USA Swimming Sectionals, Columbia: Shara Stafford Doubles On First Night

COLUMBIA, Missouri, July 22. THE first night of long course meter swimming came to a close at the USA Swimming Sectionals held in Columbia, Mo.

Shara Stafford of Topeka Swim doubled during the first night. First, she snagged the women's 100 free with a time of 55.74 after setting the listed region record with a 55.61 during prelims. Kansas City Blazer Shannon Vreeland took second in 55.97 with Mizzou's Lori Halvorson placing third in 56.33.

Stafford returned at the end of the evening with a 2:12.53 in the women's 200 back for the win. That readout cleared the listed region record of 2:12.77 set by Janie Wagstaff in 1991. Vreeland took second again with a 2:17.04, while Parkway's Taylor Wohrley finished third in 2:18.08.

Parkway's Elizabeth Smith took the women's 200 breast title in 2:28.98. That swim cleared the listed region record of 2:31.64 set by Caroline Bruce in 2003. Haley Spencer of Rockwood placed second in 2:30.29, while Columbia Swim Club finished third in 2:33.16.

Billy Kunkel of Swim Omaha won the men's 100 free in 51.48, while Kansas City Blazer Zach Bolin (51.87) and Heat's Andy Schranck (52.24) touched second and third.

Dolphin-Laser's Troy Esentan topped the men's 200 breast in 2:22.47, while Thomas Gibson finished second in 2:23.61. Heat's Ben Solari pocketed third in 2:24.25.

Kansas City Blazer's Bobby Bollier stopped the clock in 2:04.15 to win the men's 200 back. Teammate Kevin Webster touched second in 2:05.70, while Hawgs' Ellis Miller wound up third in 2:06.24.

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