Bonnie Brandon Doubles Up at the Southwest Classic

TUCSON, Arizona, June 7. COMING off her initial season with the University of Arizona Wildcats, Tucson Ford's Bonnie Brandon has continued with her success into the long course season. After a strong outing at the Arena Grand Prix in Santa Clara, Brandon doubled up this evening at the Tucson Ford Southwest Classic.

Brandon cruised to a win in the women's 200-meter back with a 2:17.57, five seconds off her season best of 2:12.90 from the Santa Clara stop of the Arena Grand Prix. Tucson Ford teammate Taylor Schick earned second in 2:20.53, while SCSC's Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou picked up third in 2:25.88.

Brandon doubled up on the night with a 4:23.34 in the women's 400-meter free, while SCSC's Sarah Shimomura (4:26.61) and Tucson Ford's Brianna Leverenz (4:28.08) took second and third behind the multi-talented Brandon in the middle-distance event.

That was Brandon's third title of the meet as she also dominated the women's 800-meter freestyle last night with an 8:56.42.

Tucson Ford's Margo Geer posted a season best with a winning time of 55.47 in the women's 100-meter freestyle finale. That swim clipped her 55.57 from the Arena Grand Prix in Santa Clara as her best time this year, and sets her up to make a run during the U.S. World Trials later this month. Teammate Kait Flederbach touched second in 56.43, while Leticia Lelli earned third in 57.57.

Darian Townsend just missed his season best in the men's 100-meter free with his victorious effort of 50.30 this evening. That swim fell off his 49.73 from the Arena Grand Prix stop in Mesa as his top time this year. Training partners Giles Smith (51.21) and Bobby Hurley (51.99) rounded out the top three in the event.

In other action, Tucson Ford's Ashley Evans rolled to victory in the women's 200-meter fly with a 2:16.73, while WET's Shanny Lin (2:20.91) and FAST of Colorardo's Bailey Nero (2:24.74) finished second and third. El Paso's David Ramirez topped the men's 200-meter fly in 2:07.70, while SCSC's Aidan Burns (2:09.80) and Ramirez' teammate Roberto Pinedo (2:16.99) wound up second and third.

Michael Sheppard followed with a 2:05.67 to earn the men's 200-meter back title, while El Paso's Sean Grieshop (2:08.17) and Hurley (2:10.13) turned in second and third-place finishes. Matthew Barber then won the men's 400-meter free in 4:03.96, while Burns picked up his second podium of the night with a 4:08.61 and Tucson Ford's Kelly Moodie finished third in 4:08.69.

Burns had a strong evening with a pair of podium finishes after winning the men's 1500-meter freestyle with a 16:24.77 during distance night last evening.

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