Lauren Poole Achieves Olympic Trial Cut on First Night of Speedo Winter Invitational

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Photo Courtesy: James Lenahan

The first night of the 2019 Speedo Invitational from Piscataway, New Jersey saw a new Olympic Trial cut achieved by 18-year-old Lauren Poole of North Baltimore in the 200 IM. There were also a few near misses from the swimmers in Piscataway, New Jersey, as the 2020 Olympic Trial cuts are in the front of everyone’s minds 18 months out of the meet.

Poole swam a 2:17.23, getting just under the cut of 2:17.39.

She was in a good race with 15-year-old Summer Smith of Bluefish Swim Club, who finished second in 2:17.60. Poole has already committed to swim at the University of Kentucky for the fall of 2019.

The night got started with Madison Kolessar winning the 800 free final at 8:55.25, well in front of Long Island’s Sophia Karras (9:01.30) as Kolessar started off the race in the lead and did not let up as the race progressed. Badger’s Emily Gjertsen (9:05.27) finished in third.

The men’s 800 went the way to Dylan Porges of Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics, who took control of the race at the 200 and pushed through to win at 8:26.25. Porges finished nearly ten full seconds ahead of 14-year-old Josh Parent (8:35.98). Fellow 14-year-old JuanCarlos Castrillon (8:38.22) finished in third at 8:38.22. Porges has already committed to swim at Princeton for the fall of 2019.

15-year-old Clarissa Sabin took the women’s 100 breast final in a solid 1:12.77, dropping a full second off her prelim time for Berkeley Aquatic Club. Sabin held off strong charges from 17-year-old Heather Maccausland (1:13.25) and Lauren Poole, who ended up getting the Olympic Trial cut later in the session in the 200 IM.

The men’s 100 breast was all Jason Louser of Long Island as he took the win at 1:04.53, just off the meet record of 1:04.43 from Jarrod Marrs from all the way back in 2000 before Louser was even born. Louser still has some work to do to get the Olympic Trial cut of 1:03.29, but is stronger in the 200 breast and 400 IM so he will have more opportunities. Louser finished ahead of Ryan Pirrung (1:06.41) of the Delaware Swim Team and Bluefish’s River Wright (1:06.77). Louser has already committed to swim at Cal for the fall of 2019.

16-year-old Chloe Stepanek won the 200 free at 2:02.13 as she just missed the Olympic Trial cut of 2:01.69. Stepanek swims for Long Island and is a junior. She has not committed to a school yet. Stepanek finished ahead of North Baltimore’s Megan Drumm (2:04.93) and Bluefish’s Brynn Wright (2:05.45).

17-year-old Destin Lasco won the 200 free final as he swam a 1:53.21 long and strong to hold off Harry Homans of Bluefish Swim Club. Homans swam a 1:54.15 for second while Adell Sabovic (1:56.50) finished in third place for Asphalt Green.

The women’s 100 fly was highlighted by 13-year-old Maggie Belbot (1:01.41) as she got within a second of the cut, which was a 1:00.69. Belbot is again just 13, so she will have plenty of time to drop eight tenths for the cut. Belbot was the youngest in the final as the 13-14-year-olds took the charge in the final with 14-year-old Tess Howley of Long Island in second at 1:02.03 and 14-year-old Natalie Mannion in third at 1:03.67 for the Commonwealth Current.

It was a very stacked race in the men’s 100 fly final with some of the biggest names of the meet in the final. The win went to River Wright of Bluefish Swim Club at 55.93 as he finished ahead of Timothy Marski of Long Island (56.10). Third place went to Harry Homans (56.85). Wright has already committed to swim at the University of Michigan for the fall of 2019.

In the final event of the night, Destin Lasco took the 200 IM win at 2:04.98 as he finished ahead of Jason Louser (2:05.26) and Wright (2:09.81).

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