Lionel Messi misses the game against El Salvador

With the participation of 150 athletes, the Salvadoran Swimming Federation held the First Time Taking 2024 on Saturday at the El Polvorín Sports Complex, an activity that gave athletes the opportunity to set records for the different international competitions.

The timing began with the women’s 1,500 meter freestyle event, category 13 years and older, in which the duel of the sisters Dayana and Alexandra Meléndez was enjoyed.

First place went to Dayana, an athlete from the INDES Effort and Glory Program, with a time of 18:48.62 minutes, while her sister stopped the clock at 18:49.48. Third position went to Zara Esnard with 19:49.40.

In men, Xavier Ventura, also an E&G athlete, gave a new demonstration of his resistance and technique by winning the 1,500 meters with a time of 17:04.73 minutes. Second place went to Fernando Roque with a time of 18:25.61 minutes and Juan Pablo Navas was third by closing the test with 19:48.24.

“The goal for this competition is to do my best and be one step closer to being able to do the time I need to go to the Olympic Games, in the 200 butterfly I need 2:02 minutes and in the 400 freestyle 4:04 minutes. It has been hard training and one needs to push oneself a lot to fulfill the dream that I have had since I was little. “I feel closer and closer,” said the 17-year-old swimmer.

Ventura also swam the 200 meter butterfly, 50, 400 and 800 meter freestyle and it was a good check for his next competitions outside the country in which he will try to establish the A mark for qualification for the Olympic Games.

In the 50 meter butterfly, 10 years and older female category, Elena Amos Funes secured first place with a time of 29.24 seconds; while in men, first place went to José Luis Javato, with 27.64.

In other results, Fillipo Pilenga won the 100 meter freestyle event, category 10 years and older, with a time of 56.02 seconds and in the 400 meters combined, 13 years and older, Ariana Valle, from the Effort and Glory Program, dominated with a time of 5:28.69 minutes.

Luis Araujo, manager of the Salvadoran Swimming Federation, confirmed that the Time Taking event was also valid to establish marks for some international competitions such as the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN 2024).

“The objective of this competition is to give swimmers a primer and serves to establish brands in international events,” said Araujo.

Josué Rodrigo Ángel, parathlete from the Effort and Glory Program, Christopher Romeo and Alexis Rodríguez, from the Paralympic Committee of El Salvador (COPESA), also swam in the First Time Taking 2024; José Antonio Roque and William Martínez from the Paraswimming Association; Edgar Pérez, Jeremy Álvarez, Samuel Henríquez, among others, from the athletes of Special Olympics El Salvador.

In Ángel’s case, he swam the 50-meter butterfly and recorded a time of 38.76 seconds in the test. He also swam the 200 meter individual medley and 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

“The goal is to lower the personal best in the four events and get closer to the direct access time for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It is an every day effort,” said Josué Ángel.

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