SOFLO’s Lismar Lyon Shines On Day Three Of Speedo Southern Zone South Sectional Championships

By Sharon Robb
OCALA, May 26, 2024—Olympic hopeful Lismar Lyon was the top performer for South Florida Aquatic Club Saturday at the Speedo Southern Zone South Sectional Championships at Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training Center.

The Venezuelan won the 100-meter butterfly in a best time 59.78, dropping 0.33 and breaking one minute. Lismar, 23, was fastest qualifier in morning prelims in a then best time 1:00.11, dropping 0.12 seconds and lowering her previous best of 1:00.23.

Lyon was also a member of SOFLO’s third place 400-meter freestyle relay that finished in 3:58.81 with teammates Laila Harran, Carley Kaplan and Ana Villamil. Lyon had the fastest split of 58.63. The relay’s seed time was 4:00.74, dropping 1.93 seconds.

In an exciting men’s 200 breaststroke race, the top three finishers all went 2:16s. Giuilian Martin, 17, of Hurricane Aquatics won in 2:16.33 followed by Minnesota’s Maxwell Scheurer, 19, in 2:16.61 and SOFLO’s Julio Horrego, 25, third in 2:16.73. Horrego was second fastest in 200 breaststroke in 2:16.72

Juan Vallmitjana was third in the 400-meter freestyle in a best time 3:57.60, dropping 1.05 off his previous best of 4:00.46. He first dipped below 4 minutes in prelims as second fastest qualifier in 3:58.65 and bettered his best time again in finals dropping a total of 2.86 seconds. Dylan Felt of Swim Fort Lauderdale was second in 3:57.26 and Thomas Frost of Loggerhead Aquatics won in 3:57.21, making it one of the most exciting races of the day.

SOFLO men finished sixth in the 400-meter freestyle relay in 3:36.36 with Eric Veit, Aldo Zepeda, Juan Vallmitjana and Julio Horrego. Veit had the fastest split in 53.08.

SOFLO has 15 swimmers competing including four pros.

After three days of action, defending champion Sarasota Sharks lead the combined team totals with 1,850.5 points. They also lead the women’s field with 1,571.5 points. University of Minnesota leads the men’s team standings with 707.5 points.

SOFLO men are seventh with 271 and women are ninth with 227. SOFLO is ninth among combined teams with 498 points.

The meet homepage for heat sheets, results and other information: https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/fastfalcons/page/hosted-meets–events/sz-sectionals-may-2024

DAY THREE RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. Sarasota Sharks 1,850.5, 2. University of Minnesota 1,125.5, 3. Hurricane Aquatics 679, 4. Southwest Stars 568. 5. Laker Swim 560, 9. South Florida Aquatic Club 498.

WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Sarasota Sharks 1,571.5, 2. Hurricane Aquatics 488, 3. University of Minnesota 418, 4. St. Petersburg Aquatics 407, 5. Laker Swim 359, 9. SOFLO 227.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. University of Minnesota 707.5, 2. Fast Falcons 351, 3. Sarasota Tsunami 328, 4. Southwest Stars 292, 5. Sarasota Sharks 279, 7. SOFLO 271.

WOMEN
400-meter freestyle: 1. Kathryn McCarthy, MINN 4:14.96, 2. Brinkleigh Hansen, SPA 4:18.40, 3. Arianna Wertheim, STAR 4:18.66; SOFLO: 38. Carley Kaplan 4:41.11

100-meter butterfly: 1. Lismar Lyon, SOFLO 59.78, time drop 0.33, 2. Addison Reese, LAK 1:00.11, 3. Claire Reinke, MINN 1:00.64; SOFLO: 37. Gabriella DeLuna 1:05.63, 48. Lydia Smutny 1:06.82, time drop 1.18.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Madeline Huggins, CS 2:30.85, 2. Sarah Bernard, CS 2:31.97, 3. Anna Moore, FLOR 2:32.04; SOFLO: 22. Ana Villamil 2:47.44.

400-meter freestyle relay: 1. Hurricane Aquatics A 3:52.26, 2. Hurricane Aquatics B 3:57.40, 3. SOFLO 3:58.81 (Laila Harran, Lismar Lyon, Carley Kaplan, Ana Villamil).

MEN
400-meter freestyle: 1. Thomas Frost, LA 3:57.21, 2. Dylan Felt, SFTL 3:57.26, 3. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 3:57.60, time drop 1.05; SOFLO: 2. prelims, Juan Vallmitjana 3:58.65, time drop 1.81, 24. Austin Nelson 4:15.24

100-meter butterfly: 1. Kaiser Neverman, MINN 53.51, 2. Davide Harabagiu, MINN 53.68, 3. Parker Knollman, CL 53.94.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Giulian Martin, CANE 2:16.33, 2. Maxwell Scheuerer, MINN 2:16.61, 3. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 2:16.73; SOFLO: 10. prelims, Eric Veit 2:21.03, 9. finals, 2:20.18, 22. Manny Melendez 2:30.21, 36. Stephen Kim 2:36.55, 50. Juan Vallmitjana 2:44.43.

400-meter freestyle relay: 1. Rocket Swimming 3:31.11, 2. Southwest Stars 3:32.09, 3. Wahoos of Wellington 3:32.70, 6. SOFLO 3:36.36 (Eric Veit, Aldo Zepeda, Juan Vallmitjana, Julio Horrego).

SUNDAY SCHEDULE
200 IM
50 Meter Freestyle
200 Meter Backstroke
1500 Meter Freestyle
800 Meter Freestyle
400 Meter Medley Relay

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com