Rebecca Diaconescu Clinches 200/400 Double & Daria Asaftei Lowers Romanian 50 Breast Record
Rebecca Diaconescu added the 400 title to her 200 free crown while Daria Asaftei lowered the Romanian 50m breaststroke record on day two of the national championships in Otopeni.
Diaconescu was ahead throughout and led Diana Stiger by 3.43secs at halfway before extending her advantage to stop the clock in 4:14.06. Stiger withstood the final length charge of Ioana Stirbu to take second in 4:19.52 to 4:19.68. It was the second individual title for Diaconescu who was the only woman inside 2mins en-route to 200 free gold in 1:59.53.
Andrei Theodor Proca won the men’s 400 free in 3:53.88 to become the sixth all-time performer in Romania headed by Dragos Coman’s record of 3:46.70 that’s stood since the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada. Robert Badea – winner of the 200IM – was second in 3:55.36 with Andrei Iaschiu completing the podium in 3:58.40.
Daria Asaftei lowered the Romanian 50m breaststroke record in 31.67 as she finished a full second ahead of Brigitta Vass who clocked 32.67 with Tamara Lospa third in 32.77. Asaftei added the one-length event to her victory in the 200m breaststroke and she’ll complete the clean sweep should she win the 100 on Saturday.
Daniel Alexandru Nicusan won the men’s equivalent in 27.92 ahead of Patrick Sebastian Dinu (28.04) and Emil Dancanet (28.45).
Vlad Stefan Mihalache led the 200 fly from start to finish to take the title in 2:01.19 with Stefan Cozma pulling away from Robert Nicolae Borcea in the second half of the race to take silver in 2:02.67 to 2:03.99.
Eva Maria Paraschiv came from 0.02 down at the final turn to post a 36.34 final 50 and move past Maia Ioana Cernea for victory in the women’s 200 fly. The 17-year-old clocked 2:17.00 to Cernea’s 2:18.32 with Denisa Maria Mihai third in 2:21.04.
The evening concluded with club relays as Diaconescu returned to anchor a Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua Bucuresti squad to victory in the women’s 4×1 free in 3:52.13.
