2023 TAC ESSZ Age Group Sectionals
- March 16-19, 2023
- Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary, NC
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results on MeetMobile: “2023 TAC ESSZ AG Sectionals”
The TAC Titans hosted the Eastern Section of the Southern Zone Age Group Championships last month in Cary, North Carolina. SwimMAC Carolina topped the combined team standings with 3505.5 points total. SwimMAC also won the boys’ meet, while the Titans took home the girls’ title with 1803.5 points.
Team Scores – Combined:
- SwimMAC Carolina – 3505.5
- TAC Titans – 2929
- North Carolina Aquatic Club – 1675
- Marlins of Raleigh – 1121
- Excel Aquatics – 1105.5
Highlighting the girls’ side of the meet was Sloane Whelehan of the TAC Titans, who threw down a 1:48.47 200 free as the lead-off leg of their 800 free relay. The swim was the 14-year-old’s first time dipping below the 1:50-barrier, and moved her inside the all-time top 100 at 82nd.
Whelehan additionally won five individual events. She dropped over two seconds in the 200 IM to record a 2:03.07, ranking her 8th in the country this season for her age group. She also had significant drops in the 100 back and 400 IM, recording winning times of 55.85 and 4:19.86.
SwimMAC’s Scott Williams picked up five first place finishes in the boys’ 11-12 age group. Highlighting his meet was the 100 breaststroke, where Williams took a second and a half off his best time to win in 1:04.70, topping the field by over a second. He also dropped half a second in the 100 free (52.84) and three tenths in the 50 free (24.03) to earn runner-up in both.
David Sammons from SwimMAC Carolina also had a fantastic meet, despite only winning one event individually. Sammons, 13, dropped over five seconds in the 200 backstroke to win the event in 1:50.64, putting him 6th in the country for the 13-14 age group this year and 1st among 13-year-old boys. Sammons also took 2nd in the 200 fly, where he shaved off nearly three seconds to stop the clock at 1:50.98. That swim also leads this season for 13-year-old boys, and ranks 8th in the age group.
12-year-old Alistair Peng from the TAC Titans also won five events individually. En route to his victory in the 200 back, Peng logged a best time by a second and a half in the 200 back to post a 2:06.14. He also took two tenths off his best in the 50 back, winning in 27.16. Rounding out Peng’s best time swims were the 100 fly (58.47) and 200 free (1:56.36).
SwimMAC’s Karina Plaza dominated the 11-12 girls’ age group with six individual victories. Plaza clocked a 4:43.34 in the 400 IM, good for an eight second time drop. She also took over three seconds off in the 200 free (1:56.66), and over four in the 100 fly (59.69).
10-year-old Campbell Hughston from the Raleigh Swimming Association had a terrific meet as well. Hughston won six of her eight individual events with all six being personal best times. Hughston swam a 58.41 in the 100 free, ranking her 11th nationally this season for 9-10 year-old girls. She also had a strong swim in the 100 backstroke, where she dropped a second and a half for a 1:06.96, putting her 16th this season.
