2018 Winter Junior Championships – West: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2018 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WEST

• December 5th-8th, 2018
• Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, Austin, Texas
• SCY (25y) pool
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results

The opening session of the 2018 Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West from Austin will feature the men’s and women’s 4×50 medley and 4×200 free relays only.

Women’s 4×50 Medley Relay

• Meet Record: 1:37.65, Fort Collins Area Swim Team, 2017

1. Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks, 1:39.81
2. Aquajets Swim Team, 1:40.26
3. Scottsdale Aquatic Club, 1:40.99

The Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks clocked 1:39.81 to win the women’s 200 medley relay, with legs from Jessica Davis (25.86), Zoie Hartman (27.00), Alexis Depaco (24.27) and Sophia Kosturos (22.68).

The Aquajets (1:40.26) and Scottsdale (1:40.99) took 2nd and 3rd out of the heat that had to be re-swum, with the Aquajets getting a 25.20 lead-off from Abby Kapeller, a 27.65 breast leg from Isabelle Stadden, and a 24.36 fly leg from Maddy Potter.

Scottsdale had a blazing 24.69 lead-off from Greer Pattison and a 22.48 anchor from Ashley Strouse.

Five teams followed in the 1:41 range, led by Palo Alto Stanford who had Melanie Julie (27.93) on breast and Brooke Schaffer (24.42) on fly lead them to 4th in 1:41.09. 5th place Bellevue had a 25.04 lead-off from Gabby Dang and a 22.87 anchor from Christina Bradley as they touched in 1:41.42, .01 ahead of Brea Aquatics. Brea had a 22.34 anchor leg come from Samantha Pearson.

Men’s 4×50 Medley Relay

• Meet Record: 1:27.11, Scottsdale Aquatic Club, 2016

1. Sierra Marlins Swim Team, 1:29.01
2. Rose Bowl Aquatics, 1:30.27
3. Sooner Swim Club, 1:31.26

The Sierra Marlins received the top breast and free splits in the field as they won the men’s 200 medley relay in a time of 1:29.01, followed by Rose Bowl Aquatics in 1:30.27. The Marlins had Ben Dillard split 24.25 on breast, Finn O’Haimhirgin go 20.05 on free, and they were joined by Colby Mefford (22.10) on back and Jack Gillespie (22.61) on fly.

Rose Bowl had a quick 21.12 fly leg from Danny Syrkin, and 3rd place Sooner Swim Club had the fastest backstroke lead-off in the field from Aiden Hayes (21.91).

Women’s 4×200 Free Relay

• Meet Record: 7:05.91, Magnolia Aquatic Club, 2017

1. Magnolia Aquatic Club, 7:09.87
2. Brea Aquatics, 7:12.32
3. Bellevue Club Swim Team, 7:14.50

The Magnolia girls successfully defended their title in the 4×200 free relay, as the team of Zoe Gawronska (1:47.92), Kaitlynn Sims (1:46.89), Jojo Daspit (1:50.44) and Lillie Nordmann (1:44.62) put up a time of 7:09.87.

Brea Aquatics had three 1:47 legs to take 2nd in 7:12.32, with Pearson going 1:47.82 on the lead-off and then Zephy Koh (1:47.14) and Justina Kozan (1:47.42) on the 3rd and 4th legs. Bellevue took 3rd in 7:14.50, with their fastest splits coming from Gracie Felner (1:47.58) on the lead-off and Sarah Dimeco (1:47.16) on the anchor.

Regan Smith led off 9th place Riptide in a new personal best of 1:44.30, improving her previous mark of 1:44.49 from March.

Men’s 4×200 Free Relay

• Meet Record: 6:31.93, Scottsdale Aquatic Club, 2016

1. Sierra Marlins Swim Team, 6:32.90
2. Santa Clara Swim Club, 6:37.03
3. Scottsdale Aquatic Club, 6:37.65

The Sierra Marlins won their second relay of the session in decisive fashion in the men’s 4×200 free, clocking 6:32.90 to top Santa Clara by over four seconds. Mefford was a strong 1:36.33 on the lead-off, Dillard split 1:37.77 swimming 2nd, Sean Swift split 1:41.06 going 3rd, and then O’Haimhirgin was 1:37.74 on the anchor.

Santa Clara was 6:37.03 for 2nd, with a 1:36.78 second from Dylan Hawk, and Scottsdale (6:37.65) edged out Nitro (6:37.69) for 3rd.

In 6th, the DART boys broke the 15-16 NAG in a time of 6:38.07, lowering the 6:38.14 set by Tennessee Aquatics in 2014. They were led off by Gianluca Urlando in 1:34.38, and had subsequent splits from Connor Daniels (1:38.08), Tate Cutler (1:42.71) and Christopher Ranlett (1:42.90). The lead-off for Urlando improved his best time by over three seconds (1:37.50).