Taylor Ruck Posts 55.0 100 Free on Night One of Gresham Sectionals

On the first night of the 2016 Greshman Sectionals in Oregon, 2016 Canadian Olympian Taylor Ruck won the women’s 100 free in a time of 55.02.

Results on Meet Mobile under ‘2016 Speedo Sectionals at Gresham’

Ruck, who will swim on the 4×200 free relay for Canada at the Olympics this summer, was about a second off of her lifetime best, a 53.92 from the 2015 World Junior Championships. This is a strong time for her nonetheless; her best non-championship time is a 54.83 from the Mare Nostrum stop in Barcelona this June. Jamie Stone of Mt. Hood Aquatics was 2nd in 56.39, a few tenths off of her best.

Ruck also anchored Scottsdale’s victorious 800 free relay, posting a 2:02.52 on the end. Her splitting was a little wacky, going 26.82-30.89 for a 57.71 on the front end, then coming home in 32.37-32.44 for a 1:04.81. Scottsdale won by over five seconds, posting an 8:24.92.

14-year-old Kaitlyn Dobler, who came into the meet with a best time of 2:40.07 in the 200 breast, dropped five and a half seconds to win the race with an impressive 2:34.52. She now ranks 45th all-time in the 13-14 age group after not being on the top 100 list previously.

Katherine Berkoff, just 15, was 2:14.81 in the 200 back to win that race by almost three full seconds. Winning the men’s race was Scottsdale Aquatic Club’s Kaleb Gould in 2:04.56, with Katherine’s brother Cale Berkoff touching 2nd in 2:05.38.

Phoenix Swim Club’s Matti Harrison took the women’s 800 in a tight race with Scottsdale’s Mckenzee Gordon. Harrison was 8:56.19 for the win over Gordon (8:57.24). On the men’s side, it was 15-year-old Luke Thornbrue of HEAT for the victory at 8:29.09, edging out Jonah Saya (8:29.47).

OTHER WINNERS ON NIGHT 1:

• Kyle Robrock won the men’s 100 free in 50.96, the only swimmer under 51 seconds.
• Caspar Corbeau, 15, took the men’s 200 breast at 2:23.25. Corbeau swims for the Tualatin Hills Swim Club.
• In the women’s 200 fly, it was Scottsdale’s Kelly Huffer who turned in a 2:14.38 for the win.
• University of Arizona swimmer Nick Thorne swam his way to a win in the men’s 200 fly with a time of 2:04.33.
• RallySport Aquatic Club won the men’s 800 free relay in 7:48.88, getting a 1:53.00 anchor leg from Christopher Nicholson.