Grevers Zips to 100 Back Win at Speedo Sectionals in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., USA, July 23. AS the Speedo Sectionals continued, Matt Grevers had little trouble showing why he is one of the brightest youngsters among American men. Competing at the Sectionals hosted by the Twin Cities Swim Club, Grevers cruised to victory in the 100-meter backstroke, clocking a time of 56.00.

While Grevers was the victor in the male 100 back, Blackline’s Roxanne Akradi set a meet record in the female version of the event, thanks to a mark of 1:04.44. Meanwhile, Kelly McNichols (Maverick) and Sean McCaffrey earned wins in the 200 freestyle. McNichols checked in at 2:04.39 and McCaffrey sped 1:53.32. In the 400 individual medley, Wheaton’s Taylor Zafir (4:55.51) and St. Charles’ Curtis Dauw (4:35.27) were triumphant.

Central Sectionals

Caroline Bruce, an Athens Olympian, collected a pair of first-place finishes in the meet held in Oklahoma City. Aside from prevailing in the 100 breast (1:11.41), Bruce tied for top honors in the 100 back, as she and Caroline Johnson turned in times of 1:05.59. For the men, Matt Beasley (Parkway) claimed his fourth win of the meet with a decision in the 100 back (1:05.61).

Other wins at the Central Sectionals were registered by the Kansas City Blazers’ Emma Berry (4:23.72) and Timothy Farrington (4:06.01) in the 400 freestyle and by Julie Stupp (2:20.65) and Bobby Bollier (2:04.25) in the 200 butterfly. Scott Jostes was the men’s 100 back winner in a swim of 58.75.

Southern Zone South Sectionals

A light schedule in Fort Lauderdale was highlighted by Megan Romano’s first-place performance in the 200 freestyle (2:02.37) and Kaitlin O’Brien’s win in the 400 individual medley. O’Brien touched the wall in 4:54.71, ahead of the 4:56.28 effort turned in by Jamie Reid. On the male side, Steve Manley won the 200 free in a meet-record of 1:51.73 and Lucas Salatta won the 400 I.M. in 4:24.43.

Super Sectionals East

Racing in St. Mary’s, Md. featured a triumph from Leah Gingrich (West Shore YMCA) in the 200 freestyle, where she was timed in 2:04.25, and a triumph from Rebecca Soni in the 100 breast (1:11.28). Ashley Knapik was the 100 fly victor in 1:02.11 and Jennifer Illescas bested the competition in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:54.42.

Bobby Savulich headlined the men’s action with a 1:52.49 effort en route to victory in the 200 freestyle. He was joined as a first-place finisher by P.J. Sullivan in the 100 breast. Sullivan narrowly won the race with a time of 1:05.21, barely ahead of the 1:05.22 of Geoff Rathgeber. Jason Miller finished on top in the 100 fly (55.89) and Dennen McCloskey defeated his foes in the 400 I.M. (4:32.22).

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