Kingsley Returns, Farris Shines At Athens Sectionals

2017 Speedo Long Course Sectionals (ESSZ)

• July 13-16, 2017
• UGA Ramsey Center, Athens, GA
• Results on Meet Mobile

Megan Kingsley of the Athens Bulldogs made a return to competition this morning at Athens Sectionals, her first meet since the NCAA Championships in March.

Kingsley has dealt with knee problems for a while now, and dislocated it last year at the Longhorn Elite Invite. She opted to swim Olympic Trials, making it through to the semis of the 200 fly, and managed to start her junior season with Georgia injury free. However, two months into the season her other knee, the right one, dislocated while at home. She recovered enough to compete at SECs and NCAAs, scoring some individual points, but afterwards planned to have surgery on both knees, three months apart, with the first one coming in late March.

On day 3 in Athens she swam the 100 fly prelims, posting a time of 1:02.67 to place 10th and qualify for the B-final. This is her only event slated for the meet.

DAY 1 Highlights

There were plenty of exciting races on day 1 in Athens, including a couple of notable names going head-to-head in the 50 free. Rising NCAA star Dean Farris and Brazilian Olympian Matheus Santana battled it out, with Farris winning in 22.78 to Santana’s 22.95.

Both 200 fly races elicited close battles as well. In the women’s event, the top three came within 0.15 of each other, led by the Dynamo duo of Tristen Ulett (2:15.19) and Jade Foelske (2:15.21).

In the men’s race William Brooks of SwimAtlanta had an epic comeback on David Dingess of Kentucky Aquatics, making up over two seconds on the final 50 to nip him at the wall by 0.01, 2:01.62 to 2:01.63. Brooks closed in 30.88, while Dingess was back in 32.91.

There was another tight race in the women’s 400 free relay, as the Athens Bulldog Swim Club took down SwimMac, 3:50.32 to 3:50.53, thanks to a blistering 54.60 anchor leg from Veronica Burchill.

In the men’s event, Farris led-off in 49.84 as his Metro Atlanta squad sailed to victory in 3:27.53.

OTHER DAY 1 WINNERS

• Meaghan Raab (NAC), Women’s 200 IM, 2:13.60
• Glen Brown (KYA), Men’s 200 IM, 2:02.83
• Brooke Bauer (NCAC), Women’s 50 Free, 25.99

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Farris had another impressive showing on day 2, winning the 100 back shortly after finishing 4th in a tight 200 free final.

In the 200, Nick Hogsed of SwimAtlanta sealed the deal with a 55.84 back half to win in 1:50.61. Close behind was Walker Higgins (1:50.91), Aldan Johnston (1:51.46) and Farris (1:51.50).

Farris then went onto win the 100 back in 56.62, just ahead of Kentucky’s Josh Swart (56.86).

14-year-old Annabel Crush of Lakeside won the women’s race in a personal best of 1:02.10, taking out Stephanie Nelson (1:02.20) and Caroline Baddock (1:02.57).

Shauna Lee of the Athens Bulldogs was impressive in her 200 free win in 2:00.57, ahead of teammate Meryn McCann (2:03.35).

OTHER DAY 1 WINNERS:

• Ellie Masterson (LAK), Women’s 400 IM, 4:52.93
• Jeffrey Durmer (DYNA), Men’s 400 IM, 4:26.82
• ABSC, Women’s 400 Medley Relay, 4:10.23
• MAC, Men’s 400 Medley Relay, 3:50.30