Northeastern Squads Get Into Speedo Champions Series Action in Buffalo

Speedo Champions Series editorial coverage this summer is proudly sponsored by SpeedoUSA. For all the latest coverage from sectionals this summer, check out our Summer of Speedo page.

BUFFALO, New York, August 1. SWIMMERS from all over the northeast have descended upon the Speedo Champions Series stop in Buffalo this weekend for the final sectional of the summer.

Brittney Kuras kicked off the meet with a 2:18.78 to win the women’s 200-meter IM. That swim nearly toppled her lifetime best of 2:18.44 from a sectional in March 2012. Greenwood’s Megan Brown finished second in 2:19.23, while Ridgefield’s Faith Martin picked up second in 2:20.11.

Heading into today, Westport/Weston Family’s Bryce Keblish, 16, sported a 2:13.81 lifetime best in the men’s 200-meter IM from just a few weeks ago. That time fell dramatically today with a 2:08.34 in prelims before he crushed a 2:07.85 to win the event tonight. NCAP’s Charles Putnam placed second in 2:08.52, while Nittany Lion’s Ripley Danner finished third in 2:09.10.

Fox Chapel’s Margaret Gruber smashed through her lifetime best in the women’s 100-meter free with a winning time of 57.59. Heading into today, her previous best had been a 59.39 from a month ago. That’s good news for Virginia Tech as she starts swimming for the squad this fall. Chelsea Piers’ Camryne Morris finished second in 57.74, while Raleigh’s Tara Martin took third in 58.10.

Penn State’s Shane Austin raced to victory in the men’s 100-meter freestyle with a 51.43, while Ridgefield’s James Martin touched second in 51.51. Greater Latrobe’s Lucas Bureau wound up third in 51.52.

In a close contest, Western Kentucky’s Whitney Spain touched out NCAP’s Rachel Canty, 1:12.78 to 1:12.93, for the women’s 100-meter breaststroke title. Meanwhile, Schenectady’s Amy Bopp rounded out the top three in 1:13.45. Meanwhile, Team Suffolk’s Ben Cono captured the men’s 100-meter breast title in 1:04.39. Team Pittsburgh’s Alex Cook (1:05.44) and Pine Richland’s Bobby Francis (1:05.63) finished second and third.

In distance freestyle timed finals, Team Pittsburgh’s Lauren Matevish won the women’s 1500-meter free in 17:11.86, while Star’s Sydney Modeas (17:12.56) and Germantown’s Karlee Carminati (17:20.52) completed the top three.

Germantown’s Ariel Spektor, 14, touched out Nittany Lion’s Joseph Woodman, 8:32.42 to 8:32.83, in the men’s 800-meter freestyle. JCC’s Neal Smith snagged third in 8:33.54. Spektor had a huge time drop with his win, blasting his previous lifetime best of 8:37.26 from a month ago.

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