Team USA Dominating Junior Pan Pacs In Hawaii

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 25, 2012

After the first two days of the Junior Pac Pacific Championships at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Honolulu, it’s clear that next year’s World Championships in Barcelona in July may feature some of the nation’s top young swimmers.

Clearwater Aquatics’ Becca Mann broke Dagny Knutson’s meet record to win the 400-meter individual medley in 4:39.76, ranked 25^th in the world this year. It was also a 13-14 U.S. national age group record. Her splits were 1:03.85, 1:13.46, 1:20.99 and 1:01.46.

Mann was also second in the 800-meter freestyle in 8:28.79. U.S. teammate Leah Smith won in 8:28.01.

Mann, 14, a U.S. Olympic trials finalist, also competed in the 200-meter butterfly. Because only the top two from each country advance to the finals, Mann ended up in the B final and swam 2:11.99, three seconds ahead of the field that would have placed her third overall in the event.

In the boys’ 400-meter individual medley, Chase Kalisz of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club won in a meet record 4:12.59 to crack into the world’s top 15 rankings. At the past U.S. Olympic trials no swimmer was able to crack 4:13. Kalisz’ splits were 58.82, 1:06.04, 1:09.21 and 58.52 on freestyle.

With Michael Phelps officially retired and Ryan Lochte out of the 400 IM, Kalisz is a favorite for worlds and 2016 Rio Olympics. Even Phelps congratulated Kalisz on Twitter, “Congrats to Chase Kalisz tonight!!! Awesome job buddy!!!”

U.S. teammate Matt Ellis won the 100-meter freestyle in a meet record 49.24. Earlier, Aussie Regan Leong won the B finals in 49.53 to first break the record. In the girls’ 100-meter freestyle, Simone Manuel won in a best time 54.80, the first time she cracked 55 seconds.

The U.S. girls’ team won the 800-meter freestyle relay of Simone Manuel, Leah Smith, Cierra Runge and Chelsea Chenault in 7:59.06. Japan upset the field in the boys event in 7:18.59.

Looks like Japan has its next Kosuke Kitajima in Akhiro Yamaguchi, who broke the 100-meter breaststroke meet record in prelims in 1:00.64 and won the event dipping under a minute in 59.85, just off his best time of 59.56. Canadian Kierra Smith won the girls 100-meter breaststroke in 1:08.54.

After two days, the U.S. leads the combined team scores with 208.5 points. Australia is second with 146.5 and Japan had 146.

More Meet Results

Brazilian Olympian Cesar Cielo won the 100-meter freestyle to highlight action at the Jose Finkel Trophy Short Course Meters Meet in Sao Paulo. He went out in 21.86 and won in a textile-best 45.91.

Aussie Marieke Guehrer won the women’s 100-meter freestyle in 52.76. Guehrer is competing for Cielo’s pro team Flamengo, which leads the competition.

Brazilian Thiago Pereira broke his own Brazilian and South American records in the 200-meter individual medley in 1:52.30, eighth-fastest time in history. Only Phelps and Lochte have gone faster in textile suits. Femke Heemskerk won the women’s 200 IM in 2:10.31.

Lochte On Armstrong’s Lifetime Band

Olympian Ryan Lochte, fresh off trips to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York and preparing to return to practice on Monday, told a celebrity website that Armstrong’s controversy is “a sad time in sports history.”

The seven-time Tour de France winner chose not to contest USADA’s doping charges against him and has been stripped of all seven titles and banned for life from competing in pro cycling.

“None of us all will know, so ultimately none of us should judge,” Lochte said. “There’s always two sides to the story.”

Lochte said there should be “zero tolerance for anything that artificially enhances performance.” But also added that it shouldn’t have taken seven wins for him to be so “heavily investigated.”

Despite his fall from grace and negative publicity, Armstrong plans to still actively support  Livestrong, a cancer care and education charity that has raised nearly $500 million since Armstrong founded it 15 years ago. On Friday, the foundation received 400 donations that totaled $75,000.

Some of his major sponsors including Nike and Anheuser-Busch, plan to stick with him. Trek Bicycles and Radio Shack are still deciding whether they will support Armstrong or not.

Armstrong, who turns 41 next month, does not seem to be deterred from competing. Although it looks like the Hawaii Ironman will not allow Armstrong to compete, Armstrong competed Saturday in the Power of Four Mountain Bike race in Aspen, Colo. Armstrong finished second in the race behind 16-year-old Keegan Swirbul. On Sunday, he planned to run a trail marathon.

“Nobody needs to cry for me, I’m going to be great,” Armstrong said in his first interview a day after his lifetime ban was announced.

More Aquatic News

Olympic champion Missy Franklin will make her movie debut in a cameo appearance in Vince Vaughn’s upcoming comedy The Internship. “I got a cameo in the upcoming movie,” she said. “It’s with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. I am so excited about it.” Franklin will shoot the cameo in the next few months…Franklin also got a chance to meet Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen who Franklin and her U.S. teammates did a video parody of her popular Call Me Maybe song that has since gone viral. The two attended the Arthur Ashe Kids Day, a pre-event for the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament in New York…U.S. Olympic teammate Jessica Hardy is working on a swimming technique video in Long Beach, Calif. that will be released soon…

U.S. Masters Swimming has awarded its 2014 and 2015 USMS Spring and Summer Nationals. Santa Clara will host the 2014 Spring Nationals and University of Maryland will host the 2014 Summer Nationals. The 2015 Spring Nationals was awarded to San Antonio and 2015 Summer Nationals to the SPIRE Institute, about 45 minutes east of Cleveland…Former local diver Kassidy Cook has made it official. She will competing at Stanford next year.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

AQUATIC NOTEBOOK, Issue 189: Gary Hall Jr. Heads 2013 ISHOF Induction Class

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 23, 2021

Olympian Gary Hall Jr. of The Race Club heads the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013.

Hall Jr. and nine other individuals selected for induction will be honored at the 49^th annual ISHOF ceremonies on Saturday, May 11^th in Fort Lauderdale.

Hall is one of only five male swimmers in history with double-digit Olympic medals won between 1996 and 2004.

Hall Jr., a three-time Olympian, won 10 Olympic medals including five gold. As a sprint freestyler, he won back-to-back gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle in 2000 and 2004 and silver medal in 1996. Hall Jr. also medaled at two World Championships and two Pan American Games.

Since retiring from swimming, Hall is involved in several charities including those related to diabetes. Hall has Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed in 1999.

Joining Hall Jr. are swimmers Pieter Van Den Hoogenband of the Netherlands; Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine and Dagmar Hase of Germany; diver Hu Jia of China; synchronized swimmer Nathalie Schneyder of the U.S.; water polo player Milivoj Bebic of Yugoslavia and Croatia; open water swimmer Cliff Lumsden of Canada; coach Alberto Castagnetti of Italy and contributor Peter Montgomery of Australia.

MORE SWIMMING NOTES

Brazil swimmers continue to dominate the Jose Finkel Trophy Meet in Sao Paulo. Guilherme Guido swam the 50-meter backstroke in a Brazilian and South American record time of 23.31 in the short course meters national championship meet. He won in finals in 23.38. Felipe Silva won the 100-meter breaststroke in 58.17, Davie’s Felipe Lima was second in 58.26 and Henrique Barbosa third in 58.62. Kaio Almeida won the 200-meter butterfly in 1:52.44, just ahead of Thiago Pereira, who died in the last 50 and finished in 1:52.56. Pereira came back in the 100-meter individual medley in 52.64. Etiene Medeiros knocked off 37-year-old Fabiola Martin in the 50-meter backstroke in 26.94…

Ryan Lochte said on Wednesday that he plans on getting back in the water on Monday to begin his training for world championships and 2016 Rio Olympics. Lochte also said he plans on dropping the 400-meter individual medley from his events list. Lochte will be on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Friday night…University of Florida’s Elizabeth Beisel returned to the pool on Thursday. “First swim in three weeks, rough,” Beisel tweeted…Olympic teammate Brendan Hansen, who two weeks ago tweeted his wife Martha was having their first baby, confirmed that they will be having a girl early next year…Olympian Jessica Hardy was diagnosed with TMJ. For the past two weeks she has had a dislocated jaw. “Really missing being able to chow down on food,” Hardy tweeted…

Former Indian River State College and Clemson head coach Chris Ip was hired at LSU as an assistant coach…Yale coaching legend Phil Moriarty died Wednesday at age 98…Olympian Rowdy Gaines will throw out the first pitch at Thursday’s Chicago Cubs home game…Former Pine Crest swimmer Diana Nyad actually swam 51 hours and 5 minutes during her record attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage, her crew discovered after going over logs and video…Bahamian Olympian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace has moved to South Florida and is training at University of Miami’s pool.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

AQUATIC NOTEBOOK, Issue 188: Diana Nyad’s Journey Ends In Heartbreak

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 21, 2012

On Tuesday morning, a sunburned and swollen-lipped Diana Nyad was forced to give up her  record attempt of swimming 103 miles from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

The former Pine Crest swimmer swam further than she did when she attempted the journey at age 28, but her fourth attempt ended when her crew pulled her out of the Gulf Stream waters after 41 hours  and 45 minutes of swimming at 12:55 a.m.

A second thunderstorm with high winds and waves was the final blow after a series of challenges including  jellyfish stings, shark threats, swollen lips and hypothermia.

Nyad, who turns 63 on Wednesday, was making her third attempt since last summer. She also made an attempt with a shark cage in 1978. She started the swim on Saturday in Havana and lasted longer and made it further than in her previous tries.

Nyad was taken to shore in Key West and made a final short swim to a waiting crowd.

“I’ve been dreaming of this crossing for 35 years now and I tried four times,” Nyad said. “And should I say that there’s no disappointment? No. I’m not going to get that moment I dreamed of for so long.”

Nyad was visibly fatigued and her lips were badly swollen. She was given asthma inhalers, oxygen and IV drip.

Nyad probably will not attempt a fifth try. “I’m not a quitter, but the sport and this particular ocean are different than they used to be,” Nyad said.

“She realized that the obstacles against the swim were too great and agreed at dawn to return to Key West by boat,” said crew member Candace Hogan.

“We all know her mind can handle it,” Hogan wrote on the swimmer’s blog. “But there will always be a point where a human body can’t go any farther. What no one knows is where that line is drawn in Diana Nyad.”

Nyad’s crew was asked why Nyad was stung so much in 2011 and 2012 and not in 1978 and it was because jellyfish were not overpopulating the Gulf Stream waters in 1978. “These jellyfish are prolific,” Nyad said. “And, you know what, to me there’s no joy in that. This isn’t swimming. It’s like some Navy SEAL. I didn’t get that final moment, but what a magnificent experience it all was.”

Nyad thanked her Extreme Dream team. “New moon, new beginnings, onward to a new and different dream.”

MORE SWIMMING

Brazilian Olympian Cesar Cielo, fresh off the London Olympics, now thinks he may have overtrained and missed his taper in London, after winning the 50-meter freestyle in 20.59 Tuesday at the Jose Finkel Trophy Meet in Sao Paolo, Brazil. That time is the fastest textile suit time in the world this year and tenth fastest of all-time. Cielo holds the textile-best time of 20.51. The short course meet is being held in a 25-meter pool. Inge Dekker of the Netherlands won the women’s 50-meter freestyle in 24.15. Her teammate Femke Heemskerk won the 200-meter backstroke in 2:04.72. Brazilian Leonardo Dos Santos won the men’s 200-meter backstroke in 1:53.99. Brazilian Thiago Pereira won the 400-meter individual medley in a meet record 4:01.91 after winning silver in the event at the Olympics…

French swimmer and quadruple amputee Philippe Croizon, who lost his limbs in an electrical accident at age 26 when he was hit with a 20,000 volt charge while attempting to install a television antenna on his roof, successfully completed his Bering Strait crossing in the freezing waters separating Alaska and Russia. Croizon, 44, who had never swum before, wore paddle-like prosthetics. He is only the second person to swim the Bering Strait. It was the last of four intercontinental channel swims he completed. He has now swum all four channels that link the world’s five continents of Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa and America. He is now headed to London to be a French commentator at the Paralympic Games. Spreaking through an translator, Croizon said “The idea was to bring able-bodied and people with disabilities together and prove that having a disability doesn’t have to stop you achieving what you want. I hit rock-bottom ater the accident so I wanted to set myself a big challenge and I decided I should hope for the impossible.”…

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin has a fan in Justin Bieber. In addition to tweeting each other during the Olympics, Bieber sent Franklin a huge care package of t-shirts, autobiography, notebooks, stationary, pens and backpack to her Aurora, Colo. home and is treating her to his Jan. 7 Denver concert with backstage passes. Franklin tweeted, “Huge shout out to Justin Bieber for sending me all this amazing stuff! Thank you so much! Can’t wait for the concert!”…

The Junior Pac Pac Swimming Championships begin Wednesday in Honolulu Hawaii with some of the best 18-and-under swimmers from Japan, United States, Australia and Canada. Swimmers from New Zealand, Hong Kong and Mexico have also been invited to compete in the final big international meet of the summer. American Allie Szekely, coming off four wins at junior nationals, heads the U.S. team along with Jack Conger and Clearwater’s Becca Mann, top seed in the 800-meter freestyle. Japan’s 18-year-old Akihiro Yamaguchi, who swam 2:07.8 in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke at last week’s Japanese High School National Championships, is one of the favorites…Former Missouri swimmer Chris Peters was named head coach at Toledo replacing Liz Hinkelman who left for an assistant’s job at Ohio State.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

AQUATIC NOTEBOOK, Issue 187: Diana Nyad Still Going Strong During Record Swim Attempt

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 20, 2012

After surviving jellyfish stings and lightning storm, Diana Nyad was joined by a pod of more than fifty dolphins swimming around her support boat Monday night before sunset.

Nyad and her crew could hear the dolphins breathing as dozens of them were playful, leaping in and out of the water.

“This is a good sign,” said one of her support crew.

At 11 p.m. Monday night, the 62-year-old former Pine Crest swimmer was at the 63.1-mile mark of her 103-mile journey from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. It is her fourth try at the record attempt.

The frolicking dolphin pod was a welcome relief for the marathon swimmer who braved jellyfish stings, including one on her hand and forehead that forced her to swim backstroke while she regrouped.

Then “all hell broke loose” according to her crew’s blog when an 18-20-mile storm cell and wind squalls forced Nyad to tread water and lose six hours of progress while the storm blew over Sunday night before she got to the Gulf Stream’s current in the right direction.

On Monday night, Nyad’s crew was preparing for the night swimming and staving off low core body temperature.

At 10:57 p.m. Saturday Nyad was stung on the hand by a box jellyfish, according to Mark Sollinger, operations chief of Voyager, her support boat. She was treated immediately. Ten minutes later, Nyad was back swimming at 50 strokes per minute.

The fourth time she was stung on her forehead and she started swimming backstroke with the cap-covered part of her head to minimize contact. Nyad is wearing a special FINIS wetsuit to help ward off the jellyfish.

At one time, there were so many jellyfish because of the tide and astronomical position, that her handlers had to move position because the water was lapping stings over their feet and legs.

On Sunday, Nyad told her handlers, “Today is more like swimming. I don’t know what you would call last night, probably surviving.”

Her team has equated Nyad’s swim to five English Channel swims with sharks and box jellyfish added in.

Her crew tweeted “There’s no stopping her now.” Nyad celebrates her 63^rd birthday on Wednesday.

MORE SWIMMING

The United States Olympic Committee has had the final word on Michael Phelps and the inadvertent early leak of his newest advertisement for Louis Vuitton that forced several media and social outlets to jump to conclusions saying that Phelps was in danger of losing his Olympic medals. USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said that the USOC has investigated the circumstances behind the leaked photos and determined that there was “no issue from us.” Because of the IOC’s Rule 40, athletes and coaches were not allowed to promote non-Olympic sponsors during the Olympic Games window of July 18 and August 15. Two Louis Vuitton ads featuring Phelps surfaced were inadvertently released early. They were officially scheduled to be released on Aug. 16. “As far as the USOC is concerned, Phelps or his team didn’t clear photos in the Louis Vuitton campaign to be released before deadline. End of story,” Sandusky said…

Brazilian Olympian Cesar Cielo and his 200-meter freestyle relay teammates broke South American and Brazilian records Monday at the Jose Finkel Trophy Meet in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The meet is short course meters. Cielo’s lead-off split was 20.81. His teammates were Nicholas Dos Santos, Bernardo Novaes and Thiago Sickert. The foursome’s record was 1:25.28. In the 50-meter semifinals, Cielo also posted the top seed of 21.19 on the opening day of the meet…

Fourteen-year-old Annaleise Carr became the youngest to swim across Lake Ontario and helped to raise $90,000 for a camp for kids with cancer. It took her nearly 27 hours fighting high waves, cold current and leg cramps. The Ontario, Canada native successfully made the 52-kilometer crossing becoming the youngest since Mariyln Bell first made the crossing in 1956 when she was 16.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Pembroke Pines Police Officer Jennifer Martin Wins Four Relays At Last Chance Meet

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 20, 2012

Jennifer Martin of Pembroke Pines, who trains at South Florida Aquatic Club’s Academic Village Pool, was a member of four winning relays Saturday at the Coral Springs Last Chance Long Course Masters Meet at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

The meet provided masters swimmers from around South Florida a final shot at swimming long course meters before the short course season.

Martin, 32, a Pembroke Pines police officer and one of the youngest swimmers in the daylong meet, competed for Swim Fort Lauderdale, based at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex.

Martin was a member of the women’s winning 800-meter freestyle relay that won in 11:35.26 with Jennifer Hulett, Kristin Volz and Sonja Koppenwallner. The foursome competed in the 120-159 age group.

Martin was a member of the 160-199 mixed 800-meter freestyle relay that won in 10:07.10 with Graeme Fiser, Janey Mayville and Tim Erickson.

Martin also anchored the winning 120-159 women’s 200-meter medley relay that finished in 2:22.77 with Laura Lastfogel, Mayville and Koppenwallner.

Martin anchored the winning 120-159 women’s 400-meter medley relay that won in 5:30.07 with Mayville, Lastfogel and Koppenwallner.

SATURDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

800-meter freestyle relay: (120-159) 1. Swim Fort Lauderdale 11:35.26; (200-239) 1. GOLD 10:49.18 (Dale LeClair, Lydia Seier, Debbie Cavanaugh, Danielle Ogier); (240-279) 1. Swim Fort Lauderdale 12:16.26.

200-meter individual medley: (25-29) 1. Vanessa Segovia, GOLD 2:45.90; (35-39) 1. Janey Mayville, SFTL 2:44.16; (40-44) 1. Suzanne Dearworth, FLAQ 3:18.94; (45-49) 1. Lori Schick, SFTL 3:09.66; (50-54) 1. Leticia Castro, GOLD 3:04.83; (55-59) 1. Celia Devanney, Coral Springs/GOLD 3:12.40, 2. Barbara Protzman, Coral Springs/GOLD 3:21.32; (60-64) 1. Cathy Mancino, GOLD 3:25.49.

50-meter breaststroke: (25-29) 1. Leslee Barthle, PLAN 53.07; (35-39) 1. Aranzazu Campos, MWA, 47.04; (40-44) 1. Jill Moreland, GOLD 50.54; (45-49) 1. Kerri McCraffrey, GSM 40.11; (50-54) 1. Holly Vaughn, T2 39.24; (55-59) 1. Peggy McDonnel, GOLD 41.68; (60-64) 1. Danielle Ogier, GOLD 44.24; (65-69) 1. Jeannie Mitchell, GOLD 52.80; (80-84) 1. Ardis Bourland, GOLD 1:13.40.

100-meter butterfly: (25-29) 1. Heather Roka, GCST 1:15.33; (35-39) 1. Sonja Koppenwallner, SFTL 1:29.35; (50-54) 1. Leticia Castro, GOLD 1:24.66; (55-59) 1. Linda Larson, SFTL 1:39.08.

50-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Renee Westacott, NCMJ 40.74; (30-34) 1. Laura Lastfogel, SFTL 28.71; (35-39) 1. Aranzazu Campos, MWA 37.86; (40-44) 1. Dale LeClair, GOLD 31.56; (45-49) 1. Marianela Angeles, GOLD 34.55; (50-54) 1. Jeanna Gutierrez, MWA 36.34; (55-59) 1. Lydia Seier, GOLD 33.73; (60-64) 1. Carole Alexander, GOLD 43.35; (65-69) 1. Linda Webb, SFTL, 37.86; (70-74) 1. Carmen Echeverria, MWA 47.15; (80-85) 1. Adris Bourland, GOLD 1:00.13.

100-meter backstroke: (35-39) 1. Janey Mayville, SFTL 1:16.43; (40-44) 1. Ginger Tompkins, GCST 1:20.31; (50-54) 1. Debbie Cavanaugh, GOLD 1:26.08; (55-59) 1. Darcy LaFountain, FLAQ 1:34.73; (60-64) 1. Cathy Mancino, GOLD 1:43.91; (65-69) 1. Rosa Ventura, SFTL 1:51.29; (70-74) 1. Kitty Kessler, GOLD 2:27.76; (80-84) 1. Ardis Bourland, GOLD 2:42.10.

200-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Sara Holman, GSC 2:20.55; (30-34) 1. Heidi Hester, PLAN 2:19.40; (35-39) 1. Heather Ross, UNAT 3:17.00; (45-49) 1. Marianela Angeles 2:53.01; (50-54) 1. Melissa Hinton, GOLD 3:30.17; (55-59) 1. Lydia Seier, GOLD 2:50.33, 2. Barbara Protz, GOLD 2:54.46.

Mixed 800-meter freestyle relay: (120-159) 1. GOLD 10:26.86 (Vanessa Segovia, Yakako Beatty, James Vaucher, Kevin Riley); (160-199) 1. SFTL 10:07.10 (Graeme Fiser, Jennifer Martin, Janey Mayville, Tim Erickson); (200-239) 1. GOLD 10:14.51 (Dale LeClair, Leticia Castro, George Schmidt, Jonathan Olsen); (240-279) 1. GOLD 11:54.84 (Cathy Mancino, David Hoffman, Roger Parsons, Barbara Protzman).

200-meter freestyle relay: (200-239) 1. SFTL 2:14.68.

Mixed 200-meter freestyle relay: (160-199) 1. NCMJ 2:09.38.

200-meter medley relay: (120-159) 1. SFTL 2:22.77; (240-279) 1. SFTL 2:50.74.

Mixed 200-meter medley relay; (160-179) 1. GCST 2:34.72.

50-meter butterfly: (25-29) 1. Renee Westacott, NCMJ 48.89; (30-34) 1. Laura Lastfogel, SFTL 32.37; (35-39) 1. Sonja Koppenwallner, SFTL 36.88; (40-44) 1. Dale LeClair, GOLD 33.82; (55-59) 1. Peggy McDonnel, GOLD 35.69; (60-64) 1. Cathy Mancino, GOLD 41.47.

100-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Heather Roka, GCST 1:09.68; (30-34) 1. Heidi Hester, PLAN 1:06.48; (35-39) 1. Natalia Vaganova, GOLD 2:04.11; (40-44) 1. Jill Moreland, GOLD 1:31.58; (45-49) 1. Linda Bostic, NCMJ 1:14.00; (50-54) 1. Ana Carbonell, SFTL 1:26.77; (55-59) 1. Darcy LaFountain, FLAQ 1:15.96, 2. Barbara Protzman, GOLD 1:21.80; (65-69) 1. Rosa Ventura, SFTL 1:28.39; (70-74) 1. Kitty Kessler, GOLD 2:18.05.

50-meter backstroke: (35-39) 1. Janey Mayville, SFTL 35.79; (40-44) 1. Jennifer Hulett, SFTL 39.71; (45-49) 1. Marianela Angeles, GOLD 43.04; (50-54) 1. Ana Carbonell, SFTL 1:22.90; (55-59) 1. Linda Larson, SFTL 42.20; (60-64) 1. Carole Alexander, GOLD 52.48; (65-69) 1. Jeannie Mitchell, GOLD 45.06; (70-74) 1. Kitty Kessler, GOLD 1:06.69.

100-meter breaststroke: (35-39) 1.  Kristin Volz, SFTL 1:53.68; (40-44) 1. Suzanne Dearworth, FLAQ 1:35.24; (45-49) 1. Kerri McCraffrey, GSM 1:27.08; (50-54) 1. Holly Vaughn, T2 1:26.95; (55-59) 1. Peggy McDonnel, GOLD 1:34.07; (60-64) 1. Cathy Mancino 1:59.95.

400-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Sara Holman, GSC 4:48.40; (35-39) 1. Sonja Koppenwallner, SFTL 5:34.74; (40-44) 1. Dale LeClair, GOLD 5:20.43; (45-49) 1. Lori Schick, SFTL 6:07.64; (50-54) 1. Leticia Castro, GOLD 5:25.62; (55-59) 1. Darcy LaFountain, FLAQ 5:39.59; (60-64) 1. Cathy Mancino, GOLD 6:12.98; (70-74) 1. Kitty Kessler, GOLD 10:20.55.

400-meter freestyle relay: (200-239) 1. SFTL 6:13.49; (240-279) 1. GOLD 5:33.95 (Jeannie Mitchell, Cathy Mancino, Barbara Protzman, Debbie Cavanaugh).

Mixed 400-meter freestyle relay: (200-239) 1. GOLD 4:45.01 (Celia Devanney, Jonathan Olsen, Leticia Castro, George Schmidt); (240-279) 1. GOLD 6:20.79.

400-meter medley relay: (120-159) 1. SFTL 5:30.07; (160-199) 1. SFTL 6:24.92; (240-279) 1. SFTL 6:37.04.

MEN

800-meter freestyle relay: (120-159) 1. GOLD 9:19.45; (160-199) 1. GOLD 11:00.68; (200-239) 1. SFTL 9:28.23; (240-279) 1. GOLD 10:53.05.

200-meter individual medley: (25-29) 1. Tommie Cuticchia, PLAN 2:31.87; (35-39) 1. Luis Comulada, GOLD 2:30.93; (40-44) 1. Zeus Boiser, GOLD 3:57.24; (45-49) 1. Fernando Abad, PLAN 3:13.71; (50-54) 1. Brian Coomes, GOLD 3:00.89; (55-59) 1. Barry Gollop, GOLD 3:24.68; (60-64) 1. Lee Childs, UNAT 2:56.89; (65-69) 1. Terry McGee, FACT 3:57.95.

50-meter breaststroke: (30-34) 1. Isaac Silver, FACT 35.12; (35-39) 1. Charles Smithwick, NCMJ 39.17; (40-44) 1. Glen Hanks, GOLD 43.47; (45-49) 1. Sean Frampton, GOLD 33.71; (50-54) 1. Al Moreno, GOLD 36.54; (55-59) 1. Michael Yagemann, TBH 40.98; (60-64) 1. Paulo Mange, GRSC 41.08; (65-69) 1. Vincent Andreano, MWA 44.36; (75-79) 1. Walter Pesetsky, SFTL 1:03.54.

100-meter butterfly: (25-29) 1. Todd Wilson, PLAN 1:06.24; (35-39) 1. Andrew Overmyer, NCMJ 1:17.72; (55-59) 1. Lars Ferron, Coral Springs/GOLD 1:21.28; (60-64) 1. Ray Venture, GOLD 2:33.26; (75-9) 1. Walter Pesetsky, SFTL 2:38.25.

50-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Tommie Cuticchia, PLAN 27.25; (30-34) 1. Robert Rivera, GOLD 26.32; (35-39) 1. Luis Comulada, GOLD 26.01; (40-44) 1. Richard Potter, GOLD 27.06; (45-49) 1. Jonathan Olsen, GOLD 29.22; (50-54) 1. Al Moreno, GOLD 29.89; (55-59) 1. Tim Erickson, SFTL 28.52; (60-64) 1. Lee Childs, UNATT 29.54; (65-69) 1. Terry McGee, FACT 34.06; (75-79) 1. Cav Cavanaugh, GOLD 34.74

100-meter backstroke: (25-29) 1. James Vaucher, GOLD 1:15.09; (35-39) 1. Travis Davis, GCST 1:20.93; (40-44) 1. Zeus Boiser, GOLD 2:00.47; (45-49) 1. Fernando Abad, PLAN 1:28.77; (55-59) 1. Brent Ellis, GOLD 1:30.79; (60-64) 1. Andy Downey, GOLD 1:31.55; (65-69) 1. Roger Parsons, GOLD 1:29.49.

200-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Kevin Riley, GOLD 2:17.38; (35-39) 1. Travis Davis, GCST 2:37.08; (40-44) 1. Carlos Ochoa, PLAN 2:10.62; (50-54) 1. Brian Coomes, GOLD 2:44.43; (55-59) 1. Michael Yagemann, TBH 2:26.91; (60-64) 1. Allen Deweese, GOLD 3:04.71; (65-69) 1. David Quiggin, GOLD 2:44.87; (75-79) 1. Leonard Silverstein, GOLD 5:12.57.

200-meter freestyle relay: (120-159) 1. MWA 2:42.50.

50-meter butterfly: (25-29) 1. Todd Wilson, PLAN 29.16; (30-34) 1. Robert Rivera, GOLD 28.45; (35-39) 1. Hilario Itriago, UNATT 30.42; (40-44) 1. William Hernandez, UNATT 29.83; (45-49) 1. Sean Frampton, GOLD 28.83; (50-54) 1. Al Moreno, GOLD 34.34; (55-59) 1. Tim Erickson, SFTL 30.65, 3. Lars Ferron, GOLD 33.67; (60-64) 1. Craig Burns, GOLD 30.57; (65-69) 1. David Quiggin, GOLD 32.93; (75-79) 1. Walter Pesetsky, SFTL 1:01.01.

100-meter freestyle: (25-29) 1. Tommie Cuticchia, PLAN 1:00.40; (35-39) 1. Luis Comulada, GOLD 58.44; (40-44) 1. Richard Potter, GOLD 59.69; (45-49) 1. Fernando Abad, PLAN 1:15.94; (50-54) 1. Blaise O’Neill, GOLD 1:22.96; (55-59) 1. Michael Yagemann, TBH 1:05.93, 5. Lars Ferron, GOLD 1:22.48; (60-64) 1. David Beuttenmuller, NPBM 1:20.85.

50-meter backstroke: (40-44) 1. Michael Coady, NCMJ 38.96; (45-49) 1. Tom Kapenga, GOLD 37.40; (55-59) 1. Francisco Parra, GOLD 38.49; (60-64) 1. George Schmidt, GOLD 36.24; (65-69) 1. Roger Parsons, GOLD 41.14.

100-meter breaststroke: (30-34) 1. Isaac Silver, FACT 1:20.48; (35-39) 1. Luis Comulada, GOLD 1:17.43; (40-44) 1. Glen Hanks, GOLD 1:35.34; (45-49) 1. Sean Frampton, GOLD 1:13.84; (50-54) 1. Brian Coomes, GOLD 1:35.82; (55-59) 1. Brent Ellis, GOLD 1:30.49; (60-64) 1. Paulo Mange, GRSC 1:35.76; (75-79) 1. Walter Pesetsky, SFTL 2:31.41.

400-meter freestyle: (18-24) 1. Mario Santana, MWA 5:03.77; (25-29) 1. Kevin Riley, GOLD 4:56.33; (35-39) 1. Travis Davis, GCST 5:40.92; (40-44) 1. Carlos Ochoa, PLAN 4:43.40; (50-54) 1. Brian Coomes, GOLD 6:04.70; (55-59) 1. Barry Gollop, GOLD 6:05.07; (60-64) 1. Craig Burns, GOLD 5:59.71; (65-69) 1. Terry McGee, FACT 6:56.16; (75-79) 1. Cav Cavanaugh, GOLD 6:56.40.

400-meter freestyle relay: (120-159) 1. GOLD 4:45.50; (160-199) 1. GOLD 4:01.13; (200-239) 1. GOLD 5:17.56.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

Marinheiro, Rojas Wrap Up Final Swims On Last Day Of Speedo Junior Nationals

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 17, 2012

Melissa Marinheiro and Marc Rojas of South Florida Aquatic Club competed in their final event Friday on the fifth and final day of the USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Marinheiro, 15, finished 41^st in the 1500-meter freestyle in 17:40.45, off her best time of 17:27.49.

Rojas, 18, finished 51^st in the 800-meter freestyle in 8:39.80, off his 8:25.40 best time.

Both will start training for the short course season while heading off to school.

On Sunday, Rojas is set to leave for his freshman year at Indian River State College where he will swim for the national champions.

Marinheiro is one of the top swimmers at West Broward High School which begins on Monday.

SwimMAC Carolina won the combined team title with two runner-up finishes.

In one of the closest finishes in the men’s team competition, the Dayton Raiders edged SwimMAC Carolina by a half point, 180-179.5. AK Sharks was the top Florida Gold Coast team finisher, placing 26^th with 37 points.

North Baltimore Aquatic Club, led by 16-year-old Gillian Ryan who won her fourth event on Friday night in the 1500-meter freestyle in a meet record 16:14.67, won the girls team title with 284 points. SwimMac Carolina was second with 215 points.

Friday Night Final Results

Women’s 1500-meter freestyle: 1. Gillian Ryan, North Baltimore Aquatic Club 16:14.67, meet record.

Women’s 200-meter individual medley: 1. Allie Szekely, Central Bucks 2:15.98.

Men’s 200-meter individual medley: 1. Andrew Seliskar, CUBU 2:03.39.

Women’s 50-meter freestyle: 1. Cierra Runge, North Baltimore 25.97.

Men’s 50-meter freestyle: 1. Santo Condorelli, Bolles 22.90.

Men’s 800-meter freestyle: 1. Janardana Burns, Mission Viejo 8:07.80.

Women’s 4×100-meter medley relay: 1. SwimMAC Carolina 4:12.81

Men’s 4×100-meter medley relay: 1. Terrapins Swim Team 3:45.50.

Women’s team totals: 1. North Baltimore Aquatic Club 284, 2. SwimMAC Carolina 215, 3. Sarasota YMCA Sharks 196, 4. Pleasanton Seahawks 190, 5. York YMCA 149, 6. Mission Viejo 132, 7. Irvine Novaquatics 108.5, 8. King Aquatics 106.5, 9. Central Bucks 92, 10. Tualatin Hills 76.

Men’s team totals: 1. Dayton Raiders 180, 2. SwimMAC Carolina 179.5, 3. Orinda Aquatics 168, 4. Terrapins 141.5, 5. Tualatin Hills 134, 6. CUBU 123, 7. King Aquatics 112.5, 8. Cats Aquatics 106, 9. North Texas Nadadores 102, 10. Mission Viejo Nadadores 99, 11. Bolles 90, 26. AK Sharks 37, 30. Swim Fort Lauderdale 33, 55. Davie Nadadores 12.

Day Five Florida Gold Coast Results

Women’s 1500-meter freestyle: 41. Melissa Marinheiro, South Florida Aquatic Club 17:40.45; Casey Francis, Pine Crest Swimming, Declared False Start.

Men’s 800-meter freestyle: 3. Lance Rutkin, Swim Fort Lauderdale 8:16.94, best time, 7. Miguel Davila, Davie Nadadores 8:19.32, best time, 51. Marc Rojas, South Florida Aquatic Club 8:39.80.

Women’s 200-meter individual medley: 42. Casey Francis, Pine Crest Swimming 2:23.95.

Men’s 50-meter freestyle: 20. Jason McCormick, FLA 23.95, 41. Jordy Groters, Davie Nadadores 24.38, best time, 53. Pedro Coutinho, Davie Nadadores 24.52, 63. Jemal LeGrand, Davie Nadadores 24.68.

Men’s 4×100-meter medley relay: 17. Davie Nadadores 3:57.45.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Marinheiro, Rojas Going The Distance On Final Day Of Speedo Junior Nationals

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 16, 2012

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Melissa Marinheiro and Marc Rojas will compete in their final events Friday on the fifth and final day of the USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Marinheiro, 15, competing in her first junior nationals, will compete in the 1500-meter freestyle. On Thursday, she swam 1:08.00 in a 100-meter butterfly time trial.

Rojas, 18, appearing in his second junior nationals, will swim the 800-meter freestyle. He tuned up in Thursday’s 200-meter freestyle prelims in 2:00.37.

Brandon Goldman of the Coral Springs Swim Club swam his third and fourth career-best times in three days.

Goldman, 17, swam 58 seconds for the first time in his swimming career in the 100-meter backstroke. Goldman swam 58.91 bettering his previous best time of 59.26 in morning prelims. His splits were 28.78 and 30.13. In a 200-meter individual medley time trial, he also swam a best time 2:11.42.

In championship finals on Thursday night:

Gillian Ryan, 16, of North Baltimore Aquatic Club, the top seed in the 200-meter freestyle in 2:02.29 just off her best of 2:00.95, went on to win the event, her third of the week, in a best time 1:59.22. She was the only swimmer to break 2 minutes. She also won the 400- and 800-meter freestyles and took a second in the 100 freestyle.

In the final event, Ryan also helped her teammates lower the meet record 8:12.40.in the 800-meter freestyle relay in 8:12.15. The previous record was

Asphalt Green’s Michael Domagala was the only boy to crack 1:50 in the 200-meter freestyle in a best time 1:49.88, just missing the meet record of 1:49.37. It is the fastest time by a 16-year-old this year.

Allie Szekely, 14, also won her third event of the week in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:10.62, fastest time by a 14-year-old in the nation this year. She was eighth after the first 50 meters. Earlier in the week, she won the 200-meter breaststroke and 400-meter individual medley.

Carsten Vissering, 15, of Curl Burke won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.44. The top five swimmers finished within .36 seconds of each other.

Hannah Weiss, 16, of King Aquatic Club won the 100-meter backstroke in 1:02.22.

Taylor Dale of Carpet Capital Aquatics won the boys’ 100-meter backstroke in 55.98, missing the meet record of 55.46.

Heading into the final day of the meet, SwimMAC leads the boys’ team race with 259 points, just 31 points ahead of the Pleasanton Seahawks. North Baltimore is the girls’ leader in team standings.

Thursday Night Final Results

Women’s 200-meter freestyle: 1. Gillian Ryan, North Baltimore 1:59.22.

Men’s 200-meter freestyle: 1. Michael Domagala, Asphalt Green 1:49.88.

Women’s 100-meter breaststroke: 1. Allie Szekely, Central Bucks 1:10.62.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke: 1. Carsten Vissering, CUBU 1:03.44.

Women’s 100-meter backstroke: 1. Hannah Weiss, King Aquatics 1:02.22.

Men’s 100-meter backstroke: 1. Taylor Dale, Carpet Capital 55.98.

Women 4×200-meter freestyle relay: 1. North Baltimore Aquatic Club 8:12.15, meet record.

Women’s team totals: 1. North Baltimore Aquatic Club 196, 2. Sarasota YMCA Sharks 164, 3. Pleasanton Seahawks 143, 4. Mission Viejo 117, 5. SwimMAC Carolina 114, 6. York YMCA 97, 7. Irvine Novaquatics 81.5, 8. King Aquatics 76.5, 9. Central Bucks 72, 10. Santa Clara 54.

Men’s team totals: 1. SwimMAC Carolina 145.5, 2. Dayton Raiders 138, 3. Orinda Aquatics 112, 4. Tualatin Hills 110, 5. Cubu 89, 6. Pleasanton Seahawks 85, 7. King Aquatics 84.5, 8. Terrapins 81.5, 9. Mission Viejo 77, 10. Crimson Aquatics 68, 12. Davie Nadadores 60, 25. AK Sharks 31, 36. Swim Fort Lauderdale 17.

Day Four Florida Gold Coast Results

Women’s 200-meter freestyle: 52. Olivia Katcher, Swim Fort Lauderdale 2:06.96.

Men’s 200-meter freestyle: 37. Lance Rutkin, Swim Fort Lauderdale 1:55.47, 47. Franco Lupoli, Davie Nadadores 1:55.88, 52. Miguel Davila 1:56.14, 114. Marc Rojas, South Florida Aquatic Club 2:00.37.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke: 59. Jordy Groters, Davie Nadadores 1:07.37.

Men’s 100-meter backstroke: 47. Brandon Goldman, Coral Springs Swim Team 58.91, best time.

Women’s 100-meter butterfly time trials: Melissa Marinheiro, South Florida Aquatic Club 1:08.00.

Men’s 200-meter individual medley: Brandon Goldman, Coral Springs Swim Club 2:11.42.

DIVING

Gracia Leydon-Mahoney was in first place after the women’s 3-meter springboard semifinals and Toby Stanley was leading the men’s 10-meter platform semifinals on Day 3 of the AT&T USA Diving National Championships in Greensboro, N.C.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

AQUATIC NOTEBOOK, Issue 186: Former Pine Crest Swimmer Diana Nyad Ready For Another Try

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 16, 2012

It looks like it’s a go.

Marathon swimmer Diana Nyad has contacted her crew to gather in Key West on Thursday night in anticipation of beginning her fourth attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida.

Her support boat, Voyager, has left for Cuba to wait for Nyad’s arrival.

If the weather and conditions hold up, Nyad will enter the waters off the Havana shore at 7 a.m. on Sunday, four days before her 63^rd birthday.

The former Pine Crest swimmer and International Swimming Hall of Famer holds the record for the farthest unaided open water swim in history from the Bahamas to Florida. Now she is attempting to swim the tricky 103-mile swim from Cuba to Florida across the Florida Straits.

The swim will take an estimated 60 hours.

“Red alert, red alert, we are a go,” Nyad tweeted.

The swimmer came up short on her three other bids in 1978 and twice in 2011 because of shoulder pain, asthma, jellyfish stings and ocean swells.

In her last attempt, Nyad had a support crew of 30 people aboard five yachts including shark divers and four kayakers. Her first attempt earlier this year ended with an asthma attached after 29 hours and second attempt after about 40 hours because of extreme pain and partial paralysis from jellyfish stings on her face and body.

This time Nyad also has a new jellyfish-proof wetsuit created by FINIS. The company spent four months researching and developing the suit for Nyad. It was been approved and does not contain any unfair floatation material.

OLYMPICS AFTERLIFE

Life after the Olympics seems to agree with 17-year-old Missy Franklin. She got a hero’s welcome at the Denver International Airport on Monday and again at her high school on Thursday where she started her classes in forensic science, advanced dance, economics, philosophy and AP classes in literature and composition class. One of the highlights so far has been her appearance on the Tonight Show Wednesday night. Franklin, winner of four gold medals and one bronze, told Jay Leno that offers to turn pro have poured in since she competed at the Olympics but said “Swimming in college has always been a dream. I love swimming on a team.” She explained her dual citizenship. Her parents are Canadian and she was born in Pasadena, Calif. Her family moved to Colorado when she was just two days old. “This is my country and my home, so it was never really a choice,” she told Leno when he asked about why she decided to swim for Team USA instead of Canada. She also got her Olympic rings tattoo. The first-time Olympian had been talking about it before, during and after the Olympics. She refers to her first tattoo as her “one and only.” Her position choice was on the right hip, a popular pick among woman so it shows when wearing a swim suit…

Michael Phelps is enjoying his post-Olympic rewards. Phelps, who has been vacationing with his guy friends in the Maldives, fishing, boating and relaxing in the sun, is featured on the current box of Wheaties for the second time. He was last featured on the box after the 2004 Olympics. After the 2008 Olympics, Phelps jumped ship to rival Kellogg Co. and was on the cover of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. The limited edition boxes will be available nationally starting next month…Phelps was also photographed by famed photographer Annie Lebowitz for a Luis Vuitton ad that has Phelps sitting in a bath tub full of water in his Speedo with a Vuitton satchel next to the tub. The ad is appearing is most of the top magazines…Phelps told Rolling Stone that he amped up during the Games by listening to Lil Wayne, Afrojack and Steve Aoki, Avicii and Young Jeezy…

Ryan Lochte may need a few acting classes. On the set of CW’s 90210, according to Access Hollywood, Lochte said he had trouble memorizing his lines as well as walking and talking at the same time. Producers decided to keep Lochte shirtless for his scene to distract viewers from his awkward line readings. The season premiere is Oct. 8 and Lochte’s episode airs on Monday, Oct. 29^th at 9 p.m…

China’s Sun Yang, the first Chinese male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal and break a world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, will be awarded $18 million in endorsements with the stipulation that two-thirds of the money will be given to the country’s swimming federation and Olympic team members. Coca-Cola is the major contributor to the funding. The pay day is the biggest ever for a Chinese Olympic athlete in any sport including diving. The federation will receive $6 million and each of his Olympic teammates will receive $150,000. His Aussie coach, Denis Cotterrell was also paid a $250,000 bonus for his success. Chinese swimmers have been training in Australia for months…

Another Chinese swimmer, Ye Shiwen, is lashing back at doubters. The teenager who won two Olympic gold medals told a Chinese television station in a recent interview that she was disappointed that Fort Lauderdale’s ASCA head and SwimFast coach John Leonard and others suggested that she relied on performance-enhancing drugs to break the world record in the 400-meter individual medley without having any concrete drug testing results. She said that Leonard “was not professional.”…

Tyler Clary will be at the Aug. 24-26 GoPro Grand Prix and will get the chance to get behind the wheel of a race car for some Indy car racing in Sonoma with Mario Andretti. “Dario Franchitti has promised it’ll be a good ride!!” Clary tweeted…

Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen told Access Hollywood she was thrilled with the U.S. Olympic swim team doing a video parody of her song Call Me Maybe. She was particularly impressed with Brendan Hansen’s underwater dancing. She had not seen it until Access Hollywood showed her the video. “Oh wow, she said. “There’s an underwater swimmer. That’s impressive. I said underwater swimmer, I meant dancer. That’s made my day. That’s so rad. It means the world to me. I think it’s just one of those things that you can’t take it in. It’s crazy they know the song and took the time to make their own spin on it. It just makes me really happy.”…

South African Chad LeClos’ 14-year-old brother Jordan is wearing a new t-shirt. It reads “My Brother, My Player, The Phelps Slayer.” LeClos returned to the pool for the South African Short Course Championships this week and has already qualified for world short course in he 200-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly…

Olympic gold medalist diver David Boudia is thinking about competing in both gymnastics and diving at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Boudia competed in gymnastics as a child and is good. He is thinking about the vault and 10-meter platform synchro.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Marc Rojas Comes Close To Second Career-Best Time At Speedo Junior Nationals

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 15, 2012

Marc Rojas of the South Florida Aquatic Club came close to his second career-best time Wednesday at the USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Rojas, 18, swam a 1:08.01 in the 100-meter breaststroke time trials, just off his best time of 1:07.01.

Rojas had a best time in the 1500-meter freestyle on Monday to start the week-long meet featuring the nation’s top age group swimmers.

SOFLO teammate Melissa Marinheiro, 15, competing in her first junior nationals, went 4:26.47 in the 400-meter freestyle to place 44^th. She was the top Florida Gold Coast finisher in the event.

After a disappointing first attempt at swimming the 200-meter backstroke Tuesday morning, Brandon Goldman came back with a vengeance and swam a career-best time  2:06.59 during Wednesday’s time trials. His previous best was 2:08.60.

On Thursday, Marinheiro will time trial the 100-meter butterfly while Rojas will time trial the 200-meter freestyle.

On Wednesday night, two more meet records were broken.

Gillian Ryan, 16, of North Baltimore Aquatic Club broke the meet record in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:07.26. She shattered the record of 4:10.37 set in 2009 by Lauren Driscoll of Swim Fort Lauderdale. She requested the Lion King movie theme song, Circle Of Life, for her walk-out song. On Tuesday, Ryan was second in the 100-meter freestyle in 56.15

Janardana Burns, 17, of Mission Viejo, won the men’s 400-meter freestyle in 3:56.54.

Florida Gold Coast had two swimmers in the final of the men’s 400-meter freestyle.

Sam Smiddy, 18, of AK Sharks broke 4 minutes for the first time to finish fourth in a best time 3:59.07. His previous best was 4:00.67 which he bettered in prelims in 4:00.08. Rutkin, 17, also swam a best time of 4:00.93 to finish sixth. His previous best was 4:04.06 which he first lowered in prelims in 4:01.01.

Michelle Cefal, 16, of Tualatin Hills won the 100-meter butterfly in 59.31, one of only two swimmers under one minute.

Connor Black, 17, of Cats Aquatic Team broke the men’s 100-meter butterfly meet record in 53.16.

In the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, SwimMAC Carolina overtook the Davie Nadadores in the final 200 meters to win in a meet record 7:36.17. Davie faded to fifth in  7:41.54.

In the women’s team title chase, only three points separates leader North Baltimore Aquatic Club (120) and Sarasota YMCA Sharks (117) after three days.

Wednesday’s Final Results

Women’s 400-meter freestyle: 1. Gillian Ryan, North Baltimore 4:07.26, meet record.

Men’s 400-meter freestyle: 1. Janardana Burns, Mission Viejo 3:56.54.

Women’s 100-meter butterfly: 1. Michelle Cefal, Tualatin Hills 59.31.

Men’s 100-meter butterfly: 1. Connor Black, Cats Aquatic Team 53.16, meet record.

Men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay: 1. SwimMAC Carolina 7:36.17.

Women’s team totals: 1. North Baltimore Aquatic Club 120, 2. Sarasota YMCA Sharks 117, 3. Pleasanton Seahawks 94, 4. Mission Viejo 76, 5. SwimMac Carolina 76, 6. Central Bucks 52, 7. York YMCA 51, 8. Tualatin Hills 50, 9. Crimson Aquatics 45, 10. Ozaukee Aquatics 43.

Men’s team totals: 1. Dayton Raiders 130, 2. SwimMAC Carolina 105, 3. Tualatin Hills 90, 4. Mission Viejo, Terrapins, tie, 77, 6. Pleasanton 72.5, 7. Orinda Aquatics 72, 8. King Aquatic Club 67.5, 9. Cubu 63, 10. Davie Nadadores 60.

Day Three Florida Gold Coast Results

Women’s 400-meter freestyle: 44. Melissa Marinheiro, SOFLO 4:26.47, 49. Olivia Katcher, Swim Fort Lauderdale 4:27.28, 75. Casey Francis, Pine Crest Swimming 4:31.80.

Men’s 400-meter freestyle: 4. Sam Smiddy, AK Sharks 3:59.07, best time, 6. Lance Rutkin, Swim Fort Lauderdale 4:00.93, best time, 22. Franco Lupoli 4:03.83, best time, 23. Miguel Davila, Dave Nadadores 4:03.88, best time.

Men’s 100-meter butterfly: 18. Yousef Alaskari 55.90, 30. Pedro Coutinho 56.71.

Men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay: 5. Davie Nadadores 7:41.54 (Yousef Alaskari, Franco Lupoli, Lucas Brito, Miguel Davila).

Women’s 400-meter freestyle time trial: 1. Clara Smiddy, AK Sharks 4:29.33, best time.

Men’s 200-meter backstroke time trial: 1. Brandon Goldman, Coral Springs Swim Club 2:06.59, best time.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke time trial: 3. Marc Rojas, SOFLO 1:08.01.

Men’s 200-meter breaststroke time trial: 4. Jordy Groters, Davie Nadadores 2:25.72.

Men’s 100-meter butterfly time trial: 3. Lucas Brito, Davie Nadadores 59.04.

DIVING

Justin Dumais and Amy Cozad led after the semifinals of the men’s 3-meter springboard and women’s 10-meter platform Wednesday at the USA Diving Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Dumais of Orlando led with 436.20 points to advance into the final round of 13 divers. Dumais will be joined by his younger brother, Troy Dumais, recent Olympic bronze medal winner on synchro. He earned a bye into finals after qualifying for the London Olympics.

“I would have to say he has the advantage right now,” Justin Dumais said. “I took six years off to fly for the Air Force and I have tried to go from zero to hero in 12 months.”

Cozad of Bloomington, Ind. had 338.40 points in the women’s platform semifinals.

FRANKLIN, LOCHTE ON TONIGHT SHOW

Missy Franklin will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Wednesday night at 11:30 p.m. Franklin will talk about her gold medal haul at the London Olympics and the choice she is facing between turning pro or going to college. Franklin returns to start her senior year at Regis Jesuit on Thursday.

U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte will also appear with Leno on Thursday night. He has already been on Good Morning America and signed his first guest appearance to star on CW’s 90210. Lochte has already moved to Los Angeles to explore his acting and fashion designing options. Lochte will play himself on CW’s 90210 which shouldn’t be too big of a stretch. He is also lobbying for a stint on Dancing With The Stars.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Marinheiro, Rojas Compete On Wednesday At Speedo Junior Nationals

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

August 14, 2012

After a rest day on Tuesday, Melissa Marinheiro and Marc Rojas of South Florida Aquatic Club will resume competing on Wednesday at the USA Swimming Speedo Junior Nationals at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Marinheiro, 15, will compete in the 400-meter freestyle, her best event. After that, she has the mile remaining on Friday.

Rojas will time trial in the 100-meter breaststroke on Wednesday. On Thursday he competes in the 200-meter freestyle and Friday the 800-meter freestyle.

Brandon Goldman of the Coral Springs Swim Club swam a best time in the 400-meter individual medley on Tuesday.

Goldman, 17, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas, swam 4:38.29 in morning prelims, dropping from 4:39.27 against a stacked boys’ field.

Sam Smiddy of AK Sharks was third in 400 IM finals in 4:25.39.

The meet, which ends on Friday, is being webcast live along with live results at usaswimming.org for both prelims and finals.

Tuesday’s Final Results

Women’s 400-meter individual medley: 1. Allie Szekely, Central Bucks 4:46.73.

Men’s 400-meter individual medley: 1. Andrew Seliskar, CUBU 4:23.27.

Women’s 100-meter freestyle: 1. Cierra Runge, North Baltimore 55.64.

Men’s 100-meter freestyle: 1. Santo Condorelli, Bolles Sharks 50.92.

Women’s 200-meter backstroke: 1. Quinn Carrozza, Nitro Swimming 2:11.92.

Men’s 200-meter backstroke: 1. Aaron Greene, North Texas Nadadores 2:02.23.

Women’s 400-meter freestyle relay: 1. North Baltimore 3:47.24.

Men’s 400-meter freestyle relay: 1. SwimMAC 3:27.91, 2. Club Wolverine 3:29.13, 3. Davie Nadadores 3:29.32 (Yousef Alaskari, Jemal LeGrand, Pedro Coutinho, Jordy Groters).

Women’s team totals: 1. North Baltimore 100, 2. Sarasota YMCA Sharks 78, 3. Pleasanton Seahawks 67, 4. SwimMAC 63, 5. Mission Viejo 59.

Men’s team totals: 1. Orinda Aquatics 72, 2. Dayton Raiders 66, 3. Terrapins 60, 4. SwimMAC 50, 5. Mission Viejo 46, 15. Davie Nadadores 32, 25 AK Sharks 16, 55. Swim Fort Lauderdale 4.

Day Two Florida Gold Coast Results

Women’s 400-meter individual medley: 18. Casey Francis, Pine Crest Swimming 4:55.50, best time.

Men’s 400-meter individual medley: 3. Sam Smiddy, AK Sharks 4:25.39, 39. Brandon Goldman, Coral Springs Swim Club 4:38.29, best time.

Women 100-meter freestyle: 79. Olivia Katcher, Swim Fort Lauderdale 59.82.

Men 100-meter freestyle: 30. Jemal LeGrand, Davie Nadadores 52.62, 31. Yousef Alaskari, Davie Nadadores 52.64, best time, 50. Jason McCormick, Fort Lauderdale 53.02, best time, 69. Pedro Coutinho, Davie Nadadores 53.76.

Men’s 200-meter backstroke: 60. Brandon Goldman, Coral Springs Swim Club 2:09.90.

DIVING

Aaron Fleshner of Spring, Tex. and Meghan Houston won the 1-meter springboard titles at the U.S. National Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Fleshner won with a six-dive score of 465.50 points, ahead of defending champion Michael Hixon of Amherst, Mass. with 411.90. Houston, a freshman at Texas, knocked off defending champion Amanda Burke of Southhampton, Pa., 274.80-270.75. Abby Johnston, who won an Olympic silver medal in 3-meter springboard synchro, withdrew from the women’s 1-meter event.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com