2016 OH Speedo Sectionals at Columbus
- Columbus, Ohio
- McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
- July 20th – July 23rd
- Meet Information
- Results: Meet Mobile
The Speedo Sectionals in Columbus got underway on Wednesday, with four different events taking place. Day 1 saw the 200 back, 50 free, 200 breast and the women’s 800 free relay contested.
The Ohio State Swim Club (OSSC) dominated the first day, leading the points race on both the men’s and women’s sides with plenty of top finishes. It began in the women’s 200 back, where Kaitlyn Ferrara (2:14.27) and Mikayla Murphy (2:16.31) finished 1-2 for OSSC to get them off to the early lead.
The 200 back saw Austin Quinn (unattached) post a time of 2:01.86 to take the win, just missing his personal best of 2:01.42. Robert Zofchak of Club Wolverine was the runner-up in 2:02.84, over a second faster than he was at Olympic Trials less than a month ago.
OSSC dominated both the men’s and women’s 50 free’s, with Macie McNichols (26.25) and Joshua Fleagle (23.33) both picking up wins. Erin Sheehan of the Upper Arlington Swim Club took second for the women, while Ohio State went 1-2-3-4 for the men, with Matt McHugh, Nicholas Brodie and Clark Jackman rounding out the top four.
Fleagle is coming off a great showing at the Olympic Trials where he qualified for the semi-finals of the 100 freestyle posting a best time of 49.58, and also recorded a best time in the 200 free (1:50.34).
Taylor Vargo took the women’s 200 breast in 2:29.52 over Madeleine Vonderhaar (2:29.77) of the Northern KY Clippers. Vargo is coming off a 12th place finish at the Olympic Trials in this event, posting a best time of 2:27.99.
In the men’s event Devon Nowicki of the Aqua Swim Club won in a personal best of 2:18.00 over Ross Palazzo of Hudson Explorer Aquatic who was 2:18.14 for 2nd.
Ohio State won the women’s 800 free relay to cap the night, touching in 8:22.75 over the Northern KY Clippers (8:25.46) and Club Wolverine (8:26.66).
After day 1 Club Wolverine trails OSSC on the men’s side by nearly 200 points, down 333-148. The Northern KY Clippers are 2nd to OSSC on the women’s side, down 417-326.
The meet continues Thursday with the 200 medley relay, 200 free, 100 fly, 400 IM, and 400 free relays.