USA Swimming is divided up into four sectional across the United States. From July 16-20th, Mt. Hood Aquatics Center in Greshman, Oregon was the host to one of the several Western Sectional sites.
We’re almost a month from World Championship Trials, and two weeks until the US Open and Junior Nationals, so Sectionals provides a good opportunity for those to qualify and/or train and race heading into the final preparations of the season.
Here are some noteworthy highlights for the meet by day.
Here is a link to the live results from the meet: http://results.teamunify.com/dcd/
Day 1 – W & M 800M FR
In the women’s 800m freestyle, Amanda Richey cut off seven seconds to finish at 8:50.38 to win the event and earn the US Open cut. Haley Rowley finished second to Amanda, and dropped 16-seconds to earn her Junior National time standard.
Antonio Ramirez from Arizona Gold Swimming dropped 27-seconds to earn his Junior National cut. What is even more impressive was that Ramirez was not in the top eight “final” heat, but with his great swim he finished first by .22 of second in 8:26.88.
Day 2 – W & M 100M FR, 200M BR, 200M BK, 200M FL
16-year old Victoria Toris topped in the women’s 100m freestyle with a new US Open cut of 56.30. Nicholas Magana followed her lead, dropping two seconds from his best to also earn the US Open time in 51.15.
The swim of this night had to go to Naoya Tomita from University of New Mexico, who broke Scott Usher’s 2006 Meet Record with a time of 2:13.72. Tomita is a Japanese swimmer, who in 2010 was the Asian Games & Short Course Worlds Champion in the 200m Breaststroke. Continue to look for him to replace Kouske Kitajima in the breaststroke events for Japan.
DU Hilltoppers Missouri commit Griffin Carter, finished first to win the men’s 200 backstroke with 2:00.42 and the US Open cut.
17-year old Tennessee commit Michelle Cefal from Tulatin Hills won the 200m butterfly for the women at 2:12.95. Cefal placed 12th at World Championship Trials last month in this event.
Minnesota swimmer Jason Hartbarger swimming under Aces Swim Club earned the US Open cut to win the men’s 200m butterfly.
Day 3 – W & M 200M FR & 400M IM
Joshua Ginsborg, Yale Bulldog out of Fort Collins, dropped over three seconds to win and earn the US Open cut in the men’s 200m freestyle, 1:51.11.
Brigette McNally, Denver Pioneer swimmer, and Mark Jurek, just 15-years old, both had impressive swims in the 400m IM. McNally from DU Hilltoppers entered the meet with 5:16.03, dropped her time to 4:53.72 after prelims, and came away with the win in finals with 4:51.49, easily a new US Open cut. Jurek followed suit and dropped 15-seconds to top the podium in 4:27.71 and a new US Open time.
Jared Markham from the Aces Swim Club finished second, also dipping under 4:30 for the first time that night, 4:27.71.
Day 4 – W & M 100M BK, 400M FR, 100M BR, 100M FL
Swimming has no age limit with 34-year old Noriko Inada from Phoenix Swim Club winning the women’s backstroke in 1:02.16. Inada has competed in the 1992, 2000 & 2004 Olympic Games.
Joshua Ginsborg took away another title with a win the 400m freestyle. He knocked off twelve seconds from his time to finish as the lone male under the 4:00 mark – 3:59.21, US Open cut.
Just like his performance in the 200 breaststroke, Naoya Tomita ran away with the 100 and broke Scott Usher’s 2006 meet record with a new time of 1:01.81, just off Tomita’s best of 1:01.27.
Completing the butterfly sweep, Michelle Cefal was right at the minute barrier finishing at 1:00.03.
RELAYS –
Scottsdale Aquatic Club set a new NAG record in the 15-18 Boys, 15-16 Girls, 15-18 Girls 200m FR-R, and 15-16 400m Medley Relay.
See related posts here:
http://swimswam.com/scottsdale-aquatic-club-breaks-three-national-age-group-records-on-thursday/
http://swimswam.com/scottsdale-aquatic-club-girls-break-another-nag-record/