The final night of Plantation (FL) Speedo Sectionals saw a pair of tight 100 freestyle fields wow the crowd early on.
The men’s event went to Club Wolverine’s Miguel Ortiz, winner of last night’s 50 freestyle. The former Michigan collegiate swimmer went 50.72, winning by just under half a second. Behind Ortiz, though, things tightened up considerably: Brazil’s Thiago Sickert was second in 51.12, just a tenth back of him was Croatian Olympian Mario Todorovich in 51.26, and nipping at his heels was 14-year-old Michael Andrew. Andrew went 51.30, setting his third National Age Group record of the weekend. That time got him in just ahead of Plantation Sectional backstroke winner Junya Koga (51.49) and Azura Florida’s Josh Romany was sixth.
The women’s event wasn’t short of recognizable names, either. Spanish Olympian Patricia Castro Ortega headed the field, going 56.44. Behind her was German national record-holder Theresa Michalak, who went 56.83. There was a slight dropoff from there, but the next three times were strong under-18 competitors: future Michigan Wolverine Clara Smiddy was 57.34 representing AquaKids Sharks, 13-year-old Rebecca Smith of Red Deer Swim Club was 58.22 and 15-year-old Marta Ciesla went 58.28 for Pine Crest.
Smiddy won the 200 backstroke later on, going 2:14.71, easily topping Mexican national Fernanda Gonzalez Ramirez’s 2:17.89.
The women’s 200 breast went to Canadian Martha McCabe in 2:30.69. Another Michigan signee, Emily Kopas, was second with a 2:35.70.
New York Athletic Club’s Arkady Vyatchanin took the men’s 200 back, going 2:01.73 while picking up steam through the back half in a huge way. Vyatchanin was 1:00.00 going out and came home in 1:01.73, dropping a 30.44 on the homestretch 50.
The first event of the evening was the women’s 200 fly, and it was a great race between young competitors. 16-year-odl Kahra Williams of Gator Swim Club found her groove over the last 50, overcoming Swim Fort Lauderdale’s 17-year-old Josefina Lorda Taylor to take the event. Williams was 2:19.22, Taylor 2:19.71.
In the men’s race, Zach Chetrat of Toronto Swim Club went 2:02.50, holding off Florida Gator freshman Luke Torres. Torres was 2:03.37 for second.
Anton Lobanov won the men’s 200 breaststroke easily in 2:17.66. Another blowout win went to Club Wolverine’s Emily Brunemann in the women’s 800 – she put up an 8:57.23 to pace things easily.
The men’s 1500 was much closer. Brunemann’s CW teammate Michael Klueh took home the win, but he was pushed by 17-year-old Marcelo Acosta who went a lifetime-best to get within about three seconds of Klueh. Klueh went 15:32.62 to Acosta’s 15:35.73.
Pine Crest won the women’s 400 free relay – Ciesla was a fast 59.63 swimming second, the only swimmer in the field under a minute. Pine Crest was 4:02.23 to top the Blue Dolphins. The men’s relay went to Azura Florida in 3:34.73; their “B” relay came in second at 3:40.50.
Full results are available on the Meet Mobile app under “2014 Speedo Champions Series – SZSS.”