USA Swimming Sectionals, Gainesville: World Champions Ryan Lochte, Gemma Spofforth Win on Third Night

By David Rieder

GAINESVILLE, Florida, July 10. TWO University of Florida-trained World Champions and world record-holders took wins in one of their stronger events on the third evening of long course meter racing at the USA Swimming Sectionals in Gainesville. Ryan Lochte posted a strong time for the win in the 200 IM, while Gemma Spofforth claimed the 100 back.

Daytona Beach's Lochte moved into a tie for sixth in the world rankings with Japan's Yuya Horihata in the 200 IM, clocking 1:59.35 for the win. Bolles' Miguel Molina finished five seconds behind for second, posting a 2:04.70, while Gator's Bradley Ally claimed third at 2:06.73.

Gator's Spofforth took the 100 back in 1:01.67, well off her world record time of 58.12 from last year, as well as her third-ranked season best of 59.46. Bolles' Aubrey Peacock beat out Spofforth's teammate and fellow Brit Stephanie Proud for second, 1:03.35 to 1:03.90.

Daytona Beach's Rex Tullius took the win in the men's 100 back in 56.74, beating Gator's Marco Loughran, who took second at 57.27. Fernardo Ernesto Santos finished third in 57.55. Fast Lane's Lysistrati Halkides won the women's 200 IM ahead of Erika Erndl, 32, clocking 2:17.78, to Erndl's 2:18.42, while Lindsay McKnight rounded out the sub-2:20 swims with a third-place 2:19.52.

Patriot's Sarah Bateman won the women's 50 free in 26.03, beating Erndl (26.32) and Peacock (26.67). Swim Florida's Jonathan Nunez won the men's 50 free in 23.52, finishing just ahead of Gator's Brett Fraser, second in 23.63, while Nunez' teammate Pavel Bavaev finished third at 23.74.

Fort Lauderdale's Lauren Driscoll finished first in the women's 400 free in 4:15.34, holding off Gator's Jamie Bohunicky, who finished second in 4:15.72. Swim Florida's Stephanie Peacock rounded out the sub-4:20 times with a third-place 4:18.26. Metro Miami's Carlos Omana took his second win of the meet, after a victory in Thursday's 800 free, with a men's 400 free top time of 3:58.40. Sarasota YMCA's Nicholas Caldwell touched out Gator's Sebastien Rousseau for second, 3:59.33 to 3:59.34, while BSAC's Jason Taylor rounded out the sub-4:00 swims with a 3:59.73 to take fourth.

Gator won the women's 400 medley relay in 4:17.41, while Club Seminole took the men's medley relay in 3:57.71. Names of the swimmers on either relay were not available at press time.

Swimming World high school intern David "The Swim Geek" Rieder is a high school swimmer in Charleston, S.C. He swims for the Southern Marlins Racing Team and often negative splits his races. He can be found on the web at swimdr549.blogspot.com and twitter.com/david2swim.

Results: 2010 SZ Sectional Champs – (07-08-2010 – 07-11-2010)

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