SOFLO TOP 10 STORIES FOR 2010

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 31, 2010

1.Coral Springs Swim Club and Comets Swim Team merge and become South Florida Aquatic Club in May, combining more than 450 swimmers, 20 employees including two world-class coaches, two 50-meter Olympic-size pools, three 25-meter and 25-yard pools, and diving and teaching pools at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, Mullins Park and Academic Village Pool. After only eight months, USA Swimming awards SOFLO Level 1 club status.

2.After undergoing state-of-the-art reconstructive knee surgery and rehabbing, five-time Olympian Dara Torres announces on Live with Regis and Kelly talk show that she is going to attempt to make her sixth Olympic team at age 45. “My heart and head are like, “Yeah, let’s go for it,” Torres said.

3.After a disappointing summer, Lindsey McKnight bounces back and enjoys her best high school season ever, winning four gold medals for American Heritage. As a junior, she won two individual and two relay state titles with All-American times and broke a state record in the 200-yard medley relay. “I am not sleeping tonight…it was such a fun night,” McKnight said of her finest state meet performance in three years.

4.At 14, Emily Kopas makes her senior national debut in Columbus, Ohio and makes “C” final. Calling it “a privilege” to qualify for seniors, Kopas, the youngest swimmer in the field, breaks the 200-yard breaststroke club record twice and posts career-best 2:16.02 in the championship final.

5.Two-time Olympian Alia Atkinson is first Jamaican swimmer to compete in a championship final at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai.  The two-time Olympian qualified for two finals.

6. Two-time Olympian Vlad Polyakov wins silver medal at Asian Games, bronze medal at U.S. Nationals and finals at World Short Course Championships.

7.Loai Tashkandi of Saudi Arabia makes history by winning three gold medals in national record-breaking swims at the Arabian Gulf State Championships.

8.Tyla Martin, representing Trinidad and Tobago at age 12, broke her own national record in the 100-meter butterfly at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Havana, Cuba and was the 11-12 overall girls champion at the CARIFTA Championships, her first international meet.

9.Academic Village Pool undergoes major renovation, upgrading the pool deck expansion, stadium lighting, cost-effective Geothermal heating and cooling for the pool, parent seating area with easy access, bleacher seating, crossfit exercise and dryland stations with spinning bikes, and brick paver donation walkway.

10. tie, In only her freshman year at Florida State, Tiffany Oliver is named Atlantic Coast Conference Female Performer of the Week after breaking the school record in the 100-yard freestyle (49.26) and leading the Seminoles’ upset over the defending national women’s champion University of Florida.

10. tie, At 46, SOFLO father and masters swimmer Rich Nixon enjoys his first Top 10 finish and career-best performance at the Ford Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. In his fifth Hawaii appearance, he was sixth in the 45-49 age group and 153^rd overall among a field of more than 1,800 in 9 hours, 28 minutes and 33 seconds.

There is no doubt South Florida Aquatic Club shined in its first year and 2011 will be the year it shines even brighter. Thank you swimmers, parents and coaches for a great year.

Happy New Year!!!

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

http://www.swim4soflo.com

ISHOF Adds New Safety Device For Jan. 8 Rough Water Swim

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 28, 2010

With a solid safety plan already in place for years, an additional safety device will be offered to swimmers in the January 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 41^st annual Fort Lauderdale Rough Water Swim off Fort Lauderdale beach.

Since the tragic death of 26-year-old U.S. national team member Fran Crippen at an October open water swim in the United Arab Emirates, open water swimming has come under scrutiny.

While the investigation into Crippen’s death is ongoing, local open water race officials are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of every swimmer and for the race to maintain its perfect safety record.

“This is about safety and lives of swimmers,” said ISHOF CEO and president Bruce Wigo, who has been an open water swimmer since age 10.

ISHOF ordered three hundred open water safety balls that will be made available to any swimmer wishing to use one during the swim.

Wigo first saw a photo of the unique product, that ties around the swimmer’s waist, used at the Pearl River Swim, featuring 15,000 swimmers in China, is not only a flotation safety device but also has a compartment that can hold towels, clothes and valuables when swimming alone in open water.

“I always wanted to try this product, something like this is inevitable,” Wigo said. “It doesn’t impede or slow down the swimmer. It goes around the waist. It’s an inflatable float that rides the back flow of the swimmer, it doesn’t pull, it just rides through the water. There is no drag at all.”

Wigo remembers his early days as an open water swimmer when he put himself at risk unknowingly. “When I look back at it now…” Wigo said.

“We would like as many people possible to use them as an experiment,” Wigo said. “I am convinced if Fran had been wearing this it would have been easy to note that his identification marker wasn’t moving. I think it’s perfect. We want to try to get people to use it.”

Crippen, in Fort Lauderdale last year for an open water clinic for local swimmers and coaches, won the Rough Water Swim in 19 minutes and 25.4 seconds.

ISHOF is working closely with Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue to ensure all standards established by the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) for open water swimming are in place including safety buoys.

The swim is parallel to the beach and swimmers will be observed from both the beach and ocean side of the course.

The open water swim was started in 1969 by the legendary Buck Dawson, founder of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum and one of the early open water swimming pioneers.

Wigo is hoping for a good turnout of swimmers of all ages from local clubs, high school and masters teams to the popular event. Numbers were low last year, he said.

Even before Crippen died, some college athletic directors would not allow their teams that were pool training in South Florida during the holidays, to participate in any open water swim because of the risk. College swimmers always looked forward to the change of scenery swimming in the ocean.

Numbers have been low for the College Swim Forum in Fort Lauderdale as well mainly because of the economy and travel problems.

Awards will be presented for the one mile swim in age group, college and masters divisions as well as the top 10 male and female finishers.

Registration is underway online at www.ishof.org or at the ISHOF Gift and Pro Shop. There is also race day registration with an additional $10 fee. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. on Fort Lauderdale Beach at Vistamar Street. The race finishes in front of the ISHOF facility on the beach at SE Fifth Street.

Another open water swim is scheduled for Sunday, January 2 at 9:30 a.m.

The Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Ocean Mile Swim will be held on Anchor Park Municipal Beach right off South Ocean Blvd. The well-organized event, open to all ages, benefits the Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Competition Team. There is free parking at Sandoway Park. Lifeguards will be on paddleboards and all lifeguard towers will be open. For more information call 561-243-7352 or email fosterj@mydelraybeach.com.

Another fun event this weekend is the largest paddle boarding event hosted by Miami.

The World Paddle Association’s Orange Bowl Paddle Championship will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 2 at the Bayside Marketplace Marina, 401 Biscayne Blvd. The event includes a five-mile race from Biscayne Bay to the Miami River for competition and amateur paddle boarders.

There will also be live music, charity raffle and demonstrations. The race is open to anyone. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Great Miami. The event fee is $10. Admission includes credit for a burger and refreshment. For more information go to www.orangebowlpaddle.com.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO Earns USA Swimming’s Level One Rating

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 27, 2010

Swimmers, parents and coaches have known all along South Florida Aquatic Club had the makings of an outstanding swim club.

Now it’s official.

USA Swimming, the sport’s national governing body, has recognized SOFLO, the newest club in the Florida Gold Coast, Level 1 status in its first year of existence.

It is the starting level for all clubs in USA Swimming’s Club Recognition Achievement Program.

“SOFLO is on the move,” said SOFLO CEO Chris Anderson.

The rating consideration is based on business and organizational success, parent and volunteer development, coach development and education, and athlete development and performance.

SOFLO became an official USAS club on May 1, 20100 when two of the most well-respected USA Swimming clubs in the nation officially merged.

Sponsored by Nike, SOFLO combines more than 450 swimmers and 20 employees including two world-class coaches, two 50-meter Olympic-size pools, three 25-meter and 25-yard pools, and diving and teaching pools at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, Mullins Park and City of Pembroke Pines Academic Village Pool.

“It is quite an honor to be already recognized by USA Swimming as a Club Recognition Level 1 team in SOFLO’s first year,” Anderson said. “I think it’s great pooling CST and CSSC resources together. We will be one of the top competitive aquatic clubs in the future, both athletically and administratively.”

“By receiving this award, SOFLO is now eligible to submit a club excellence application for the year 2011. SOFLO will also be able to reap the benefits that USA Swimming has to offer.”

The clubs’ 8-and-under age group programs remain under the auspices of the Coral Springs Swim Club and Comets satellite programs.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Lochte Wins Three Events, SOFLO’s Atkinson Makes Second Final On Last Day Of Short Course Worlds

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 19, 2010

Ryan Lochte ended a truly remarkable year with even higher hopes for the future.

The hottest swimmer in the world in 2010, may not have broken another world record on Sunday but added three more gold medals to his already Herculean efforts on the final day of the FINA Short Course World Championships in Dubai.

The 26-year-old Floridian was the most talked about swimmer during the five-day meet and rightfully so.

Lochte finished with seven medals: five individual golds, one relay gold and one relay silver and two world records. He missed an eighth medal when the U.S. finished fourth in the 400 freestyle relay on opening night.

Lochte broke the all-time record for medals won at three short course world championships with a total of 21, four more than previous record holder Therese Alshammar of Sweden with 17.

Buoyed by Lochte, who lives and trains in Gainesville, Team USA finished with 25 total medals, 12 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze. China had 14 (3 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze) and the Aussies had 11 (1 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze). Russia had 10 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze).

Lochte started his ambitious night on Sunday flirting with another world record but settled for the meet record in the 200-meter backstroke in 1:46.68, 2.41 ahead of U.S. teammate Tyler Clary who took silver in 1:49.09 and Austrian Markus Rogan took bronze in 1:49.96.

Lochte also broke his own American record of 1:47.91 he set in 2008. Lochte is one of only two swimmers to crack 1:47.

Fighting off fatigue, the Floridian won the 100-meter individual medley in 50.86. Germany’s Markus Deibler took silver in 51.69 and Russian Sergey Fesikov took bronze in 51.81.

Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell just missed a medal finishing fourth in 51.97, which lowered his own national record.

“I messed up a couple turns,” Lochte said referring to the 100 IM. “I just went for it.

“I felt it a lot in my legs after the 200 back, but it’s around the time I went in semis so I’ll take it. I think I could have gone a lot faster in the 200 back. I gave it my best shot.”

Lochte, a member of the winning 4×100-meter relay along with teammates Nicholas Thoman, Michael Alexandrov and Garrett Weber-Gale, gave the U.S. the lead on his third leg as the U.S. went on to win in a meet and ratified American record 3:20.99, just 0.62 ahead of the Russians in 3:21.61 and 2.13 ahead of Brazil with Cielo swimming anchor leg.

It was the only relay the usually dominant U.S. team won in the men’s and women’s competition.

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson, representing Jamaica, made her second championship final and finished eighth in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:25.49. She also made the 50-meter breaststroke final becoming the first Jamaican swimmer to make the championship final of the world short course meet.

American Rebecca Soni remains the swimmer to beat in the breaststroke after winning the 200-meter breaststroke in a meet record 2:16.39 setting herself up as a favorite for the long course worlds in Shanghai this summer. China’s Ye Sun took silver in 2:18.09 and Denmark’s Moller Rikke Pedersen took bronze in 2:18.82.

Tunisia’s Ous Mellouli, despite swimming in the slow heat because of paperwork glitch, won the 1500-meter freestyle in 14:24.16. No one was able to overtake his time in the faster heat. Denmark’s Mads Glaesner took silver in 15:29.52 and Hungary’s Gergely Gyurta took bronze in 14:31.47.

In other championship finals:

Brazil’s Cesar Cielo swept the sprint events by winning the 100-meter freestyle in a meet record 45.74 adding to his 50-meter title Friday and duplicating his feat at last year’s long course worlds in Rome. France’s Fabien Gilot was second in 45.97 and Russian Nikita Lobintsev was third in 46.35. American Nathan Adrian finished a disappointing sixth in 46.44.

“It was harder than I expected,” Cielo said. “I thought I was going to be faster but a gold is always a gold.”

China continues to look impressive with Jing Zhao winning the women’s 50-meter backstroke in a meet record 26.27. Aussie Rachel Goh took silver in 26.54 and Spain’s Mercedes Peris Minguet took bronze in 26.80.

Australia’s Felicity Galvez won gold in the 100-meter butterfly in a meet record 55.43. It was the Aussies first gold of the five-day meet. Australia had not gone without gold at a short or long course meet since 1986. The Aussies did not bring several of their top swimmers after a busy summer that includes Pan Pacs in California. Sweden’s Therese Alshammar was second in 55.73 and American Dana Vollmer was third in 56.25.

Brazil’s Felipe Silva won the 50-meter breaststroke in a meet record 25.95. South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh took silver in 26.03 and Norway’s Aleksander Hetland took bronze in 26.29.

American Jessica Hardy was shut out in the 50-meter freestyle. The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo (23.37) and Hinkelien Schreuder (23.81) finished 1-2 in the sprint event. Bahamians Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace took bronze in 24.04. Hardy finished fourth in 24.09. Kromowidjojo also completed a sweep after winning the 100 freestyle. She finished with three golds including a victory in the 400 freestyle relay.

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos won the 200-meter butterfly in 1:51.56. Brazil’s Kaio Almeida took silver in 1:51.61 and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh took bronze in 1:51.67.

France’s Camille Muffat won the 200-meter freestyle in a meet record 1:52.29. American Katie Hoff was second in 1:52.91 and Aussie Kylie Palmer was third in 1:52.96.

Attendance was disappointing throughout the week at the multi-million complex particularly on the final day when none of the swim teams remained to watch the closing ceremony or flag exchanging ceremonies. Less than a 100 watched the closing in the 15,000-seat arena.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Soni, Cielo, Garcia Steal Spotlight From Lochte For One Night At Short Course Worlds

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 18, 2010

While Ryan Lochte flirted with another world record in the 100-meter individual medley semifinals, American Rebecca Soni, Brazilian Cesar Cielo and Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia shared the spotlight on Saturday night at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai.

While Lochte remains the talk of the meet, a few other swimmers got their fifteen minutes of fame on Day Four.

Garcia won her third gold and fourth medal overall breaking the meet record in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:05.73.

“I feel very happy, it was an amazing race,” Garcia said. “This morning I was very tired and felt very nervous but as the afternoon wore on I became more relaxed.

“I can’t believe that I have won four medals, three of them golds. I think it will sink in when I get home.”

Garcia, who swims the 200-meter breaststroke on Sunday, also won gold in the 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter butterfly on Day One and silver medal in the 800-meter freestyle.

Soni, the queen of the breaststroke, won her second gold medal in a breaststroke event. After winning the 50-meter breaststroke, she won the 100-meter breaststroke in a meet record 1:03.98, and renewed her rivalry with Aussie Leisel Jones.

Soni was only 0.01 seconds ahead of Jones at the midway point but turned it on coming home.

“I definitely saw her next to me,” Soni said. “I know turns are my weakness so I just tried to outswim her and get to the wall first.

“It’s hard to be the first race of the night. I’m used to sitting back there and watching Ryan Lochte set a world record first.”

Albert Subirats of Venezuela won his country’s first gold medal at a world championship since 1997 in the 50-meter butterfly in a meet record 22.40.

“I am happy to get gold for myself and my country,” Subirats said. “I think I have gotten fourth by 1/100^th of a second six times over the last few years.”

Russian Stanislav Donets won the 50-meter backstroke in a meet record 22.93.

Cielo will go after his second gold medal on Sunday after being the top qualifier in the 100-meter freestyle semifinals in a meet record 46.01. He was 0.13 ahead of world record pace midway through his race.

Lochte, who also has three gold medals, was the fastest qualifier for Sunday’s 100-meter individual medley in a meet record 50.81, just 0.05 seconds off the world record. Germany’s Markus Deibler qualified second in 52.08, a German national record.

“I don’t know what to say about that race,” Lochte told reporters afterwards. “I’m not used to swimming it. Today was my easy day. I was pushing for it this morning until just at the end and then I stopped. I enjoyed that race.

“I’m not really aiming for anything on Sunday. It’s definitely going to be a hard challenge for me. It’s probably going to be the hardest day. But I’m up for it.”

Lochte has already won gold in the 200-meter freestyle as well as his world record swims in the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys. On Sunday Lochte is scheduled to swim the 100-meter individual medley, 200-meter backstroke and may swim on the 4×100-meter medley relay.

“I do have a tough schedule, it’s just a lot of racing,” Lochte said. “It’s a stepping stone for me on the way to the World Championships.”

The Netherlands won the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay in a meet record 3:28.54, ahead of the U.S. team of Natalie Coughlin, Katie Hoff, Jessica Hardy and Dana Vollmer (3:29.34) and China (3:29.81).

Team USA leads the medal count with 18 total medals (8 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze). China has 12 total, 2 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze. Competition concludes on Sunday.

In the men’s 50-meter breaststroke, SOFLO’s Vlad Polyakov of Kazakhstan finished 11^th in the semifinals in 26.86 and did not make the final eight. Brazil’s Felipe Silvas was top qualifier in 26.22.

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson will compete in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke for Jamaica. The heats will take place in the morning session.

ELSEWHERE

Eight-and-under swimmer Luke Gillette of Trinidad and Tobago’s Marlins club team broke a 30-year-old record on Day Two of the annual Invitational Swim Meet at the Marlins pool. Gillette was first in his age group in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:12.15. The old record of 1:12.24 was set by Laurens Albada in December 1980. Gillette also won the 50-meter butterfly in 36.73.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Lochte Breaks Another World Record At Short Course World Championships

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 17, 2010

Ryan Lochte is taking up where Michael Phelps left off.

The Floridian broke his second world record and won his third gold medal Friday on Day 3 of the FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai.

“I always get better after the first day, but I race for fun so what comes as an outcome I’ll take it,” Lochte said. “These results just get me ready for the 2011 Worlds in Shanghai and Olympics in 2012.”

Lochte trimmed the 200-meter individual medley world record by more than a second in 1:50.08, 2.83 seconds ahead of Austria’s Markus Rogan.

“This is amazing, that’s pretty fast,” said Lochte, who finished by more than two body lengths ahead of Rogan. Lochte broke the previous mark set by South Africa’s Darian Townsend by 1.5 seconds.

“I started very fast and did a very fast last 25 meters and the result is a world record. I just focused on going out faster than the rest of the field.”

Lochte was coming off his world record performance in the 400 individual medley and victory in the 200 freestyle.

Lochte could actually see the clock on the screen during his race.

“When I was doing backstroke I looked up at the screen and saw I was just in front of the world record line,” Lochte said. “That motivated me through the breaststroke and freestyle.”

Lochte’s two world records are the only individual world records set in 2010, in either short course or long course, since the textile suits took the place of the high-tech body suits. He has now won 19 titles over three world short course championship meets.

With every win, Lochte knows he is doing his part to add to the sport’s popularity in the absence of Phelps, who is not competing at the short course meet.

“My overall goal in swimming is just to make it bigger than it is now,” Lochte said. “I think Phelps started with all that and made the sport bigger than what it was before. I just want to try to help in that effort.”

In other championship finals:

Swedish superstar Therese Alshammar won the women’s 50-meter butterfly in a meet record of 24.87, just ahead of Australia’s Felicity Galvez who finished in a lifetime best of 24.94.

Alshammar has now won 16 medals at the short course world championships, one shy of American Jenny Thompson.

Brazilian Cesar Cielo, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist sprinter who predicted Lochte’s 200 IM world record, got a little glitter of his own after winning the 50-meter freestyle in a meet record 20.51 ahead of Frederick Bousquet (20.81) and American Josh Schneider (20.88). “I now have all the major titles a swimmer can dream of,” Cielo said.

Germany’s Paul Biedermann, finally getting accustomed to the textile suit and ending the criticism that he can only swim fast in the now-banned high-tech bodysuit, won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:37.06.

Swimming in Lane 8, Biedermann came from behind in the last 50 meters to overtake Ous Mellouli of Tunisia and Nikita Lobinstev of Russia.

“It was not my plan to win like that,” Biedermann said. “They call me Mr. Suit but I am training harder than ever to prove my critics wrong.”

Japan’s Naoya Tomita won the men’s 200-meter breaststroke in a meet record 2:03.12 ahead of Hungary’s Daniel Gyurta, who finished in 2:03.47. The duo had a nice rivalry going with Tomita breaking the meet record in his semifinal and Gyurta coming back to break the meet record in his semifinal.

In the women’s 100-meter freestyle, Dutch sprinters Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk finished 1-2 and American Natalie Coughlin was third in 52.25, an American record. Kromowidjojo won in 51.45, 0.73 seconds ahead of Heemskerk and 0.80 ahead of Coughlin.

American Katie Hoff won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:57.07, after leading from start to finish. It was Hoff’s first international gold medal since 2007.

U.S. teammate Ariana Kukors also won a gold medal in the 100-meter individual medley in 58.95. Teenager Missy Franklin was seventh in the event in 1:00.75.

Franklin won her first world championship medal with a second place finish in the 200-meter backstroke in an American record time of 2:02.01. Alexianne Castel of France won the 200-meter backstroke.

China continues to dominate the women’s relays. The foursome of Zhao Jing, Zhao Jin, Liu Zige and Tang Yi just missed a world record by .32 seconds in the 4×100-meter medley relay in 3:48.29. Americans Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Jessica Hardy were second in an American record time of 3:48.36 and the Aussies were third in 3:48.88.

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson of Jamaica just missed out on qualifying for her second final finishing with the ninth-fastest time in the 100-meter breaststroke. She was coming off making the 50-meter breaststroke final and becoming the first Jamaican swimmer to make a final at the world short course event.

SOFLO’s Vlad Polyakov also didn’t make finals in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:06.78. SOFLO’s Loai Tashkandi of Saudi Arabia was 48^th

in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:12.57 and Venezuela’s Leo Andara was disqualified in the 200 breaststroke.

Team USA leads the medal count with 15 total medals (7 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze). Thirty-seven meet records have been broken after three days.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Lochte Breaks World Record at World Short Course Championships; His Father Steps Down At Daytona Beach State College

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 16, 2010

After the high-tech bodysuits were banned at the beginning of the year, swimming experts said a world record would not be broken in 2010.

Floridian Ryan Lochte proved them wrong by becoming the first individual to break a world record in a textile suit on Day Two of the FINA World Short Course Championships on Thursday in Dubai.

Lochte, 26, who trains and lives in Gainesville, won the 400-meter individual medley in 3:55.50, shaving nearly two seconds off the previous mark set by Laszlo Cseh of Hungary last December.

Tunisia’s Olympic 1500-meter champion Ous Mellouli took the silver in 3:57.40 and Team USA’s Tyler Clary took bronze in 3:57.56.

Lochte has now won the 400 IM titles at the 2006, 2008 and 2010 world championships. Brazil’s Olympic 50-meter freestyle champion Cesar Cielo predicted Lochte would break the world record in the 200 IM on Friday.

“I wasn’t really expecting that (world record),” Lochte said after the race. “I was going out there, racing the field. I had no idea where I was during the race. I’m really happy, it was a world record and you have to be happy with that.”

Lochte was also part of the second record-breaking race of the night but was forced to settle for the silver medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

The Russians knocked off the Americans in the men’s relay in 6:49.04 with Nikita Lobintsev (1:42.10), Danila Izotov (1:42.15), Evgeny Lagunov (1:42.32) and Alexander Sukhorukov (1:42.47). The previous world record was 6:51.05 set by Canada last December.

The American team of Peter Vanderkaay, Lochte, Garrett Weber-Gale and Richard Berens was second, also under the world record in 6:49.58. France took bronze in 6:53.05.

“We are really happy with this victory and we would like this tradition to continue, Russia beating USA,” Lagunov said. “We really wanted to beat the U.S. team and we were happy to do it. We were very confident that we could do it.”

In two days, three world records have been broken. China broke the first world record in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay Wednesday night.

After two days, the U.S. had four gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Russia has three gold and two silver medals.

Team USA is having mixed results. Nathan Adrian, the No. 1 sprinter in the U.S., failed to final in the 50-meter freestyle, his best event and Mike Alexandrov didn’t medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, an event he was favored to win.

The rubberized bodysuits turned swimming upside down the past two years. Of the 32 current long course world records, all but four were set in 2009. In the 25-meter pool, all but 10 of the 42 world records were set in 2009. At the last short course meet in Manchester, England, 18 world records were broken.

The staggering record-breaking prompted FINA, the sport’s international governing body, to  ban the buoyant suit. Men now wear jammers covering the waist only to the knees and women’s suits are now sleeveless and not extended beyond the knees.

In other championship finals:

American Rebecca Soni won the 50-meter breaststroke in 29.83, 0.01 seconds head of Commonwealth Games champion Leiston Pickett of Australia and China’s Zhao Jin. SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson of Jamaica was sixth in 30.22, in the first of four events she is entered.

Teammate and Olympian Natalie Coughlin won the 100-meter backstroke in a meet record 56.08, her best time in a textile suit. China’s Zhao Jing (56.18) and Gao Chang (56.21) finished second and third respectively. “I just tried to keep the momentum going and to be fearless in the race,” Coughlin said. “Tonight I had no hesitation.”

Russian Stanislav Donets just missed the world record but broke the meet record in the 100-meter backstroke in 49.07. Camille Lacourt of France took the silver 49.80 after nearly being disqualified and Aschwin Wildeboer of Spain took the bronze in 50.04. World record holder Nick Thoman was fourth in 50.38.

South African Cameron van der Burgh won the 100-meter breaststroke in a championship record 56.80 holding off Italian Fabio Scozzoli (57.13) and Brazil’s Felipe Silva (57.39). SOFLO’s Vlad Polyakov of Kazakhstan was seventh in 58.66. “This is a great way to wrap up the season,” van der Burgh said. “It’s been a long but a great season and fantastic to at least defend my title.”

Russian world record holder and No. 1-ranked Evgeny Korotyshkin won the 100-meter butterfly in 50.23. Venezuela’s Albert Subirats was second in 50.24 and Kaio Almeida of Brazil was third in 50.33. No American made the final.

Spain’s Erika Villaecija won the gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle in 8:11.61, fourth best textile suit time ever, and teammate Mireia Belmonte took silver in 8:11.61. American Kate Ziegler was third in 8:12.84.

ELSEWHERE

Steve Lochte, the father of Olympian champion Ryan Lochte, has decided not to return to his job as head swimming coach at Daytona Beach State College after his controversial suspension, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal.

Lochte, who was hired in 2008, was offered re-assignment within the college that would have removed him from his coaching position by college officials, but chose to resign instead. 

Lochte and his daughter, Kristin, have been on paid leave of absence since an international investigation started in October.

Administrators had received reports about lack of supervision, drug use, poor grades and other details concerning the team. Many of the swimmers and parents rallied around the Lochtes who were concerned about their reputations being tarnished in the sport.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Lochte Wins First Gold; Atkinson, Polyakov Final On Day One Of World Short Course Championsips

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 15, 2010

Ryan Lochte broke a meet record twice and won his first gold medal at the FINA World Short Course Championships Wednesday in Dubai.

Lochte broke the meet record in the 200-meter freestyle in 1 minute, 42.38 seconds in Wednesday’s heat. It was a full second better than the previous record of 1:43.28 set by retired Australian great Ian Thorpe in 1999.

Lochte came back and broke it again in the final in 1:41.08.

“I just wanted to do a good time,” Lochte told reporters after the race. “Usually, my first race is always the worst so I am glad that’s out of the way.

“It was a good race. I was lucky enough to win this one. This just shows that the rest of the meet is going to be pretty good. I am just going to take each race at a time.”

Lochte finished nearly a full body-length ahead of Russian Danila Izotov, who was second in 1:41.70 and Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia was third in 1:42.02.

Germany’s Paul Biedermann, world record holder in 1:39.37 set in 2009 before the ban on non-textile suits, was fifth in 1:42.19.

“I just don’t know what went wrong,” Biedermann said. “I feel I could have gone faster. I’m going to have to look at my technique.”

Lochte, like his U.S. teammates, wore orange ribbons with the initials FC in memory of Fran Crippen, who died in an open water 10K race on October 23 off the coast of United Arab Emirates.

Lochte, who had hoped to walk away with eight gold medals, wasn’t as fortunate in the 400-meter freestyle relay when the U.S. failed to medal.

The U.S. fell behind early in the relay after Nathan Adrian’s 47.35 opening leg, leaving Lochte too much distance to make up on the anchor leg. Adrian, the top U.S. sprinter, was seventh after the opening relay leg.

The U.S. team of Adrian, Garrett Weber-Gale, Richard Berens and Lochte were fourth behind France that won in 3:04.78 with Alain Bernard, Frederick Bousquet, Fabien Gilot and Yannick Agnel. Russia was second, 0.04 behind and Brazil third, 0.96 back.

On Thursday, Lockte will swim the 400-meter individual medley and 800 free relay. Lochte’s gold was the only medal won by the U.S. on opening day.

SOFLO’s two-time Olympians Alia Atkinson of Jamaica and Vlad Polyakov of Kazakhstan made it to the finals but finished out of the medal hunt.

In her first race of the week-long meet, Atkinson made it through prelims and semifinals before finishing fifth among the 16-swimmer field in the 50-meter breaststroke in 30.19 and sixth in the final in 30.22.

It was the first of four events for Atkinson, who is also entered in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and 100-meter individual medley. Atkinson is one of two Jamaicans competing. Victoria Ho, who trains at Lake Lytal in West Palm Beach, is also competing.

Polyakov, second fastest qualifier heat in the 100-meter breaststroke in 57.80, finished seventh in 58.34 and seventh in the final 58.66. SOFLO teammate Leo Andara of Venezuela was 57^th in 1:03.53.

China was successful in the 800-meter freestyle relay with the first world record of 2010 without the banned high-tech suit.Chen Qian, Tang Yi, Liu Jjing and Zhu Qianwei broke the record in 7:35.94, lowering the mark by nearly three seconds set two years ago by the Netherlands.

OTHER MEET NEWS

*The five-member Israel team is at the meet with heavy security. The team arrived a day late because of security concerns. United Arab Emirates has no diplomatic relations with Israel. There are seven or eight security agents watching the team at all times.

*FINA awarded the 2014 World Short Course Championships to Catania, Italy. FINA also chose Casablanca, Morocco as host of the 2013 World Junior Swimming Championships.

*FINA also announced the creation of a School for Officials in open water swimming similar to schools already in water polo, diving and synchronized swimming to help screen who is selected to be open water officials. This move came in the wake of Fran Crippen’s senseless death at a FINA open water 10K swim in October.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http:www.swim4soflo.com

Atkinson Leads SOFLO Contingent At Short Course World Championships In Dubai

 

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB December 13, 2010 Two-time Olympians Alia Atkinson and Vlad Polyakov head South Florida Aquatic Club’s contingent for the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships that begin Wednesday in Dubai. Atkinson will represent Jamaica and Polyakov will compete for Kazakhstan. They will be joined by teammates Leo Andara of Venezuela and Loai Tashkandi of Saudi Arabia. The foursome will be among 780 athletes, including world champions and record holders, from 148 countries competing at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex, a 15,000-seat indoor arena. In addition to the United States, top names from Sweden, Great Britain, Brazil, Italy and France are entered. “The fact that top-class athletes are racing in Dubai is wonderful for the championships,” said vice director Dr. Khalid Al Zahed, who added this is the most athletes ever to compete in the short course meet. “It is great to see all these world-class swimmers from many different countries swimming in our new state-of-the-art venue.” Swimmers are already comparing the venue to Madison Square Garden and said the pool, described as the “pearl in the desert” is fast. Atkinson, coming off the Commonwealth Games in India, will compete in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events. Polyakov, coming off the Asian Games and Short Course Nationals, will also compete in all three breaststroke events. His best shot at a medal is in the 200-meter breaststroke, where he is seeded fifth (2:05.02). Andara is entered in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events. Tashkandi, a national record holder and triple gold medalist at the GCC Aquatic Championships in Kuwait, is entered in the 100- and 200-meter individual medley and 100- and 200-meter freestyles. It is the first time the world championships are being held in the Middle East. During the long course season in 50-meter pools, no world records were broken since the return of the textile suit. Standards are expected to drop during the short course meet in the 25-meter pool. American Olympian Aaron Peirsol has withdrawn from the five-day meet enabling Nick Thoman to move into his backstroke spot. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte will be the busiest U.S. swimmer among the 37-swimmer contingent. He is entered in five individual events, the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter backstroke, 100-, 200- and 400-meter individual medley and two relays. Lochte is one of 20 U.S. Olympians competing. Three-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin leads the U.S. women’s team. It will be Coughlin’s short course worlds debut. The toughest individual schedules belong to Americans Tyler Clary and teenager Missy Franklin. Clary is swimming all three IMs as well as the 200 backstroke and butterfly events. Franklin, 15, is swimming the 100 and 200 IMs and all three backstroke races. In honor of Fran Crippen, who tragically died Oct. 23 during an open water 10K FINA event just 60 miles away in Fujairah, U.S. swimmers will wear Crippen’s initials on their dress sweats and t-shirts. Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, like Lochte, will also be busy competing in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyles. The Olympic and world 200-meter freestyle champion is favored in all three events. One of the most-anticipated women’s races is American Rebecca Soni and Australian Leisel Jones in the breaststroke events. “It’s a very good rivalry,” Soni said. “I really respect Leisel and I think she respects me so that’s always a good thing.” In the men’s races, the 50-meter freestyle with Frederick Bousquet of France, Olympic and world sprint king Cesar Cielo of Brazil and American Nathan Adrian. Each day more than 1,500 school children from Dubai’s schools will be in attendance for free. UniversalSports.com will have daily highlight shows during the world championships. Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO Comes Up Big At County Sprint Championships, Ends 2010 On Winning Note

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 12, 2010

It looked more like the South Florida Aquatic Club Invitational than the Broward County Sprint Championships Sunday at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

With SOFLO swimmers dominating nearly every event on the second and final day of the Florida Gold Coast meet, SOFLO ended the 2010 season on a winning note.

The eight-month old club captured the combined team title with a record 4,642.50 points. It is believed to be the highest total ever amassed by a team at any FGC meet.

Fort Lauderdale Aquatics was runner-up with 1,210 points and Plantation Swim Team was third with 687.50. The Coral Springs Swim Club-hosted meet attracted more than 550 swimmers from the FGC.

It was the final meet of the 2010 season for SOFLO and fourth team title the club has won since Coral Springs Swim Club and Comets Swim Team merged earlier this year.

“The meet was planned as a fun meet at the end of the season so everybody could wrap up the 2010 fall season with some really nice, fast swims especially in the short events they usually don’t swim,” SOFLO six-time Olympic coach Michael Lohberg said.

“The kids picked up the idea perfectly and responded with a lot of fast times and good times from the social point of view. They had all their friends there (200-plus SOFLO swimmers) and it made the meet very special for them.”

SOFLO was impressive in every age group, from 9-year-old Delaney Biro to 27-year-old Virgin Islands Olympian and SOFLO seniors assistant coach Josh Laban.

SOFLO girls double winners were Samantha Spire, 12, in the 50-yard backstroke (30.69) and 100-yard freestyle (59.82) and Marcella Marinheiro, 16, in the 50-yard backstroke (28.34) and 50-yard butterfly (28.14).

Individual SOFLO girls winners included Emily Kopas, 14, in the 100-yard individual medley (1:01.29); Delaney Biro, 9, in the 50-yard backstroke (41.08); Kelley Heron, 11, in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:15.69); Emma Lincoln, 14, in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.06); Sarah Bucaro, 10, in the 100-yard freestyle (1:06.39) and Linea Cutter, 17, in the 100-yard freestyle (54.44).

In the boys competition, 10-year-old Jorge Depassier of SOFLO was a triple winner in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:25.66), 100-yard freestyle (1:01.91) and 50-yard butterfly in (31.15).

Italian Valerio Rasi, 17, training with SOFLO, was a double winner capturing the 50-yard backstroke (25.21) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.76).

Tristan Celestin, 11, also won two events for SOFLO in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.00) and 50-yard butterfly (28.86).

Individual SOFLO boys’ winners were Samuel Quintero, 10, 100-yard individual medley (1:16.17); Gianpaolo Barelli, 17, 100-yard individual medley (55.61); Kevin Porto, 10, 50-yard backstroke (33.21); Gustavo Valery, 12, 50-yard backstroke (29.85) and Josh Laban, 27, 50-yard butterfly, 23.84.

TEAM TOTALS

1.South Florida Aquatic Club 4,642.50, 2. Fort Lauderdale Aquatics 1,210, 3. Plantation Swim Team 687.50, 4. Davie Nadadores 378, 5. Heritage Aquatic Team 367, 6. Pompano Piranhas USA 258, 7. Midtown Weston Aquatics 223, 8. Unattached SOFLO 206, 9. SwimFast 167, 10. YMCA of Broward County 76, 11. Unattached-3 50, 12. Unattached-1, 33, 13. Comets Swim Team 18, 14. Unattached-5 15, 15. Coral Springs Swim Club 9.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

GIRLS

100-yard individual medley: 10-and-under, 1. Adriana Rodriguez, FLA 1:15.56, 2. Sarah Bucaro, SOFLO 1:16.80, 3. Jennifer Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:22.01, 4. Caitlin Coote, SOFLO 1:24.85, 5. Hannah Virgin, SOFLO 1:25.31, 6. Katharine DeBarros, SOFLO 1:27.41, 7. Delaney Biro, SOFLO 1:27.88; 11-12, 1. Fatimah Wetbrook, FLA 1:05.97, 2. Audrey Mason, SOFLO 1:10.85, 3. Monica Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:11.07, 4. Samantha Stinemire, SOFLO 1:12.87, 5. Laryssa Bedley, DANA 1:13.03, 6. Jillian Contich, PST 1:15.38, 7. Alani Carrasco, SOFLO 1:15.78; 13-and-over, 1. Emily Kopas, SOFLO 1:01.29, 2. Melissa Marinheiro, SOFLO 1:05.56, 3. Amanda Tiptoe, FLA 1:05.78, 4. Nilza Costa, DANA 1:06.40, 5. Chantal Bouthillier, HAT 1:06.63, 6. Osianna McReed, FLA 1:07.11, 7. Maria Lopez, SOFLO 1:07.29.

50-yard backstroke: 10-and-under, 1. Delaney Biro, SOFLO 41.08, 2. Hannah Virgin, SOFLO 41.99, 3. Rachel Contich, PST 42.14, 4. Ariel Sullivan, Piranhas 42.33, 5. Delanie Perez, SOFLO 42.36, 6. Mya Asailov, FLA 42.80, 7. Monica Cordero, SOFLO 43.05; 11-12, 1. Samantha Stinemire, SOFLO 30.69, 2. Fatimah Westbrook, FLA 32.32, 3. Jessica Rodriguez, SOFLO 32.57, 4. Allison Kopas, SOFLO 32.88, 5. Kelley Heron, SOFLO 33.08, 6. Monica Rodriguez, SOFLO 33.31, 7. Sophia Bucaro, SOFLO 33.99; 13-and-over, 1. Marcella Marinheiro, SOFLO 28.34, 2. Rebecca DeRogatis, FLA 30.26, 3. Emma Lincoln, SOFLO 30.80, 4. Maria Lopez, SOFLO 31.29, 5. Kristina Brennan, SOFLO 31.40, 6. Natasha Payamps, SOFLO 31.65, 7. Leonie Davies, SOFLO 31.91.

100-yard breaststroke: 10-and-under, 1. Urbina Cortes, PST 1:36.27, 2. Katharine DeBarros, SOFLO 1:37.60, 3. Jacqueline Carvallo, Piranhas 1:37.75, 4. Sarah Bucaro, SOFLO 1:39.91, 5. Ann Montgomery, SOFLO 1:44.71, 6. Natalia Rossi, SOFLO 1:46.56, 7. Alexandra Crespo, SOFLO 1:48.88; 11-12, 1. Kelley Heron, SOFLO 1:15.69, 2. Audrey Mason, SOFLO 1:15.87, 3. Laryssa Bedley, DANA 1:16.81, 4. Jessica Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:18.30, 5. Allison Kopas, SOFLO 1:20.78, 6. Elizabeth Zubero, FLA 1:21.60; 13-and-over, 1. Emma Lincoln, SOFLO 1:14.06, 2. Rebecca DeRogatis, FLA 1:14.64, 3. Chloe Gerena, PST 1:15.09, 4. Nicole Schein, SOFLO 1:15.13, 5. Andrea Vallejo, Midtown Weston 1:16.72, 6. Regan Byrne, FLA 1:17.02.

100-yard freestyle: 10-and-under, 1. Sarah Bucaro, SOFLO 1:06.39, 2. Urban Cortes, PST 1:09.62, 3. Jennifer Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:09.95, 4. Delanie Perez, SOFLO 1:12.32, 5. Karla Jimenez, SOFLO 1:17.21, 6. Tiffany Seto, SF 1:17.44, 7. Caitlin Coote, SOFLO 1:17.50, 8. Hannah Virgin, SOFLO 1:17.69; 11-12, 1. Samantha Stinemire, SOFLO 59.82, 2. Sophie Bucaro, SOFLO 59.96, 3. Eliza Windisch, HAT 1:00.56, 4. Catharine Cooper, SOFLO 1:00.70, 5. Kelley Herson, SOFLO 1:01.63, 6. Monica Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:01.78, 8. Allison Kopas, SOFLO 1:03.26; 13-and-over, 1. Linea Cutter, SOFLO 54.44, 2. Marcella Marinheiro, SOFLO 55.19, 3. Emily Kopas, SOFLO 56.36, 4. Melissa Marinheiro, SOFLO 56.55, 5. Andre Melendez, SOFLO 57.30, 6. Osianna McReed, FLA 57.40, 8. Maria Lopez, SOFLO 57.74.

50-yard butterfly: 10-and-under, 1. Adriana Rodriguez, FLA 36.53, 2. Delanie Perez, SOFLO 37.69, 3. Jennifer Rodriguez, SOFLO 38.37, 4. Delaney Biro, SOFLO 39.36, 5. Rachel Contich, PST 39.87, 6. Mia Marquez, Piranhas 41.18, 7. Katharine DeBarros, SOFLO 42.05, 8. Karla Jimenez, SOFLO 44.55, 9. Lauren Noyola, SOFLO 47.19; 11-12, 1. Fatimah Westbrook, FLA 28.62, 2. Eliza Windisch, HAT 30.86, 3. Natasha Testa, SOFLO 31.46, 4. Jessica Rodriguez, SOFLO 31.90, 5. Adrienna Aponte, FLA 32.38, 6. Annika Ramnath, Midtown Weston 32.53, 12. Catharine Cooper, SOFLO 34.78; 13-and-over, 1. Marcella Marinheiro, SOFLO 28.14, 2. Linea Cutter, SOFLO 28.58, 3. Lara Garduno, SOFLO 28.95, 4. Melissa Marinheiro, SOFLO 29.13, 5. Rebecca DeRogatis, FLA 29.14, 6. Natasha Payamps, SOFLO 29.17, 10. Katie Brennan, SOFLO 29.93.

BOYS

100-yard individual medley: 10-and-under, 1. Samuel Quintero, SOFLO 1:16.17, 2. Christian Kohanyi, PST 1:17.80, 3. Jonathan Skarie, SOFLO 1:18.55, 4. Andres Lares, SOFLO 1:19.08, 5. Carlos Vasquez, DANA 1:21.47, 6. Christian Webb, FLA 1:24.09, 7. Gus Cohn, SOFLO 1:25.04; 11-12, 1. Kear Kurbanali, DANA 1:08.05, 2. Juan Lucas, SOFLO 1:08.75, 3. Cristian Rossi, SOFLO 1:09.20, 4. Jon Strod, Midtown Weston 1:12.04, 5. Carlos Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:12.08, 6. James Burnette, HAT 1:14.52; 13-and-over, 1. Gianpaolo Barelli, SOFLO 55.61, 2. Zain Qali, SOFLO 56.05, 3. Lucas Brito, DANA 56.56, 4. Abbas Qali, SOFLO 56.64, 5. Keegan Boisson-Yates, SOFLO 57.17, 6. Luke Torres, SOFLO 57.54, 9. Marc Rojas, SOFLO 58.77.  

50-yard backstroke: 10-and-under, 1. Kevin Porto, SOFLO 33.21, 2. Samuel Quintero, SOFLO 35.16, 3. Christ Kohanyi, PST 37.64, 4. Shane Schulte, Piranhas 37.96, 5. Jonathan Skarie, SOFLO 38.44, 6. Carlos Vasquez, DANA 39.70; 11-12, 1. Gustavo Valery, SOFLO 29.85, 2. Juan Lucas, SOFLO 30.65, 3. Kear Kurbanali, DANA 31.51, 4. Alfredo Mesa Jr., SOLFO 33.35, 5. Alejandro Zaccaro, DANA 33.54, 6. Cristian Rossi, SOFLO 33.62, 8. Ryan Capote, SOFLO 35.12; 13-and-over, 1. Valerio Rasi, SOFLO 25.21, 2. Brandon Goldman, SOFLO 25.72, 3. Ivan Parada, SOFLO 27.32, 4. Felipe Bricio, FLA 27.41, 5. Deo Rivera, Midtown Weston 27.52, 6. Roger Powell, FLA 28.02, 8. August Charni, SOFLO 29.56.

100-yard breaststroke: 10-and-under, 1. Jorge Depassier, SOFLO 1:25.66, 2. Samuel Quintero, SOFLO 1:28.43, 3. Christ Kohanyi, PST 1:28.94, 4. Kevin Porto, SOFLO 1:29.22, 5. Andres Lares, SOFLO 1:32.91, 6. Diego Avellaneda, PST 1:35.17, 7. Rafael Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:40.60; 11-12, 1. Tristan Celestin, SOFLO 1:10.00, 2. Ricardo Roche, SOFLO 1:27.03, 3. Kelly Schulte, Piranhas 1:31.78, 4. Tyler Gibson, SOFLO 1:34.87, 5. Aman McFarlane, DANA 1:37.12, 6. Gui Hada, SOFLO 1:38.40, 8. Gianca Payamps, SOFLO 1:42.39; 13-and-over: 1. Valerio Rasi, SOFLO 1:05.76, 2. Brandon Goldman, SOFLO 1:06.15, 3. Daniel Lee, SOFLO 1:06.40, 4. Marco Hosfeld, SOFLO 1:06.63, 5. Brian Arnaud, SOFLO 1:07.34, 6. Roger Powell, FLA 1:07.69.

100-yard freestyle: 10-and-under, 1. Jorge Depassier, SOFLO 1:01.91, 2. Gus Cohn, SOFLO 1:09.23, 3. Jonathan Skarie, SOFLO 1:09.46, 4. Rafael Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:13.26, 5. Shane Schulte, Piranhas 1:14.55, 6. Minsuk Kang, DANA 1:18.08, 7. Lorenzo Lanaro, SOFLO 1:18.16; 11-12, 1. Kear Kurbanali, DANA 57.22, 2. Cristian Rossi, SOFLO 57.28, 3. Alfredo Mesa Jr., SOFLO 58.10, 4. Gustavo Valery, SOFLO 58.44, 5. Tristan Celestin, SOFLO 58.58, 6. Juan Lucas, SOFLO 59.34, 7. Carl Rodriguez, SOFLO 1:00.87, 8. Ryan Capote, SOFLO 1:01.78; 13-and-over, 1. Lucas Brito, DANA 48.13, 2. Keegan Boisson-Yates, SOFLO 48.55, 3. Gianpaolo Barelli, SOFLO 48.61, 4. Marc Rojas, SOFLO 49.76, 5. Alex Lilley, DANA 50.57, 6. Marco Hosfeld, SOFLO 50.74, 8. Ivan Parada, SOFLO 51.04.

50-yard butterfly: 10-and-under, 1. Jorge Depassier, SOFLO 31.15, 2. Kevin Porto, SOFLO 31.52, 3. Andres Lares, SOFLO 34.91, 4. Rafael Rodriguez, SOFLO 39.50, 5. Gus Cohn, SOFLO 40.02, 6. Diego Avellaneda, PST 40.36, 9. Lorenzo Lanaro, SOFLO 41.50; 11-12, 1. Tristan Celestin, SOFLO 28.86, 2. Carl Rodriguez, SOFLO 30.66, 3. James Burnette, HAT 30.91, 4. Alfredo Mesa Jr., SOFLO 31.10, 5. Federico Maeso, SOFLO 32.51, 6. Jon Strod, Midtown Weston 33.38, 7. Gustavo Valery, SOFLO 33.44; 13-and-over, 1. Josh Laban, SOFLO 23.84, 2. Zain Qali, SOFLO 23.95, 3. Abbas Qali, SOFLO 24.15, 4. Lucas Brito, DANA 24.20, 5. Xavier Brown, SOFLO 24.86, 6. Pedro Gomes, DANA 25.56, 9. Marc Rojas, SOFLO 26.04, 10. Darryl Perez, SOFLO 26.46.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com.

 http://www.swim4soflo.com