BOCA DEL RIO, Mexico, July 20. THREE national records highlighted Mexico’s long course nationals that served as the selection meet for the Central American and Caribbean Games. Twenty-four swimmers – 12 men and 12 women – will attend the Games in November in Veracruz, Mexico. (See below for full roster.)
Two women’s Mexican records fell at nationals, while just one male national record fell over five days. Bianca Rodriguez swam a 1:09.95 in the 100 breast that beat the Mexican record of 1:10.69 set in 2012 by Erica Dittmer. Also on the women’s side, Fernanda Gonzalez won the 50 backstroke with a 28.76 to beat her own national record of 28.83 from back in 2011.
On the men’s side, Daniel Ramirez took down Alejandro Escudero’s two-year-old record of 50.66 in the 100 free with a 50.14 to post the lone men’s national mark of the meet.
Liliana Ibanez, who will be a senior at Texas A&M University, won four events to qualify for the most events at the Central American and Caribbean Games for the women’s meet. She won the 50 free with a 25.75 to just miss her national record of 25.51, and fell shy of her national record of 55.70 in the 100 free with a winning time of 55.91. Ibanez had a close race in the 200 free, winning with a 2:02.29 over Maria Richaud’s 2:02.60. Though not used for selection, Ibanez won the 50 fly with a 27.94 to just miss her national mark of 27.68.
Ibanez was joined in the four-time winners club at nationals by Natalia Jaspeado in the 400 free (4:15.77), 1500 free (16:59.19), 200 IM (2:16.90) and 400 IM (4:51.88).
On the men’s side, Ramirez and Miguel De Lara each won three events to lead qualifying among the men’s roster. In addition to his 100 free, Ramirez took the 50 free with a 23.18 and won the 100 fly with a 54.14. De Lara won all three breaststrokes with a 28.98 in the 50, a 1:03.12 in the 100 and 2:16.12 in the 200.
Andres Olvera, Daniel Degadillo and Gustavo Berreta each won two events. Olvera took the 400 free with a 3:54.14 and the 400 IM with a 4:25.71, while Degadillo took the 1500 free with a 15:39.11 and the 800 free with an 8:15.27. Berreta won the 100 back with a 56.94 and the 200 back with a 2:03.35.
Luis Campos won the 200 free with a 1:51.17, Long Miguel took the 200 fly with a 2:01.43 and Ezequiel Trujillo won the 200 IM with a 2:04.70. Anival Rodriguez rounded out the men’s champions with a 26.55 in the 50 backstroke.
Three-time winners on the women’s side included Gonzalez, who took all three backstroke races. In addition to her national record in the 50 back, she posted a 1:01.28 in the 100 back and 2:14.36 in the 200 back.
Bianca Rodriguez also won three events. Starting with her 1:09.95 in the 100 breast, she won the 50 breast with a 32.44 and the 200 with a 2:29.53
Taking one event each were Monserrat Ortuno in the 800 free (8:47.27), Diana Luna in the 100 fly (1:02.00) and Maria Meta in the 200 fly (2:12.98).
Women’s roster
Esther Gonzalez
Fernanda Gonzalez
Liliana Ibanez
Natalia Jaspeado
Gabriela Jimenez
Melissa Leon
Diana Luna
Ayumi Macias
Maria Mata
Montserrat Ortuno
Maria Richaud
Bianca Rodríguez
Men’s roster
Gustavo Berreta
Luis Campos
Mauro Castillo
Miguel De Lara
Juan Del Pino
Daniel Delgadillo
Alejandro Escudero
Jose Martinez
Long Miguel
Andres Olvera
Daniel Ramirez
Ezequiel Trujillo