Olympians Dominate Top of Podium at Speedo Southern Sectionals on Day 2

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Editorial coverage sponsored by SpeedoUSA

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, March 15. THE epic 200 long course freeestyle battle between teammates Ryan Lochte and Conor Dwyer never materialized at the Speedo Southern Zone Sectionals today at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, but Joseph Schooling gave fans something to cheer about in the 100 butterfly.

The session started with a Bolles School Sharks win by Jessica Hodgson in the women's 200 free with a 2:02.94, just ahead of Paige Schultz's 2:03.10.Cecil Williams was in the mix for the event title, but fell off the pace in the final 50 meters, settling for third with a 2:03.78.

Blake Worsley, an Olympian for Canada in the 200 freestyle now training in Florida, held off every charge Lochte made in the men's 200 free final, getting the win in 1:51.54 to Lochte's 1:51.82. For Worsley, it's a best time for 2013, beating his 1:52.44 from the Arena Grand Prix stop in Orlando last month. Lochte has been faster this season, with a couple of 1:50 swims to his credit from the Grand Prix meets. Third place went to Julio Galofre with a 1:52.49. Bolles' Ryan Murphy was also in the mix, placing fourth with a 1:52.83.

Dwyer was scheduled to race the 200 free, but was disqualified in prelims for an unspecified reason, then hopped on a plane to Chicago to host a St. Patrick's Day party, according to Twitter posts during and after the prelims session.

Alia Atkinson, the fourth-place finisher in the Olympic final of the 100 breast, won that event today with a 1:08.64 representing South Florida Aquatics. The Jamaican has been faster this season with a 1:08.51 win at the Arena Grand Prix in Orlando. Two other Olympians were also in the top three: Sweden's Rebecca Ejdervik, representing Hurricane, was second with a 1:09.95, and Canadian Martha McCabe was third with a 1:10.03.

Felipe Lima of Davie Nadadores, a serious challenger at world championships this summer if he can get past qualifying for the Brazilian team, won the men's 100 breast with a 1:02.05. At last month's Arena Grand Prix in Orlando, he barely won the race with a 1:00.86. Jorge Murillo presented a slight challenge today, placing second with a 1:02.50. Canadian Warren Barnes was third with a 1:03.52.

Davie Nadadores won again with Carol Colorado winning the women's 100 butterfly with a 1:01.41. That time put her well ahead of second-place finisher Isabel Reis' 1:03.27 and Catalina Mendieta's third-place 1:03.43.

Bolles' Joseph Schooling, the current national high school record holder in the 100 butterfly, won the long course version today over Lochte, 54.71 to 55.20. Santo Condorelli nearly made it a Bolles' 1-2 finish, placing third with a 55.22. A fingernail touch once again kept Murphy off the podium, as he finished fourth in 55.23.

Vien Nguyen of Saint Augustine won the women's 400 IM handily with a 4:50.91, with Vanessa Treasure second with a 4:53.32 and Lauren Neidigh third with a 4:55.24.

Connor Green of Bluefish Swim Club won the 400 IM in 4:27.20, with NCAA Division II competitor Marko Blazevski placing second in 4:28.91. Brian Poon of Phoenix Swimming finished third with a 4:31.16.

Bluefish Swim Club and South Florida Aquatics waged an eight-and-a-half-minute battle in the women's 800 free relay, with Bluefish getting to the wall by a fingernail with an 8:35.63 to South Florida's 8:35.65. Area Tallahassee finished third with an 8:40.65.

The session concluded with a dominant Davie Nadadores win in the men's 800 free relay in a time of 7:44.47, followed by the Davie B team in 7:56.85 and Bluefish Swim Club with an 8:02.16.

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