Zeren Rattles Turkish Record, IU Paces Geneva Sectionals

A number of Division I collegiate programs rolled through the Speedo Sectional meet in Geneva, Ohio, with the Indiana Hoosiers leading the way.

IU won the team title on the men’s side, and won 8 individual event titles in all.

The Hoosier men dominated the distance freestyles, winning the 200, 400 and 1500 frees. Andrej Ivanovic took the 200 in 1:53.06, Adam Destrampe the 400 in 3:57.80 and Matthew Anderson the 1500 in 15:41.43. Those times for Destrampe and Anderson were new Olympic Trials cuts.

IU also got new Olympic Trial cuts and wins from James Beckman (2:03.71 in the men’s 200 back), Sam Apa (1:03.44 in the men’s 100 breast) and Grace Haskett (1:02.99 in the women’s 100 back).

Other Indiana wins came courtesy of Laura Morley in the 200 breast (2:36.23) and Reagan Cook in the 200 fly (2:16.92).

Ohio State had a big meet on the women’s side, highlighted by Zulal Zeren rattling her own Turkish record in the 200 back. Zeren was 2:13.21, within a second of the Turkish national record she set last summer.

Buckeye Alexandra Norris doubled up in the 200 and 400 frees. The 24-year-old went 2:01.13 to win the 200 and 4:17.91 for the 400 title. Aliena Schmidtke also won for Ohio State, going 1:00.93 in the 100 fly.

West Virginia alum Bryce Bohman won the 100 back (55.55) and 100 fly (53.78) while fellow Mountaineer grad Tim Squires took the 50 free (23.06).

Clarion University grad Kaitlyn Johnson put together a sprint sweep on the women’s side, swimming unattached. The 26-year-old was 25.97 in the 50 free and 56.45 in the 100 free, winning both and taking second behind Schmidtke in the 100 fly. That 100 free was a new Olympic Trials cut for Johnson.

Also winning multiple events: Mason Manta Ray Jacob Foster and Olivia Johnson of the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers. The 15-year-old Foster won the 200 breast (2:17.15) in a new Olympic Trials cut, and also took the 400 IM (4:30.35). Meanwhile Johnson, 17, won the 800 free (8:53.44) and 400 IM (4:53.21).

On the final night of swimming, Matthew Willenbring of the Austin Swim Club notched a new Olympic Trials cut in the 200 IM, going 2:04.96 for the win.