USA Swimming Sectionals, Gresham: Phoenix Swim Club Jumps Out to Lead After Four Events

GRESHAM, Oregon, July 25. THE Speedo Champions Series at the Mt. Hood Aquatic Center kicked off last night with finals in the 800m freestyle and 200m freestyle relay.

Scottsdale's Kendra Griffin sliced 14 seconds off her seed time to win the women's 800m free in 8:56.22, not far in front of Gold Medal Swim Club's Isabel Whited, who dropped 17 seconds to finish second in 8:56.94. Amanda Richey of Boulder Swimming, the top seed going into the race, finished third in 8:57.04.

Another close race developed in the men's 800m free, between North Jeffco's Martin Wallace and Tualatin Hills' Cameron Stitt. Stitt led Wallace by several seconds early in the race, but Wallace reeled him in at the end as the two battled down the stretch. At the wall, Stitt got the win in 8:17.57, barely ahead of Wallace's 8:17.75. Jorge Palma of the DU Hilltoppers placed third in 8:22.58.

Phoenix Swim Club's Keaton Blovad, Taryn Collura, Rowan Hauber and Noriko Inada cruised to victory in the women's 200m free relay, posting a 1:45.67 to easily outdistance Scottsdale (1:47.39) and Tualatin Hills (1:47.74). In the men's relay, the DU Hilltoppers' quartet of Coleton Worsley, Douglas Mackenzie, Nicholas Iwanicki and Kyle Milberg combined efforts to win in 1:34.50. Tualatin Hills finished second in 1:35.79, while Phoenix Swim Club was third in 1:36.19.

After four events, Phoenix Swim Club sits atop the team standings with 140 points, just 16 ahead of the DU Hilltoppers (124). North Jeffco is third with 89 points.

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