The 2015 Spanish Open Water Nationals continued yesterday, with competitors taking to Lake Banyoles just outside of Barcelona to contest the men’s and women’s 5k race.
Antonio Arroyo was the winner of the men’s 5k race yesterday, clocking a time of 56:37.50. He was just about four seconds faster than 2nd place finisher Adrian Gonzalez, the runner-up who registered a time of 56:41.75. 3rd place was earned by Hector Ruiz, touching the pad in a time of 56:42.05. Ruiz had already qualified for Kazan after having won the 10k race on Saturday, therefore, according to nataccion.com it will be Arroyo and Ruiz to represent the Spanish men in open water at Worlds.
The women saw quite a race to the timing pad between Erika Villaecija and Mireia Belmonte. Each charged to the finish line but it was Villaecija who ultimately out-touch Belmonte, 59:10.85 to 59:10.87. Maria Vilas, the women’s 10k winner from Saturday, claimed the 3rd spot in a final time of 59:13.25.
For Belmonte, after finishing 5th in the 10k race the previous day, this was a very positive outing for the two-time Olympic silver medalist. With having undergone stem cell therapy recently for shoulder bursitis, Belmonte’s ability to stand on the podium in a distance event has got to be a good sign for her and coach Fred Vergnoux as Belmonte finishes these final stages of preparation prior to Kazan.
Based on Spain’s selection process, nataccion.com also predicts that the Spanish Open Water women competitors will be as follows: Vilas, Villaecija, Belmonte and Margarita Dominguez (who earned 5th in the 25k of the 2014 European Championships).