Spanish Open National Championships: Mireia Belmonte Garcia Sets Spanish Record En Route to Daily Double

MALAGA, Spain, March 30. MIREIA Belmonte Garcia put together an incredible evening with a pair of victories, including a Spanish record during night two of the Spanish Open National Championships.

Belmonte Garcia clipped the Spanish record in the women's 200 free with a 1:57.58. That time bested the 1:57.83 set by Melanie Costa Schmid at the 2011 World Championships, and improved Belmonte Garcia to 13th in the world this year. Costa Schmid wound up second in 1:58.15, while Patricia Castro Ortega finished third in 1:58.79.

Belmonte Garcia followed that performance up with a near-national record in the women's 200 IM. She rocketed to a 2:10.53 for the win, just off her Spanish standard of 2:10.26 from last year. She also moved to third in the world behind only Stephanie Rice (2:09.38) and Alicia Coutts (2:09.83). Beatriz Gomez Cortes took second in 2:12.26 for ninth in the world, while Anja Klinar finished third in 2:17.53.

Concepcion Badillo Diaz claimed the women's 50 breast in 31.56, moving into a ninth-ranked tie with Lorna Tonks in the world rankings. Evelyn Alvarez Perez took second in 32.53, while Aurora Perez Cordoba picked up third in 33.13.

Aschwin Wildeboer Faber turned in a 53.78 to capture the men's 100 back crown. That swim pushed him to ninth in the world rankings. Juan Miguel Rando Galvez earned second in 54.04 for 11th in the world, while Matteo Giordano earned third in 55.68.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia hit the wall in 58.09 to win the women's 100 fly. That swim jumped her to ninth in the world rankings, and downed Judit Ignacio Sorribes' meet record of 59.21 from a year ago. Ignacio Sorribes placed second in 59.33, while Otylia Jedrzejczak finished third in 59.51.

Rafael Munoz Perez topped the men's 100 fly in 52.49 for 15th in the world rankings. Konrad Czerniak placed second in 52.54, well shy of his fourth-ranked season best of 52.07 from British Trials. Carlos Lenador Rivas snared third in 54.43.

Ben Hockin claimed the men's 200 free crown in 1:47.79 for 16th in the world. Eloi Saumell Montserrat took second in 1:50.25, while Olaf Wildeboer Faber completed the top three in 1:50.63.

Duane da Rocha set a meet record in the women's 100 back with a 1:00.88. That performance bettered her 1:01.01 from last year, and moved her to 18th in the world rankings. Mercedes Peris Minguet took second in 1:00.92 for 20th in the rankings, while Lydia Morant Varo finished third in 1:02.73.

Martin Melconian Alvez clocked a 28.58 to win the men's 50 breast. Hector Monteagudo Espinosa finished second in 28.76, while Sergio Lloret Barea placed third in 28.84. Eduardo Solaeche Gomez touched out Albert Puig Garrich, 2:01.37 to 2:01.39, for the men's 200 IM. Taki Mrabet finished third in 2:02.31.

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