Three-time European medallist Jessica Vall went fourth in the 200 breaststroke rankings with a meet record of 2:23.25 as the Spanish Open Championships concluded in Sabadell.
Behind her Marina Garcia Urzainqui became the fourth swimmer to book a spot on Spain’s Olympic team with the competition a chance for athletes to earn consideration times for the Tokyo Games.
Maria De Valdes (1500 free), Jimena Perez (800&1500fr) and Joan Lluis Pons (400IM) also provisionally added their names to the roster during the meet which now features eight athletes.
Vall – who won bronze in a three-way tie with Rikke Pedersen and Shi Jinglin at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia – has already qualified for Spain’s Olympic team over 200m but on Friday she missed the 100br cut of 1:07.07 by 0.15secs.
On Sunday she trailed Garcia by 0.03secs before a second 100m of 1:13.27 – and final 50 of 36.73 – propelled her into the lead for a clear victory by more than 2.5seconds.
Not only did it catapult the 32-year-old into the upper echelons of the rankings but it also eclipsed Viktoria Gunes’ meet mark of 2:23.47 set in 2015 in Malaga.
Splits: 33.46/1:09.98/1:46.52/2:23.25
Garcia was second in 2:25.86 with Laura Rodriguez Sanchez net home in 2:30.97.
Although Garcia’s time was outside the FINA ‘A’ cut it was announced – after a moment of “suspense” – that she had made the cut at 2020 Open Castalia Castellón in December and had therefore booked a provisional slot.
Joan Ballester Puig went ahead on the second 50 to extend his lead in the men’s 200br, winning in 2:13.78.
Perez held off a fast-finishing Paula Otero whose final 50 of 30.66 brought her to within 0.02 at the wall.
Perez held on though in 4:13.65 with Otero clocking 4:13.67 while Miguel Duran Navia led from start to finish to win the men’s 400 free in 3:51.34.
Juan Francisco Segura Gutierrez won the men’s 50 back in 25.14 with Mireia Pradell Carrasco taking the women’s title in 28.59.
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