2018 Speedo Sectionals – College Station, TX
- March 1-4, 2018
- College Station, Texas
- Texas A&M University
- SCY
- Results available on Meet Mobile
After missing the SEC Championships a few weeks ago due to undisclosed health issues, Texas A&M senior Béryl Gastaldello was back in action this weekend in her home pool as she prepares for the upcoming NCAA Championships.
Competing at the College Station Speedo Sectionals, Gastaldello competed in the 100 free on Friday, earning a runner-up finish in a time of 48.21. That time would have placed 4th at SECs, and is just over four tenths off her season best of 47.77. It’s a positive sign for both Gastaldello and the Aggies with NCAAs less than two weeks away.
Though her presence was missed at SECs, it wasn’t a problem for the Aggie women as they were dominant in winning the title. However, the return of Gastaldello will be key for Texas A&M at the National Championships, with the potential for big individual points and a major boost to their relays.
She’s seeded inside the top-16 in her three entries for NCAAs (7th – 50 free, 12th – 100 fly, 14th – 100 free), giving A&M potentially an additional 20 points compared to if she was unable to compete, not taking into account her relay impact. The 23-year-old earned All-American honors last season in the 100 free, tying for 6th, while earning honorable mention All-American status in the 50 free (12th).
In addition to those swims, the France native swam on all of Texas A&M’s relays other than the 4×200 free, picking up a pair of runner-up finishes (both medleys) along with 8th and 9th place finishes in the sprint free relays. She’s capable of swimming either free, fly or back on the medley, and will be integral to the Aggies success later this month.
Gastaldello will have the day off on Saturday, but is entered to swim the 50 free on Sunday.
Impressive swim. Be cool if she’s 100 % ready for NCAAs.
Just curious, how is it she is 23 years old and still swimming in college? You would think at that age if she started swimming in college after high school her ncaa eligibility would be used up.
Your eligibility clock in swimming starts a year after your high school graduation if you don’t enroll immediately after secondary school. If it didn’t work like that, then people wouldn’t take an increasing popular postgraduate year (especially for athletes) at boarding schools, as if they had to burn a year of eligibility then they might as well head to a college and then transfer out after a year. Kids who do pg years typically end up turning 19 during that year, this they’d likely be doing college sports until 23 barring redshirting and whatnot.
This is good news. I love it when all players are present for big meets. There’s no question why one won over the other this way and of course, the racing is actually that much more fun with all players represented.