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”
The 2023 Speedo Sectional Championships in Buffalo, New York kicked off last night with swimmers taking to the pool for a distance-only session. On the women’s side, athletes competed in the 1500 freestyle while the men contested the 800 free.
North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) led the way in the women’s 1500 with both Caitlin Hurley and Grace Scharper making the podium. Hurley led the way in the event, finishing in 17:30.53. That time is well off of her lifetime best in the event (17:18.97), which earned her 18th at last summer’s Junior National Championships. Scharper finished third in the event, touching in 18:11.66.
Joining the NCAC women on the podium was silver medalist Ginger Strickland. The youngest competitor in the event by two years, the 13-year-old finished in a lifetime best 17:36.20.
The men’s 800 free came down to the wire, with Patrick Branon of NBAC and Justin Nowicki finishing less than a tenth of a second apart.
The pair went back and forth throughout the race, trading the lead nearly every 100 meters. The race ultimately came down to the final 50, with Branon splitting 28.92 to Nowicki’s 32.48. Branon finished in 8:24.27 while Nowicki took the silver in 8:24.34.
Branon’s finish also marks a best time in the event by over five seconds. Entering last night, the fastest he had ever been was i:31.78 at a small meet hosted by NBAC last summer.