Ex-Wildcats Turn In Top Performances At Seattle Sectionals

FEDERAL WAY, Wash, March 14. AT this week’s Western Region Speedo Champions Series, Tucson’s Amanda Beard finished the women’s 100 breast in 1:08.65, topping the field easily by nearly three seconds. Another former Arizona Wildcat, South African Ryk Neethling would finish the 100 free in 50.32 and the 200 free in 1:50.26.

Beard also stroked to victory in the 200 free in a sweet 2:02.49.

Perhaps the best, and deepest, race of the meet was the men's 100 meter fly. Russian Igor Martchenko touched in 53.61, just ahead of 2000 US Olympian Tommy Hannan, 53.78, with Neethling third in 54.41. Martchenko is training in Tualatin Hills, Oregon, under the watchful eye of coach Paul Bergen.

The 100 fly also saw 36 year-old Masters swimmer Mike Sorensen place sixth in 57.67 while another Masters standout, 42 year-old Dennis Baker, was 15th in 58.62 (58.11p).

Baker did Masters everywhere proud when he came ever-so-close to winning the 200 meter fly, as he touched in 2:06.33 for the silver, half a stroke behind 17 year-old Logan Madison of Bend, Oregon. Baker, who was fourth in the 200 fly at the 1980 US Olympic Trials, is shooting to make the US Trials cut this year. He has to drop another three seconds to make the cut.

Two of the meet's best times were turned in by 2000 Olympic champ, Megan Quann, who qualified first in both the 100 (1:09.57) and 200 breast (2:32.77), but scratched the finals.

Sixteen year-old Kristen Lahey, RACE, took the 100 back in 1:03.24 while
Kathryn Thompson, 17, won the double century back in 2:15.85.

King Aquatics’s Emily Kukors and Kristin Okazaki swept the women’s 200 fly with Kukors taking the top spot in 2:13.73, and Okazaki finishing in 2:18.43. Just missing the cut to return for a second swim was Shoshanna Rutemiller, 13, the daughter of Sports Publications' CEO, Brent Rutemiller. Shoshanna swam 2:28.22 in prelims to place 28th.

Tiger Sharks’ Agustin Marguder has fared well all weekend with wins in the 400 IM (4:30.52) and the 200 breast (2:20.69)

Full results are available at SECTIONAL RESULTS

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