Olympians, Veteran Swimmers Make Mark on Night Two of Plantation Sectionals

Photo Courtesy: Azaria Basile

PLANTATION – A handful of Olympians, including American Claire Donahue, made their mark while several of the championship finals were dominated by swimmers in their late twenties during the second night of racing at the Plantation Sectionals meet in Florida. Gator Swim Club’s Andreina Pinto doubled in the 400 IM and 200 free, while Azura Florida Aquatic Club took over the lead in the combined team standings.

After qualifying fifth in 2:06.81 in the women’s 200 free in prelims, Gator Swim Club’s Andreina Pinto turned it up in finals, dropping five seconds to take the win in 2:01.78. South Florida’s Alia Atkinson, the top seed from the morning, claimed second in 2:03.24, while Greater Holyoke’s Erin Voss rounded out the top three in 2:05.25.

Club Seminole claimed the top two spots in the men’s 200 free final, with Daniele Tirabassi leading the way in 1:52.18. Teammate Mateo De Angulo followed closely in 1:52.52, while Julio Galofre, competing unattached, picked up third in 1:53.90.

No one could touch Gator Swim Club’s Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir in the women’s 100 breast final as she cruised to a 1:08.15 in a veteran field that included five swimmers over age 23. Canadian Martha McCabe took second in 1:09.87, ahead of South Florida’s Valentina Artemeva (1:11.70).

Meanwhile, Auburn Aquatics’ Felipe Lima brought home the men’s 100 breast title in 1:01.70, just under a second ahead of Jorge Murillo Valdes’ 1:02.64. Azura Florida’s Marco Guarente rounded out the top three in 1:05.19.

Club Seminole earned its second win of the night in the women’s 50 back as 30-year-old Sviatlana Khakhlova edged Carolina Colorado, 29.35 to 29.50. Seacoast Swimming Association’s Kyra Sarazen clocked a 30.91 to finish third.

Exeter Swim Team’s Kellen Gray posted the fastest time in the men’s 50 back, touching in 27.73 to finish just off his prelim effort of 27.66. Seacoast’s Mathew England held onto his second seed with a 28.11, while Azura Florida’s Fernando Alatorre followed in third at 28.75.

A pair of Olympians topped the championship heat in the women’s 100 fly final, with U.S. Olympian Claire Donahue leading the way in 59.90. South Florida’s Alia Atkinson, a Jamaican Olympian, claimed second in 1:00.61. Carolina Colorado earned another top three finish with a 1:01.99 for third.

The men’s 100 fly final couldn’t have been much closer, as Polish Olympian Pawel Korzieniowski out-touched Belarusian Olympian Pavel Sankovich by the slimmest of margins, 52.77 to 52.78. Albert Subirats, another Olympic swimmer from Venezuela, rounded out the top three in 54.11 in a field loaded with international talent.

Gator Swim Club’s Andreina Pinto won her second event of the night in the women’s 400 IM, touching first in 4:51.25 to edge Greater Holyoke’s Erin Voss (4:51.62). Seacoast’s Emma Whall rounded out the top three in 5:01.89.

Bluefish Swim Club’s Maxwell Miranda swam away with the men’s distance medley title with a 4:29.33, just over a second in front of Gator Swim Club’s Nicholas D’Innocenzo (4:30.42). Blue Dolfins’ John Fulginiti swam a 4:35.87 to place third.

Melissa Marinheiro, Kathleen Golding, Alia Atkinson and Kelley Heron gave South Florida the win in the women’s 800 free relay with their 8:35.30, while Gator Swim Club’s Lindsey Trematerra, Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir, Kahra Williams and Hannah Burns touched second in 8:37.25. Seacoast’s Kyra Sarazen, Isabel Reis, Kate Magill and Emma Whall hit the wall third in 8:44.51.

Azura Florida dominated the men’s relay as Carlos Herrera, Mateo Gonzalez, Fernando Alatorre and Franco Lupoli won by more than 10 seconds in 7:51.61. Blue Dolfins’ Zachary Poti, Noah Hensley, John Fulginiti and Benjamin Whitty touched second in 8:02.03, while Seacoast’s Eric Pauls, Andrew MacDonald, Jameson Rose and Luke Nelson touched third in 8:05.18.

Azura Florida took over the lead in the combined team standings with 446 points, with Seacoast (383 points) and Phoenix Swimming (372 points) in second and third.

2015 Speedo Sectionals – Plantation, Live Results – Results

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use