Gator Swim Club is piling up the wins at the Orlando Sectional, with Sebastien Rousseau, Brad deBorde, Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez and Dan Wallace all winning on day 3.
Michigan’s incoming freshman Clara Smiddy kicked things off, winning the women’s 100 back in 1:01.69. That was enough to top Katie Hoff, last night’s big winner by almost a second. Hoff was 1:02.50 competing for Hurricane Aquatics.
Rousseau got his win in the men’s 100 back. His 55.33 topped Florida State Seminole Pavel Sankovich‘s 55.68.
In the women’s 200 IM, T2’s Justine Bowker had a strong swim, beating out Olympian Elizabeth Beisel for the win. Bowker was 2:15.70, with Beisel second at 2:16.35. Solaeche-Gomez won a second-straight event for the Gator men, going 2:00.74 to win the men’s version of the event.
Florida Gator Natalie Hinds, competing for the City of Midland, went 25.42 to win the women’s 50. She beat FSU’s Sviatlana Khakhlova by a tenth. Her college teammate Brad deBorde went 22.98 to win the men’s race, the only man under 23 on the night.
Former UNC Tar Heel Stephanie Peacock had a nice swim to win the women’s 400 free. Peacock hasn’t competed much since the NCAA Championships, but went 4:12.00 here to top Gator Swim Club’s Jessica Thielmann by just .09. The men’s event went to Wallace at 3:53.03, and was a Gator Swim Club 1-2. Mitch D’Arrigo was 3:53.40 for second place.
Full results are available on Meet Mobile under “2014 SZS Summer Sectionals.”
I would watch out for Sebastien Rousseau at the Commonwealth Games. He posted a 1:59.70 in the 200 IM in prelims, which was only 2 tenths off his personal best, and that 100 back is a big time PB. He looks to be on track to have a great meet in Glasgow.
After reading many of your comments, I see you are a big Gators fan and specialist.
Do you think Natalie Hinds will swim one day in long course as well as she does in short course?
I think she has a huge sprint potential but she shines only in yards so far.
Yes. I think she has a few more pounds more of muscle to add between now and the time she graduates. That said, the 50 free, 100 fly, and 100 back she has swam at this Sectionals meet are her best times, and she has the 100 free (her best event) yet to swim. Gator swimmers do not historically post their best long course times until after they are done with NCAA competition, so she is set up perfectly for the 2016 Olympic Trials as she is a junior this year. I would not be surprised to see her and Sinead Russell redshirt (defer one year) after this season specifically to prepare for the Olympics.
Ok. Thanks.
I believe in her for 2016. At least in the conversation for the US relay team.