toronto.

The other national record on the first day of the Argentina nationals came in the women’s 100 back, where Andrea Berrino posted a 1:01.04 to qualify for the Pan American Games. Berrino’s old record of 1:02.12 also came at last October’s South American championships, and gives her the “B” cut for the 2016 Olympics. That could give her the opportunity to swim the race in Rio de Janeiro as the lone competitor for Argentina in the event.

Maria Diaz almost broke her own national record of 27.60 in winning the 50 butterfly with a 27.87.

Full results in the link below.

2015 Argentina Long Course Nationals, Day 1 – Results

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