2023 Spanish Open Championships: Vazquez and Carrasco Punch Tickets to Fukuoka

2023 Spanish Open Swimming Championships

• Wednesday, March 29 – Sunday, April 2
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• Long Course Meters
• Results 
• Day 1 Recap

One of the fastest events on night two the 2023 Spanish Open Championships in Mallorca was the women’s 400 IM, where the top two finishers Alba Vazquez and Emma Carrasco broke the FINA ‘A’ standard of 4:43.06.

21-year-old Vazquez, the former world junior record holder, led for the entire race with 17-year-old Carrasco right on her tail. But, in the end Vazquez blasted a 31.98 on the final 50 to win gold in 4:41.16 while Carrasco hit the wall second in 4:42.92. They were the only two swimmers to crack a FINA ‘A’ standard on day two, officially qualifying for Spain’s roster at the 2023 World Championships this summer.

Earlier in the session, Belgium’s Valentine Dumont broke her own 200 free national record by winning gold in a time of 1:57.91.

Notably, Carles Coll won the 100 breast prelims race in a personal best time of 1:01.28, but scratched finals. The Virginia Tech junior is fresh off his NCAAs performance last week, where he finaled in the 200 breast and 200 IM. He is still entered in the 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 IM in Mallorca. In Coll’s absence, Alvaro Gomez hit the wall first in a time of 1:02.90 to win gold.

Dutch Olympian Kira Toussaint took gold in the women’s 50 fly with a time of 26.79, out touching second-place finisher Amaia Cendoya by .02.

A wave of Spanish junior records fell on night two. First, Jimena Ruiz cracked the 100 breast Spanish junior record by placing 3rd with a time of 1:09.14. The previous mark was set by Sara Lahrach-Sanchez, who is now a school record holder at the University of Miami (Ohio) in 2019 at 1:09.68. Then, 15-year-old Nahia Garrido broke her own Spanish junior record in the 50 fly, winning the ‘C’ final in a time of 27.91 to break 28.00 for the first time.

On the boys’ side, Ian Florencio placed 8th in the 200 free with a 1:49.73 to beat the junior record by more than half a second set by Carlos Garach last April, putting the mark below 1:50.00 for the first time. Teo Del Riego won the 50 fly ‘C’ final in 24.64, out-touching second-place finisher Javier Lopez and breaking the junior record Lopez set in prelims (24.75).

Day 2 Event Winners

• Women’s 100 breast – Jessica Vall (CN Sant Andreu) – 1:08.31
• Men’s 100 breast – Alvaro Gomez (CN Madrid Moscardo) – 1:02.90
• Women’s 200 free – Valentine Dumont (CE Mediterrani) – 1:57.91
• Men’s 200 free – Luis Dominguez (EM El Olivar) – 1:47.75
• Women’s 50 fly – Kira Toussaint (NED) – 26.79
• Men’s 50 fly – Alberto Lozano (CN Terrassa) / Mario Molla (CN Terrassa) – 23.72
• Women’s 400 IM – Alba Vazquez (CN Churriana) – 4:41.16
• Men’s 400 IM – Alex Castejon (CN Sabadell) – 4:20.17
• Girls’ 4×100 free relay – CD Gredos San Diego – 3:54.35
• Boys’ 4×100 free relay – Real Canoe N.C. – 3:31.75

Projected Spanish Roster for World Championships

Women

• Carmen Weiler – 100 back
• Ángela Martinez – 800 free
• Alba Vazquez – 400 IM
• Emma Carrasco – 400 IM

Men

• Carlos Garach – 1500 free