Maria De Valdes Alvarez booked a provisional spot on Spain’s Olympic team in the 1,500 free at the Spanish Open Championships at Sabadell.
However, Jessica Vall – the three-time European 200br medallist – failed to make the cut for the 100br having already clinched her place over four lengths.
The competition is Spain’s second Olympic selection meet with athletes earning consideration for the team as long as they finish in the top two and inside the FINA ‘A’ time.
De Valdes Alvarez dominated the race to win by more than five seconds in 16:18.37 with Jimena Perez adding the longest race in the pool to her Tokyo programme in 16:32.04 after she qualified in the 800fr.
Angela Martinez Guillen set a junior record of 16:28.25 as the first three women home all dipped inside the FINA ‘A’ cut of 16:32.04 with the race on the women’s Olympic programme for the first time in Tokyo.
Jessica Vall: Photo Courtesy: Circuit Natacio
Vall maybe a 200br specialist but she was hoping to add the 100 to her Tokyo schedule.
Out in 31.99 and back in 35.23, she stopped the clock at 1:07.22 – 0.15 outside the cut of 1:07.07.
Nicolas Garcia Saiz‘s time of 1:57.34 in the 200 back was 0.16secs inside the FINA A cut but he had already qualified in December.
So too Africa Zamorano who won in 2:09.98 having booked her slot in the women’s race.
Gonzalo Carazo Barbero won the 100br in 1:01.75 while Miguel Duran Navia led for all but two lengths as he won the 800 free in 8:01.95 – neither man within the consideration time in their respective events.
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