2024 Region VIII Speedo Summer Sectionals (Columbia)
- Wednesday-Saturday, July 10-13, 2024
- Mizzou Aquatics Center, Columbia, MO
- LCM (50m)
- Results on MeetMobile (“Region VIII Speedo Summer Sectionals”)
The first of the summer’s Speedo Sectionals kicked off yesterday in Columbia, MO at Mizzou’s natatorium. This 4-day meet features all of the LCM events, including the 50s of stroke, and is hosting many swimmers from Missouri and the surrounding area.
Wednesday night’s finals session kicked off on a great note, seeing Empire KC Swim Club 15-year-old Lucy Velte throw down a very speedy 27.48 to win the women’s 50 fly. That was a massive time for Velte, clearing her previous best of 28.11 by well over half a second. Her previous best was set at the last Columbia Sectionals meet, which took place in March of this year. Velte holds a career best of 1:03.51 in the LCM 100 fly, so it will be interesting to see what she’s able to do in that race today.
Jefferson City Area YMCA 18-year-old Ethan Vance had a nice 50 fly as well, winning the men’s event in 24.99. Vance, who will begin his collegiate swimming career at Mizzou in the fall, had a personal best of 26.97 going into yesterday, however, it should be noted that time was the first 50 split of a 100 fly.
Vance was also in action in the men’s 50 free, where he put up a huge personal best of 23.18 in prelims, which was the fastest prelims time yesterday. His PB heading into the day was 24.09 from last summer, marking a huge swim there for the future Tiger. In finals, Vance went 23.21, taking 2nd behind Southern Illinois University’s Alex Santiago, who won the race in 23.08. Santiago, who was an NCAAs qualifier in the yards 50 free for SIU this past season, recently competed at the Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet in Canada. He tied his PB of 23.08, which he had initially set at Mel Zajac.
The women’s 50 saw Empire KC’s Helena Tietjen win in 26.13, chipping 0.18 seconds off her previous best in the event.
In the men’s 1500 free, Tsunami Swim Team of KC’s Whitaker Steward, 16, won decisively, putting up a 15:34.82. That time took a couple seconds off Whitaker’s previous best of 15:37.48, which he swam at the Spring Sectionals meet in Columbia back in March. With the swim, Whitaker remains the 4th-fastest 16-year-old boy in the nation this season, though he did move up to 59th all-time in the 15-16 age group.
The 800 free relay also took place on Wednesday. Empire KC Swim Club won the women’s 800 free relay with an 8:34.13. Lucy Velte (2:07.09), Tess Boyer (2:11.33), Clara Seemann (2:09.00), and Helena Tietjen (2:06.71) teamed up to earn the win. Velte’s lead-off leg came in well under her personal best of 2:09.52.
In the men’s 800 free relay, Tsunami Swim Team of K.C. went 1-2. Their ‘A’ team of Ellis Crisci (1:54.45), Whitaker Steward (1:54.54), Ian Everett (1:58.87), and Leo Kurucz (1:54.58) combined to win the race comfortably with a 7:42.44. Meanwhile, the ‘B’ team of Samuel Hennenfent (1:57.58), Cole Tobin (2:01.27), Deacon Gutshall (1:59.40), and Derek Long (1:57.00) teamed up for a 7:55.25, earning a 2nd-place finish.
OTHER DAY 1 WINNERS
- Women’s 200 back: Gena Jorgenson (Nebraska) – 2:14.39
- Men’s 200 back: Jack Dahlgren (Team Triumph) – 2:01.22
- Women’s 200 breast: Maia Hall (Nebraska) – 2:33.15
- Men’s 200 breast: Noah Reeves (Empire KC Swim Club) – 2:20.38
- Women’s 800 free: Macey Hansen (Columbia Swim Club) – 8:57.06
