Lea Gwennap, Stephen Clendenin Double on Final Night of Christiansburg Sectionals

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Photo Courtesy: USA Swimming

CHRISTIANSBURG – Lea Gwennap and Stephen Clendenin each won a pair of events, while the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins took home the combined team title as the Christiansburg Sectionals meet came to a close at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

Machine Aquatics’ Lea Gwennap took home the first title of the night in the women’s 200 back, clocking a 1:57.68 to win her first event of the meet after multiple top three finishes. Coast Guard Blue Dolphins’ Peyton Baldwin just edged Loyola Blakefield’s Hannah Gouger for second, 1:59.36 to 1:59.46. Blue Wave’s Stephen Clendenin rocketed to a 1:46.84 in the men’s 200 back final, topping Regency Park’s William Durocher (1:48.68) by just under two seconds. Alexander Gliese of Columbia Aquatics Association rounded out the top three in the only other sub-1:50 swim of finals at 1:48.86.

Monica Sowinski of Greater Latrobe cruised to victory in the women’s 100 free final, stopping the clock at 50.57 to distance herself from second place finisher Maddie Morello of Coast Guard Blue Dolphins (51.00) and Taylor Petrak of Riverside Aqua Club of Ellwood (51.66). Rockbridge Storm’s William Copeland put on a show in the men’s final, topping the championship heat in 42.92. CYC Rally’s Edward Zawatski came in almost two and a half seconds later at 45.36, while Coast Guard Blue Dolphins’ Andrew Zhugayevich touched third at 45.90.

Lea Gwennap won her second event of the night and denied Jewish Community Center’s Lauren Barber her fifth win of the meet in the 200 IM, as Gwennap got to the wall first, 2:00.26 to 2:00.80. The two were way out in front of the rest of the field, as Carter Center’s Shelby Stanley placed third in 2:05.52. Stephen Clendenin also won his second race of the night in the men’s IM, as his 1:50.28 was good enough to out-touch Greater Baltimore’s Connor Ganley, who came in at 1:50.60. Mount Lebanon’s Drew Damich placed third in 1:52.39.

Timed finals of the women’s 1000 free and men’s 1650 free were also held today, with Egg Harbor Township’s Amanda Nunan topping the women’s race in 10:04.59. Retriever Aquatic Club’s Kelly Long dropped 20 seconds to finish second in 10:10.52, while Coast Guard Blue Dolphins’ Nicole Piercy touched third in 10:10.90. Meanwhile, Five Star Swim Club’s Matthew Daniel chopped 13 seconds off his personal best to win the men’s mile in 15:34.55, three seconds ahead of Arthur Markley’s 15:37.69. Jewish Community Center’s Austin Mortimer took third with a 15:46.64.

The Coast Guard Blue Dolphins scored 674 points to edge Nation’s Capital (652 points) by only 22 points in the team standings. Mount Lebanon Aqua Club finished third overall with 609 points. Lancaster Aquatic Club took the men’s team title with 369 points, with Mount Lebanon (350) and Nation’s Capital (316) in second and third. Coast Guard Blue Dolphins grabbed the women’s title with 529 points, well ahead of Nation’s Capital (336) and Central Bucks Swim Team (326).

Results from the meet can be found on Meet Mobile.

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Jeffrey Li
9 years ago

Yeah, Lea!

Lea Gwennap
9 years ago

Oh gosh! Thanks Jeffrey Li !! Miss you

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