Some of Venezuela’s biggest names in swimming gathered at the Gregorio Tavio del Parque Naciones Unidas for their nation’s open national swimming championships this past weekend. Several swimmers brought home multiple wins in this meet some considered as a stepping stone on their promising journey to FINA Worlds in Kazan and the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Racing veteran, Albert Subirats, sprinted his way to individual wins in the 50m butterfly (24.22), 100m backstroke (56.00) and 50m backstroke (26.03). Subirats was successfully able to clear the Pan Am “A” cut standard of 56.09 in the 100m backstroke, but was unable to capture any Kazan A-qualifying times in his performances this weekend.
Distance freestyler Andy Arteta also collected multiple wins in the form of an 800m freestyle victory paired with a 400m freestyle top-of-the-podium finish, racking up times of 8:10.28 and 3:56.60, respectively. Arteta’s 400m freestyle time was just inside the Pan Am A cut of 3:57.29. The 20-year-old also took home a win in the 400m IM event, clocking a 4:37.40 for the gold medal. In one more solid effort, Arteta also anchored Club Parque Naciones Unidas’ winning 4 x 200 freestyle relay, which touched the wall first in 7:47.51.
Club Hogar Hispano Carabobo’s Daniele Tirabassi exerted dominance across more than one sprint event, as he blasted wins the 200m freestyle (1:51.76) and 100m freestyle (50.61) events, while also leading off his club’s winning 400 free relay, which finished in a time of 3:28.22. Marco Guarente made his mark as well, sweeping all of the breaststroke events as follows: 50m (29.88), 100m (1:04.63) and 200m (2:19.55).
The women’s side also saw key athletes step up for multiple wins throughout the meet as well. 26-year-old Mercedes Toledo from Club Parque Naciones Unidas scored victories in the 50m breaststorke (33.00), 200m IM (2:26.06) and 100m breaststroke (1:11.63) events. Toledo was also effective as the second leg of her club’s gold medal-winning 400 medley relay, which clocked a total time of 4:29.12 for the victory.
Former Gator Swim Club swimmer, Andreina Pinto, also fared well at the meet, winning the 100m freestyle in a time of 57.07 and the 400m IM in a time of 5:02.81. Jeserick Pinto, also threw down some swift swims, winning the 50m butterfly in 27.23, the 50m freestyle in 26.59, as well as the 100m backstroke in 1:04.71.
Updated 04/14/15