Patri Castro Ortega, the 22-year-old Queens freshman from Spain, has broken yet another NCAA Division II record. After winning the 200 IM in record time on Wednesday, she then downed the 200 free record on Thursday, the 500 free record on Friday, and now the 100 free record on Saturday.
Known primarily as a 200 freestyler in her native Spain, having been selected to their 2012 Olympic team for the 4 x 200 free relay, Castro Ortega showed she’s got great speed on Saturday when she dipped under Ana Azambuja’s 2014 NCAA D2 record of 48.94, by 2/100 in finals.
- Patri Castro Ortega, Queens, 2015: 23.89 / 25.03 = 48.92
- Ana Azambuja, Wayne State, 2014: 23.46 / 25.48 = 48.94
Castro Ortega got a great push from Drury’s Janet Yu and Wen Xu, who took second and fourth with 49.29 and 49.45, respectively, and Bryndis Hansen of Nova Southeastern, who went 49.37 for third. But the Spaniard had by far the strongest second half, proving as she has, over and over again during this meet, that no one else closes like she does.