USA Swimming Sectionals, Gainesville: Elizabeth Beisel Beats Dagny Knutson in 200 Fly to Close Strong Meet

By David Rieder

GAINESVILLE, Florida, July 10. THE USA Swimming Sectionals meet came to a close in Gainesville with one more evening of fast long course meters racing. Several University of Florida-trained athletes sharpened up for the upcoming World Championships with fast swims tonight.

Elizabeth Beisel wrapped up a successful meet with a win in the women's 200 fly. Beisel overtook training partner Dagny Knutson on the final lap to win in 2:12.65, ahead of Knutson's 2:12.97. Fast Lane's Kaitlyn Whalen took third in 2:16.87. Beisel also clocked a 2:11.52 in the prelims of the women's 200 back, followed by British swimmers Gemma Spofforth (2:12.48) and Stephanie Proud (2:12.99). However, all three scratched the final, which Ft. Lauderdale's Lauren Driscoll won in 2:19.12, touching out Sarasota's Ashlee Linn, who clocked 2:19.30. T2's Katharine Anton ended up third in 2:19.89.

Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte blazed the prelims of the men's 100 free, clocking a strong time of 49.67 before withdrawing from the final, awaiting his departure for the World Championships tomorrow. Fernando Ernesto Santos won the final in 50.99, followed by Aaron Dsouza, who touched out Patriot's Bradley Deborde, 52.46 to 52.64. Bolles' Ryan Murphy took down Daytona Beach's Rex Tullius in the men's 200 back, 2:02.65 to 2:02.84, while Santos grabbed third in 2:04.71.

T2's Erika Erndl grabbed first in the women's 100 free, posting a time of 56.10, follwed by Gator teammates Ellese Zalewski and Jamie Bohunicky, who clocked respective times of 56.17 and 57.15. Lysistrati Halkides grabbed the 200 breast win 3in 2:33.68, narrowly beating Club Seminole's Kristine Polley to the wall. Polley touched in 2:33.71, while Karie Haglund took third in 2:35.05.

Swim Florida's Robert Kennedy earned the win in the men's 200 breast in 2:21.06, followed closely by John Robert Lehtonen, who took second in 2:21.48. South Florida's Leopoldo Andara finished third in 2:24.53. Area Tallahassee's Hunter Hinson grabbed the men's 200 fly in 2:04.01. Dsouza clocked 2:04.75 for second, while Hinson's teammate Scott Fortier finished third in 2:04.98.

The meet concluded with the women's and men's 400 free relays. T2's Erndl, Anne-Marie Botek, Avery Mohring, and Marina Falcone grabbed the win in the women's race in 3:52.45, while Club Seminole's Mark Weber, Zachary Bailey, Alejandro Fernandez, and David Sanders clocked 3:32.76 for the men's win.

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