USA Swimming Sectionals, Orlando: Ariana Kukors Returns; Ryan Lochte Shines

ORLANDO, Florida, March 18. THE stars were certainly shining at the USA Swimming Sectionals held in Orlando as Olympians from a variety of countries all vied for long course meter supremacy at the four-day event.

Bolles' Ariana Kukors, in one of her first outings since moving training locations from California to Florida, won the women's 200 IM in 2:12.26. She shot to eighth in the world rankings with the victory. She recently made the move from FAST to Bolles in Florida.

Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte bested Gator's Conor Dwyer in the men's 200 free, 1:49.09 to 1:49.17. Gator's Peter Vanderkaay took third in 1:51.01, while teammate Shaune Fraser placed fourth in 1:52.19. Earlier in the meet, Vanderkaay won the men's 800 free in 8:15.98. Lochte doubled up with a 54.12 to win the men's 100 fly, while Sebastien Rousseau took second in 54.17. Rousseau returned on the final day with a 2:00.59 to win the men's 200 fly.

Gator's Arkady Vyatchanin clipped Lochte in the men's 100 back, 54.79 to 54.89. Vyatchanin improved to 21st in the world rankings with the swim, while Lochte tied for 24th. Dwyer, on Saturday, won the men's 200 IM in 2:02.77 before completing a nightly double with a 3:56.91 for the men's 400 free win. Jason Taylor took second in 3:59.71, while Vanderkaay placed third in 4:03.29. Vyatchanin came back on the final day to top the men's 200 back in 2:01.04.

SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir raced to victory in the women's 50 free with a 25.34, just off her 16th-ranked season best of 25.23 from the Austin Grand Prix in January. Weir doubled up with a 55.27 to win the women's 100 free.

Shortly after going 19.06 in the 50-yard freestyle at the NJCAA Championships, Bradley Tandy posted a 22.65 in the long course version for the win. Brett Fraser downed brother Shaune Fraser in the men's 100 free, 50.26 to 50.41, while Lochte settled for third in 50.56. Dwyer (50.70), Tandy (50.82) and Caleb Weir (51.82) finished fourth through sixth.

Felipe Lima claimed the men's 100 breast in 1:01.35 with Roman Sludnov taking second in 1:01.56. Lima doubled up with a 2:17.41 for the men's 200 breast title. Clearwater's Rebecca Mann won the women's 1500 free in 16:16.82. She doubled up with a 4:10.72 to win the women's 400 free, before earning her third title with an 8:33.39 to win the women's 800 free.

Molly Dubrasky captured the women's 100 fly in 1:02.96, while Trinity Prep's Cat Galletti posted the best time of the day with a B final 1:02.47. Galletti is a recent Notre Dame commitment. Dubrasky returned on the final day with a 2:15.86 to win the women's 200 fly, while Mann took second in 2:16.08 Lauren Driscoll claimed the women's 400 IM in 4:49.42 before clocking a 2:14.84 for the women's 200 back on the final day.

Area Tallahassee's Cecilia Williams claimed the women's 200 free in 2:03.19, while Davie Nadadores' Emily Kopas won the women's 100 breast in 1:10.87. Brandon's Madelin Hess won the women's 100 back in 1:04.02, while Sarra Lajnef took home the women's 200 breast title in 2:33.19. Bluefish's Connor Green took home the men's 400 IM in 4:28.15, while Sergiy Fesenko topped the men's 1500 free in 15:29.78.

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