2023 SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – BUFFALO
- March 23-26, 2023
- Burt Flickinger Center, Buffalo, New York
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Results on MeetMobile: “2023 Speedo Sectional Championship”
On both sides of the meet, the race of the day came in the 100 back, with two athletes dipping below the Olympic Trials standards.
While he had been faster than the time standard prior to the qualifying period, Joseph Hayburn of Annapolis Swim Club picked up his first Trials cut in the 100 back during prelims. During his prelims swim of the event, the 19-year-old shaved a quarter of a second off of his lifetime best to qualify for Omaha in 55.34. He was just off that time in finals, winning in 55.86.
Hayburn, who is committed to Loyola (Maryland) for the fall, also swam the anchor leg of Annapolis Swim Club’s winning 400 free relay, splitting 51.50. The team finished in a time of 3:33.29.
On the women’s side of the 100 back it was 16-year-old Sylvia Roy who finished under the cut, although she had already qualified for the meet last December. During the prelims of the event, just over a tenth of a second from her entry time, finishing in 1:01.76. She was slightly slower during finals, winning in 1:02.19.
Roy is one of just four sixteen-year-olds to qualify for Olympic Trials in the event so far. She’ll join Leah Shackley, Summer McIntosh, and Erika Pelaez in racing the event in Omaha next year.
Picking up his third title of the weekend, Richard Poplawski won the 200 fly in a close race with NBAC’s Patrick Branon. At the 100-meter mark, Poplawski sat in first by nearly a second before Branon charged over the back half of the race. Poplawski touched in 2:04.80 while Branon was just behind in 2:04.95.
One of the top sprinters in Division III this season, Jake Nielsen claimed gold in the 50 free. Nielsen easily bested his lifetime best from last summer, touching at 23.68.
Just two weeks ago, Nielsen was competing at the Division III NCAA Championships. At that meet, he posted a lifetime best of 20.18 in the short course pool to take 13th in the 50 free.
Completing the sweep of women’s breaststroke events was 16-year old Elle Noecker of Town Wreckers Swim Team. Noecker bested the field by nearly four seconds, touching in 2:37.66.
North Baltimore Aquatic Club continued its dominant showing in the distance events, winning both the men’s and women’s 400 freestyles. Caitlin Hurley won the women’s event in 4:25.03 after claiming the 1500 title on Thursday while the men’s 800 free champion, Patrick Branon, won the men’s 400 free on day three in 4:08.65.
North Baltimore Aquatic Club swept the relays on day three, winning both the 200 medley and 400 free. Grace Black, Ana Hazlehurst, Katy Pacher, and Melissa Nwakalor claimed the 200 medley relay in 1:58.74. Pacher and Nwakalor were then joined by Mabel Koff and Caitlin Hurley to win the 400 free relay in 3:55.57.
Other Event Winners
- After winning the 400 IM on day two of the meet, NBAC’s Ana Hazlehurst picked up a second title in the 200 fly. The 16-year old touched in a lifetime-best 2:20.34 to win by nearly three seconds. The bronze medal went to NBAC’s Anna Boemer (2:23.86) who later claimed gold in the 50 free (26.69).
- The men’s 200 breast went to future Kentucky Wildcat Aaron Gasiewicz. The New York state champion in the 200 IM earlier this month, Gasiewicz touched in 2:23.45 for the gold.
- The quartet of Patrick Ciorna, Shep Kegley, Grant Murphy, and Jack Deppe claimed gold for Annapolis Swim Club in the 200 medley relay, touching in 1:47.83.
Team Scores (Through Day 3)
Combined Scores
- North Baltimore Aquatic Club – 1190.5
- Victor Swim Club – 547
- Annapolis Swim Club – 531.5
- Eagle Swim Team – 443
- Star Swimming – 419
Women’s Scores
- North Baltimore Aquatic CLub – 0821.5
- Star Swimming – 219.5
- Victor Swim Club – 195
- Annapolis Swim Club – 168
- Eagle Swim Team – 157
Men’s Scores
- North Baltimore Aquatic Club – 369
- Annapolis Swim Club – 363.5
- Victor Swim Club – 352
- Eagle Swim Team – 286
- Scarlet Aquatics – 232