Photo Courtesy: David Farr
VERACRUZ – Venezuela nearly ran the gold medal table on Wednesday night at Central American and Caribbean Games swimming in Veracruz, Mexico.
Venezuela’s Andreina Pinto tracked down the women’s 800-meter free meet record in 8:39.49, clearing her 2010 mark of 8:40.51. That was Pinto’s fifth victory of the meet, with wins in the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, 200 IM and 400 IM. She has a chance at six with the 200 fly still on her schedule.
Bahamas’ Joanna Evans took second in 8:39.61, just off Pinto’s lead, while Mexico’s Natalie Jaspeado finished third in 8:41.38.
Venezuela’s Albert Subirats raced to a 25.72 in the men’s 50-meter back to down the meet record. Omar Pinzon previously held the mark with a 25.96 in 2010. Venezuela’s Robinson Molina earned second in 25.90 with Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell winding up third in 25.91.
Subirats returned shortly after to win the men’s 100-meter fly in 53.48 for his second win of the night. That’s his third title this week with a win in the 50 fly as well. Guatemala’s Luis Carlos Martinez took second in 54.00 with Colombia’s Andres Felipe Montoya earning third in 54.57.
Venezuela’s Cristian Quintero knocked nearly a second off the meet record in the men’s 200-meter free with a 1:49.08. That swim beat the 1:49.74 set by Shaune Fraser back in 2010. That’s Quintero’s first win of the week after second in the 100 and third in the 400.
Venezuela’s Daniel Tirabassi finished second in 1:50.93 with Mexico’s Long Gutierrez racing to third in 1:51.28.
Venezuela’s Carlos Claverie won the men’s 400-meter IM in 4:24.61, his second victory of the meet. He already won the men’s 100-meter breast. Puerto Rico’s Christian Bayo touched second in 4:27.32 with Venezuela’s Juan Sequera earning third in 4:28.45.
Mexico’s Byanca Melissa Rodriguez topped the Venezuelan train with a 32.52 to win the women’s 50-meter breaststroke. Venezuela’s Mercedes Toledo placed second in 32.69 with Puerto Rico’s Patricia Casellas taking third in 32.96.
Venezuela’s Cristian Quintero (50.30), Crox Acuna (51.23), Jesus Lopez (51.04) and Albert Subirats (51.06) then cruised to the men’s 400-meter free relay title in 3:23.63.
Mexico’s Maria Richaud (58.03), Natalia Jaspeado (57.89), Maria Gonzalez (55.99) and Liliana Ibanez (55.98) closed the night with a meet record in the women’s 400-meter free relay. They clocked a 3:47.89 to down the 3:49.69 set by Venezuela back in 2010.
Ageless wonder George Bovell!
A decade after winning T&T’s first Olympic swimming medal @. Athens (200 IM silver) he’s still going strong.
Guy must be 100 years old — at least! (well certainly in early 30s.)
Bet he swims @. Rio although I think he’ll likely only go sprints there.
Well…as Anthony Ervin always says: “Age is simply a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind it don’t matter.” (With apologies to Satchel Page!!!)