Day 2 of the 2015 Orlando Long Course Sectional Championships on Friday, hosted by the Central Florida YMCA, saw a pair of wins go to NCAA Champion and Florida Gator Caeleb Dressel, albeit neither in a sprint freestyle event.
Dressel opened up the finals session with a win in the first medal event: the individual 200 meter freestyle. There he swam a 1:49.42, which is the 3rd-fastest time of his career and his best time since 2013.
What’s interesting is that despite the University of Florida’s reputation for high volume work, Dressel’s splitting in this 200 free basically hasn’t changed through a year of training with Troy. At the 2013 World Junior Championships, he swam 1:49.29, splitting 52.8/56.4. On Saturday, he split 52.9/56.5. The spread is very much the same as we’re used to seeing form him, with the difference being that this probably isn’t Dressel’s peak meet for the summer – that will likely be U.S. Nationals in a month.
His teammate, New Zealander Corey Main, took 2nd in 1:49.58.
Dressel put up an even more impressive swim in the 100 fly later in the session with a 52.96 in the 100 meter fly that is a new lifetime best. His previous best was again from the 2013 season (his 2014 summer was very light), and while he was a very good short course butterflier in high school, this swim demonstrates how far he’s come in his long course versatility.
This time it was Florida State’s David Knight who took 2nd in 53.02, which is his lifetime best as well. Belarusian Pavel Sankovich placed 3rd in 53.42.
On the women’s side, Dressel’s Gator counterpart Natalie Hinds swam close to a personal best in the 100 meter fly, which she won in 1:00.16. That paced her just ahead of 16-year old Claire Maiocco (1:00.39).
The time from Hinds is the second-fastest that she’s ever been, with her personal mark of 59.85 coming at last year’s U.S. National Championship meet.
Maiocco’s swim, meanwhile, makes her the third-fastest 15-16 in the country so far in 2015, behind only Cassidy Bayer and Lauren Case. This is a true breakthrough for her, as she came into the meet seeded with a 1:02.65.
Also in the women’s results, Elizabeth Beisel swam to a 4:46.17 in the women’s 400 IM. That time doesn’t compare favorably with what she did exactly one year ago at this same meet (4:35) and could be a reflection of the lingering injury problems she’s faced this year.
Sebastian Rousseau won the men’s 400 IM in 4:19.89, beating out Gator Swim Club/University of Florida teammates Mark Szaranek (4:21.45) and Dan Wallace (4:27.06).
Full meet results available on Meet Mobile, and here on the web.
http://www.sportstiming.com/2015-southern-zone-south-sectionals-psych-sheet-live-results/
Dan Wallace that is…Billabong
He was the only swimmer in the final to wear just a brief…4:27 in a practice suit is crazy fast. Suited up for the relay with the GSC boys
I am also a Big Dressel fan ; i defenetly hope he will put on a great 50 and 100 free soon .
Speaking of men’s 200 free, I can mention a new French NAG record. Romain Aune broke a first time the record for 15-year-old boys in 1.55.02 last April at French nationals. And he did it again last Saturday in 1.54.43. That record was held by Yannick Agnel in 1.55.82 since July 2007.
I add another NAG record from last European games in Baku with 16-year-old Pauline Mahieu swimming 1.01.34 in the 100 back and breaking the record for 16 and 17-year-old girls held by Laure Manaudou in 1.00.88 and 1.01.68.
I believe I was right about the publicity of some swimmers on swimswam. 😆
Michael Andrew makes again the headlines. 😆
Dan Wallace must be pretty beat up. A swimmer of his class should be able to dip below 4:20 in season without breaking a sweat. Let the taper begin “Big Man”.
He did split a 1:48.5 at the end of Gator’s 800 free relay.
I must start to worry about Beisel’s presence at worlds?
Unfortunately no miracle with all these injuries.
Hopefully she can quickly train healthy for the most important year, 2016.