Two Spanish swimmers break records at Nationals

Melani Costa from Mallorca and Jessica Vall from Barcelona were the two protagonists on the last day of the National Swimming Championships, each setting records in the 400 freestyle and 200 breaststroke, respectively.

Mireia Belmonte's absence due to shoulder bursitis, just two weeks before the World Championships in Kazan, has overshadowed these Championships, where the level of performances, with the qualifying times already closed, has been low.

Melani Costa finished with a time of 4:06.92 (Championship record) in the 400 freestyle, where she faced no opposition. Another swimmer from Mallorca, Catalina Corró from Inca, came in second place and surprised Erika Villaecija, who was unable to make a comeback in the final meters.

In the 200 breaststroke, national record holder Marina García dominated the race for a large part of it, but in the last length, Jessica Vall closed with a split time of 36.51 and made a comeback to the helplessness of García.

Vall, from CN Sant Andreu, won with a time of 2:20.20, which is a Championship record, ahead of García (Mediterrani) with 2:25.14 and Berta Cantó from Mataró, who won the bronze with 2:31.06.

In the women's 50 butterfly, Konrad Cerniak took the gold (23.96) ahead of José Manuel Valdivia and Marcos García Soto, who completed the men's podium.

In the same women's event, Carmen Balbuena (Torremolinos) defeated Judit Ignacio (Sabadell) and Mercedes Peris (Santa Olaya).

Guillermo Blanco won the 200 breaststroke, followed by Melquiades Alvarez and Mario Cortes, while Eduardo Solaeche won the 200 individual medley, surpassing Alejandro García (Zamora) and Alan Cabello.

In the 200 individual medley, Beatriz Gómez took the gold. Africa Zamorano won the silver and Catalina Corró claimed the bronze, earning her second medal of the day after the silver in the 400 freestyle.

Miguel Durán (Sabadell) comfortably won the 400 freestyle, with silver going to Orskov Ipsen and bronze to Juan Salvador Durán (Sevilla).

In the 4x100 medley relays, Canoe won in the men's category and Sant Andreu in the women's. Sabadell and Sant Andreu completed the men's podium, while Madrid Moscardó and Metropole claimed the top spots among the women.