2018 Argentina National Championships & South American Games Qualifier
- April 25th-28th, 2018
- CENARD, Argentina
- Live Results
3 new swimmers stamped their invites for the 2018 South American Championships on day 2 of the Argentina National Championships.
Veteran Virginia Bardach Martin won the women’s 400 IM, which put her in position to defend her 2016 South American double in the 200 and 400 IM. Her sister Georgina is the National Record holder in the event.
21-year old Agustin Hernandez won the men’s 100 back in 55.85, topping a young finals field that saw him as the oldest of the top 7 finishers. Federico Grabich, who would have been his primary rival in the final, scratched out of an evening swim after a 55.88 in prelims.
The session’s other qualifier came in the women’s 800 free. There, 33-year old Cecilia Biagioli, a 4-time Olympian who later in her career has focused more heavily on open water, secured another swim at the South American Championships – a meet that she’s been competing at since winning a 400-800 double back in 2002. She swam an 8:46.74, and in spite of the qualification, she actually lost the race by 11 seconds – to Chilean visitor Kristel Kobrich (also 33-years old and a long-time Biagioli rival), who won in 8:35.72.
Day 2 Argentina Qualifiers for the South American Championships:
- Robert Strelkov, 50 fly, 23.82 (NR)
- Macarena Ceballos, 50 breast, 31.94
- Gabriel Morelli, 100 breast, 1:01.84
- Federico Grabich, 200 free, 1:47.56
- Cecilia Biagioli, 800 free, 8:46.74
- Agustin Hernandez, 100 back, 55.85
- Virginia Bardach Martin, 400 IM, 4:47.43
Why is Delfi Pignatiello not in this competition? Any word on her situation or plans?
Kobrich is not a visitor, she trains in Argentina since 2003. Actually, Biagioli and her were teammates until 2009.
I think term visitor is in terms of her country of origin and not training base but a good point nonetheless