Belen senior Aitor Fungairino wins two state swimming titles, misses record by .20 seconds

The eyes of Texas were upon Aitor Fungairino and so were everyone else’s at the Class 3A state swimming and diving finals Saturday.

Fungairino, who signed with three-time defending national champions Texas this week, won two individual state championships and helped his Belen Jesuit 200-freestyle relay to a third-place medal at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Center.

The Venezuelan native won the boys’ 200-free, just missing the state record by 0.20 seconds, though he still captured automatic All-American status with an electric 1:34.89 dart through the pool.

“I was going for [the record]. I really wanted to get it. The time was insane, but it was so close yet so far away,” said Fungairino, who did reach his main goal this week.

“Since I came here, I wanted to go with Texas. It’s been my goal since I got here from Venezuela, and it happened,” Fungairino said.

He came back in the 500-free and easily clinched a second automatic All-American status time when he finished first with a 4:25.73 — and he only needed a 4:29.04 for his fourth career All-American swim.

“I would have liked to go faster, but we have to work on it. It’s fast, but not what I wanted for myself. I don’t care how hard it can be, I put in my goals and look further than what I can do, and then get surprised by it,” Fungairino said.

Earlier in the day, he reached All-American consideration in both the 200-free prelims with a 1:39 and the 500-free prelims, cruising to the finish wall at 4:29.45.

He topped off his big state finals performance handling the anchor leg of Belen Jesuit’s third-place 200-free relay that finished at 1:26.75. Also on the squad were Andres Wong, Hugo Marin and Hector Paz.

The Doral boys opened the night finishing third in the 200-medley relay with Nestor Montero, Santiago Gomez, Adrian Aguilar and Aaron Rodriguez in the lineup. They stopped the clock at 1:36.76.

“It’s a young relay, mostly sophomores, so we are anticipating next year to be even better for us because we will have a little more depth and a little more muscle,” Doral coach Kathy Silveira said.

Aguilar came back with a state runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly, freezing the timer at 50.10 — and only an automatic All-American time by Tallahassee Chiles’ Ryland Sun beat him at 48.55.

“That wasn’t the time I was going for, but I will take it,” said Aguilar, who won his eighth state finals medal.

Doral finished second in the boys’ 200-free relay with a 1:26.74 and saved their best for last, winning the 400-free relay with a 3:08.83 — an All-American consideration time. In prelims, they were faster at 3:08.61.

Doral senior Stephanie Hernandez finished seventh in the girls’ 200 free with a 1:53.19 and finished prelims a smidge better at 1:53.16. She also led off the Doral 200-free relay, which garnered eighth-place medals after a 1:43.11 effort. Also on the squad were Stephanie Sequera, Sabrina Perna and Madeleine Peraza.

Fort Lauderdale sophomore Kevin De Grijze captured a third-place medal in the boys’ 200 IM at 1:52.45, and it took two All-American times from Seminole Osceola’s Ricardo Martinez and St. Johns Bartram Trails’ Jack VanDeusen to beat him. Pembroke Pines Charter’s Ricardo Roche finished seventh with a sharp 1:54.16. He also finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke at 59.10.

Also from Fort Lauderdale, Racine Ross won a bronze medal in the girls’ 100 fly, finishing at 56.73.

Pembroke Pines Charter senior Kelley Heron finished sixth in the girls’ 200 IM at 2:08.17. She was even faster in prelims, qualifying for finals with a 2:07.21.

Pembroke senior Andres Lares hit an All-American consideration time in the 500 free with a 4:31.18, good for third place. Lares, Roche, Sebastian Sevilla and Rafael Rodriguez tied for fifth in the 400-free relay at 3:14.16.

Belen Jesuit senior Javier Saumell finished ninth in boys’ diving with 352.50 points.

Tallahassee Chiles won the boys’ state championship for the second-straight year with 320 points, and St. Johns Creekside took the girls’ state title trophy with 237.

This story was originally published November 11, 2017 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Belen senior Aitor Fungairino wins two state swimming titles, misses record by .20 seconds."