There was only a few Olympic finals on Saturday, the second-to-last day of competition, but among them were a pair of near-records in the men’s and women’s 100 frees, respectively.
First came Lili Ibanez, trained in the US at Texas A&M, with her second win in as many days. She swam a 55.80, that was just .06 off of her own National Record set at last year’s Pan American Games. Just like we saw in Friday’s 200 free, she is already back on top of her best timesjust 6-month or so off fracturing three vertebrae in her back, and in this race should add a second Olympic event.
She’ll be shooting to crack the 26-second barrier for the first time in her career in her final race on Sunday. Meanwhile, if she keeps training (and stays healthy) through the 2016 Olympics, she could be a serious threat for the Mexicans – which is something the current team lacks.
On the men’s side, Alejandro Escudero broke a Meet Record, and very nearly took down a National Record, with a 51.04 in the men’s race. The 21-year old out of Vera Cruz has good size at 6’3, and this is the best time of his career.
In the only other Olympic final of the day, Patty Castaneda won the women’s 800 free in 8:52.16.
Maria Fernandez, the country’s best backstroker, had her best swim of the race in winning the 50 backstroke with a 29.06. As compared to her 200 backstroke, this was a big step-up in her speed, and should make for a good result in her 100 back on Sunday.
Escudero broke the national record in the morning, with a time of 50.66
Is that picture of Liliana Ibanez?
No, that’s Fernanda Gonzalez.