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Belmonte's IM Breakthrough: 4:34.91
Apr 1, 2011 - Craig Lord
Madrid: Spanish Spring Nationals, day 2 finals and semi-finals:
Women's 400m medley
Mireia Belmonte was a league apart from the field on the way to her third victory at nationals in just over 24 hours, a 4:34.91 over 400m medley taking down her own Spanish record by 1.4sec.
Belmonte, winner of the 200m 'fly and 800m free on the first day of action, was never led. The world s/c champion raced well ahead of the best times registered anywhere in the world so far this year to establish herself as one of the favourites for the crown, and certainly a strong medal contender, at world long-course titles in Shanghai this summer.
The splits compared to some other fast swims as a measure of how races can be a roller-coaster:
Closest to the Spaniard in the world at large so far this season are Lara Grangeon, of France, and Hannah Miley, of Britain, on 4:38.28 and 4:38.47.
In Madrid, the opposition was far further back yet, the silver going to the champion's Sabadell teammate, Claudia Dasca, 16, on 4:43.79, a qualification target for junior selection this summer, and 15-year-old Cristina Garcia, on 4:46.94.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Men's 400m medley
David Verraszto (HUN) looked good to represent his country this summer in Shanghai at world titles after a 4:13.54 victory that compared to a European medal-winning best last summer of 4:12.96.
On splits of 57.89, 2:01.39, 3:13.86 and gold in 4:13.54, the Hungarian, coached by his father Zoltan, the 1975 world 200m backstroke champion, rose to third in the world this season behind the 4:13.37 of Britain's Roberto Pavoni and the 4:13.38 of Olympic 1500m free champion Oussama Mellouli (TUN).
If Verraszto was on season-best pace, he was well up on the opposition in Madrid, the minor medals going to Italian federico Turrini, on 4:19.44, and Eduardo Solaeche, of Canoe, in 4:21.13, a qualifying time to represent Spain as a junior this summer for the 7-year-old.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Women's 100m breaststroke
Defending champion Marina Garcia, of Real Club Mediterráneo in Málaga, kept her crown in 1:08.36, 0.33sec inside the cut required to place her on the Spain team for world titles in Shanghai this summer. The minor spoils were won some way back, Evelyn Alvarez on 1:10.43, Jessica Vall on 1:10.96.
Although Garcia fell shy of her national mark of 1:07.63, her time today was her best and Spain's best ever by a swimmer in a textile suit.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Men's 100m breaststroke
Visiting Brazilian Henrique Barbosa took the win in 1:01.43 over the best of Spain last year and this, Melquiades Alvarez, on 1:02.40, the bronze going to Matias Prono in 1:02.75. Barbosa was out in 29.05 and back in 32.38, Alvarez, who in the semis clocked 1:02.24, on 29.23 and 33.17 in the final.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Women's 200m freestyle
Agnes Mutina gave Hungary its second win in consecutive finals with a championship record of 1.57.62 (28.10; 57.72; 1:27.79) ahead of Patricia Castro, of Canoe, who on 1:58.88 had to share silver with Palma's Melanie Costa. That locked out Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN), in 2:00.72, the Hungarian already having race the 100m butterfly semi.
Mutina had held the meet mark at 1:57.71 since last year, when Castro was the best of Spain on 1:59.46. Castro's best is a 1:58.11, from the European Championships last summer, while Castro today boasts a new lifetime best.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Men's 200m freestyle
Ernesto Acuna, of Sabadell, races for Venezuala and started the day qualifying to the 200m final out in lane 1 on 1:51.22. The 20-year-old will go to bed this evening the best in Spain today, on 1:50.32 for the crown.
In his wake Sabadell teammate and the best Spaniard, Alex Sanchez, on 1:50.91, and, at 33, Massimiliano Rosolino (ITA), racing for Milan, showed up and put in a 1:51.08 effort for bronze. Defending champion Jose Alonso found himself back in 5th on 1:51.55, with a third Sabadell swimmer ahead of him, Eloi Saumell on 1:51.10.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
Women's 50m backstroke
Mercedes Peris, of Club Natación Santa Olaya in Gijón, retained her crown in 28.23, precisely the time she had clocked in the semi at the start of the session. The silver went to Duane da Rocha, of Canoe in Madrid, on 28.85, the bronze going to Ane Saseta, on 29.56, also precisely the same time she clocked in the semi.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: gold - Nina Zhivanevskaya, 2003
Men's 50m backstroke
Defending champion Ashwin Wildeboer, of Sabadell in Barcelona, kept his crown in 25.24 when keeping at bay Miguel Rando, on 25.56, and Brazilian visitor Guilherme Guido, on 25.98.
How they measure up:
Best ESP podium result at world titles: no medals
