USA Swimming Sectionals, Buffalo: Curl Burke Claims Men’s, Women’s Titles

BUFFALO, New York, August 5. CURL Burke Swim Club wrapped up a successful meet by claiming both the men's and women's team titles on the final night of the Speedo Champions Series Super Sectional in Buffalo.

Curl Burke recorded 438 points to top SoNoCo (237 points) and Long Island Aquatic Club (231.5 points) in the women's meet, while the men's 522 points easily out-distanced Machine Aquatics (352 points) and Ridgefield Aquatic Club (238 points).

Western Kentucky's Alexandra Duff closed out her meet with a third victory in the women's 200m back. Duff, who earlier won the 100m back and 200m IM, touched in 2:15.05 to out-distance Curl Burke's Emily Meilus (2:17.83) and Towson's Melanie Rowland (2:18.69). In the men's race, Princeton Piranha's Will Strange made up nearly a second on the final 50m to touch out Curl Burke's Charles Putnam, 2:06.23 to 2:06.54. Germantown's Alex Lebed finished third in 2:07.01.

Dina Rommel gave Town of Tonawanda its first win of the meet, as she hit the wall first in the women's 50m free in 26.54. Top qualifier Abigail Speers of Machine Aquatics came in second in 26.73, with Town of Tonawanda's Lindsey Sagasta in third at 26.83. Ridgefield Aquatics' James Martin earned a commanding win in the men's finale, touching in 23.33 to defeat Penn Charter Aquatic Club's Jamal Willis (23.79). Hugh Anderson of Machine Aquatics swam a 23.81 for third.

Schenectady's Amy Bopp won her first event of the meet, posting a 2:37.18 to top the field of the women's 200m breast. Team Pittsburgh's Veronica Lee recorded a 2:38.08 to take second, while Condors Swim Club's Taylor Lawson, the top qualifier, slipped to third in 2:39.07. In his fifth final of the meet, Ridgefield's Brian Bollerman finally got a win, stopping the clock in 2:20.55 to win the men's 200m breast. Hershey Aquatic Club's Shota Nakano got to the wall second in 2:21.74, while Gunther Cassell of Long Island Express rounded out the top three in 2:22.05.

Two distance freestyle events closed out the individual event portion of the meet. The women's 800m free title went to 14-year-old Sierra Schmidt of Germantown in 8:50.70, more than four seconds ahead of Towson's Kaitlin Burke (8:54.99). Curl Burke's Megan Byrnes, just 13, came in third at 8:57.78. Meanwhile, Pack Swim Team's Patrick Ransford dominated the men's 1500m free, stopping the clock in 16:00.75. Christoph Grimmett-Norris of Curl Burke touched 13 seconds behind in 16:13.77, with Robert Dickson of Shockwaves Aquatics in third (16:14.31).

Curl Burke closed out their successful meet with a win in the women's 400m medley relay. Hellen Moffitt, Audrey Gould, Cassidy Bayer and Sofia Revilak won by over four seconds in 4:20.72. Machine Aquatics' foursome of Michael Hallock, Brandon Fiala, Douglas Natal and Daniel Camozzo brought home the men's title in 3:55.06.

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