USA Swimming Sectionals, Gainesville: Ryan Lochte, Elizabeth Beisel Win 200 Free on Second Night

By David Rieder

GAINESVILLE, Florida, July 8. THE second night of long course competition at the USA Swimming Sectionals in Gainesville featured a pair of impressive 200 free races from American Olympians Elizabeth Beisel and Ryan Lochte.

Daytona Beach's Lochte led a sweep of University of Florida-trained athletes in the men's 200 free. The Pan Pacific and World Short Course Champion in this event, Lochte checked in at 1:49.09, four tenths slower than his season-best time of 1:48.69 from April. Meanwhile, Peter Vanderkaay touched second at 1:49.41, and Conor Dwyer finished third in 1:49.61. The three are among the top five Americans in the event this year, and all will represent the U.S. in the 800 free relay at the World Championships in two weeks.

Beisel crushed her lifetime best en route to a dominant victory in the women's 200 free. Beisel, a two-time gold medalist at last summer's Pan Pacs, clocked 1:59.17 to obliterate her lifetime best of 1:59.98. Additionally, Beisel moved into a tie with Ariana Kukors as the fourth-ranked American in the event this year. Gator's Ellese Zalewski grabbed second in the race in 2:00.65, while T2's Erika Erndl finished third in 2:01.95.

Connor Signorin edged Ft. Lauderdale's William Purnell for the win in the men's 400 IM, 4:29.49 to 4:30.20. Eric Solis and Michael Joyce tied for third with matching times of 4:35.69. Notably, Dwyer had clocked a swift 4:23.70 to lead prelims, while Vanderkaay had qualified second in 4:28.76. Neither participated in the final. On the women's side, Gator's Stephanie Proud touched first in the 400 IM. Proud, a member of Britain's World Championships team, clocked 4:50.36 to blow away the rest of the field, while Bolles' Lauren Neidigh touched out Club Seminole's Jessica Sabotin for second, 4:55.40 to 4:55.57.

Davie Nadadores' Evandro Silva took the win in the men's 100 breast, touching out teammate Renato Prono, 1:04.82 to 1:04.98. Bolles' Rodion Davelaar ended up third in 1:05.37. Notably, Lochte led qualifiers with a 1:05.15 before scratching the final. A trio of Gator Swim Club swimmers swept the men's 100 fly, with Marcin Cieslak winning in 54.86, followed by teammates Sebastien Rousseau (55.20) and Shaune Fraser (56.09).

Lysistrati Halkides clocked 1:10.44 to crush the field in the women's 100 breast. Karie Haglund grabbed second in 1:11.61, more than a second in front of Florida Keys' Mhyria Miller, who touched in 1:12.78. Zalewski won the 100 fly in 1:00.65, while Patriot's Sarah Bateman ended up second in 1:01.38. T2's Anne-Marie Botek checked in at 1:02.11 for third place.

The 800 free relays rounded out the evening, with Swim Florida's team of Leah Daniel, Stephanie Peacock, Erin Black, and Eva Lehtonen winning the women's race in 8:25.69. Meanwhile, Gator's team of Sebastien Rousseau, Balazs Gercsak, Alejandro Gomez, and Tyler Rocca grabbed the men's win in 7:50.29.

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