Bolles Alum Ryan Murphy Takes Third, SOFLO’s Pinon Gains Racing Experience

By Sharon Robb

June 12, 2014

American Ryan Murphy finished third in the 100-meter backstroke Thursday on the final night of the Mare Nostrum Series in Canet-en-Roussillon, France.

On a night where Japan and Denmark dominated, Murphy was among a handful of American swimming highlights.

Murphy, a Bolles alum, was third in 54.84. He was second fastest qualifier in prelims in 55.47.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie dominated the backstroke field to win in 53.24. He has swept the backstroke events at both Mare Nostrum circuit stops. Murphy’s Cal teammate Jacob Pebley won the “B” Final in 55.78.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Julien Pinon, 15, representing his French club team Canet 66 Natation, swam the prelims of the 100-meter freestyle in 53.96 enabling him to get in another day of international racing experience.

On the final day, Denmark’s women’s team won five events and Japan’s men’s team went 1-2 in three races.

In Thursday championship finals at Canet:

Men’s 50-meter breaststroke: Adam Peaty, Great Britain, 27.19.

Women’s 50-meter breaststroke: Rikke Moller Pedersen, Denmark, 31.00.

Men’s 50-meter butterfly: Konrad Czerniak, Poland, 23.59.

Women’s 50-meter butterfly: Jeanette Ottesen, Denmark, 25.49. Bahamian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace tied for second in 26.00 with Brit Francesca Halsall.

Women’s 400-meter freestyle: Camille Muffat, France, 4:04.58.

Women’s 100-meter backstroke: Mie Nielsen, Denmark, 59.85.

Men’s 200-meter breaststroke: Yasuhiro Koseki, Japan, 2:09.77.

Women’s 200-meter breaststroke: Rikke Moller Pedersen, Denmark, 2:19.67.

Men’s 100-meter freestyle: U.S. Olympian Nathan Adrian, 48.43.

Women’s 100-meter freestyle: Pernille Blume, Denmark, 53.86.

Men’s 200-meter individual medley: Daiya Seto, Japan, 1:57.32.

Women’s 400-meter individual medley: Aimee Willmott, Great Britain, 4:35.41.

Men’s 200-meter butterfly: Pawel Korzeniowski, Poland 1:56.12.

Women’s 200-meter butterfly: American Cammile Adams, 2:08.54.

The Mare Nostrum series moves to Barcelona where it will conclude on Saturday and Sunday.

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

USA Swimming Foundations’s Make A Splash Hosts Event During 50th Annual ISHOF Weekend

By Sharon Robb

June 12, 2014

South Florida Aquatic Club’s three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson will join Olympic gold medalists Janet Evans and Jason Lezak at USA Swimming’s Make A Splash water safety event Saturday at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex.

Atkinson, Evans and Lezak will give free lessons to children and talk about the importance of learning to swim during the scheduled 50-minute session that begins at 11 a.m.

The event is one of the highlights of the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction weekend.

“Knowing how to swim can be the difference between life and death,” USA Swimming Foundation executive director Debbie Hesse said. “Formal instruction can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent.

“Through our more than two million lessons and counting, USA Swimming Foundation continually provides essential skills to underserved populations.”

Said Lezak: “I am proud to be involved with the Make A Splash initiative to help spread awareness of this issue all over the country and make a difference for future generations. As a father, I realized how big this epidemic is and wanted to do everything I could to help my kids become safer around the water.”

So far in 2014, Broward County has had seven children drown under the age of five including four in apartment complex pools.

The Olympians will host a USA Swimming Foundation luncheon at the ISHOF complex immediately following the water safety session.

Evans and Lezak will also be hosting the induction ceremonies on Saturday night.

The 50th annual Honoree Induction weekend will be star-studded.

Those scheduled to be inducted are swimmers Grant Hackett of Australia; Agnes Kovacs of Hungary amd Tom Malchow of the U.S.; water polo players Carlo Silipo of Italy and Karin Kuipers of the Netherlands; open water swimmers Sandra Bucha and Jon Erikson, both of the U.S.; synchronized swimmers Penny and Vicky Vilagos of Canada; diver Peng Bo of China; coaches Charlotte Davis of the U.S. and Jozsef Nagy of Hungary; contributor Norman Sarsfield of Great Britain and honor pioneer contributor Bruce Hopping of the U.S.

St. Andrew’s aquatics director and coach Sid Cassidy will be among Paragon Award winners for his open water swimming services as FINA Technical chairman. He will be joined by Olympic diver and announcer Cynthia Potter of the U.S., Olga Pinciroli of Brazil for water polo, Miwako Homa of Japan for synchro swimming, American Wally James for recreational swimming and American Bob Burnside for aquatic safety.

The Paragon and annual awards will be presented on Friday night at 7 at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s DuPont Auditorium. The honoree inductions are Saturday night at 7:15 p.m. at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Resort.

For information and tickets call 954-462-6536

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

SOFLO’s Golding, Rodriguez Win On Day One Of GCST Summer Invitational

By Sharon Robb

June 12, 2014

South Florida Aquatic Club started off on a good note with two wins and nine best times on opening day of the Gulf Coast Swim Team Summer Long Course Invitational at the Florida Gulf Coast Aquatic Center in Fort Myers.

Golding , 13, a former Nike Swimmer of the Month and USA Swimming Southern Zone Select camp selection, won the 800-meter freestyle in a career-best 9:05.61, shaving 29.66 seconds off her previous best time.

It was the first of ten events Golding is entered in.

Rafael Rodriguez, 12, enjoying his best season, also won the 800-meter freestyle in a best time 9:06.99, with a huge time drop of 1:28.35.

It was the first time Rodriguez broke the 10-minute barrier. His previous best was 10:35.34.

Rodriguez has nine more events over the next three days.

The only other Florida Gold Coast winner was Marcelo Acosta, 17, of Azura Florida Aquatics in the 800-meter freestyle in 8:27.30.

The four-day meet continues on Friday. SOFLO is among 22 teams along with several out-of-state teams including Canton City Schools, Charger Aquatics, Germantown Academy, Lobo Aquatic Club, Riviera Swim Team, Waves Bloomington and Tide Swimming. Nearly 600 swimmers are entered.

The field features an impressive combination of age group and elite swimmers headed by Emma Svensson, 21, of Swim Florida and Swedish national team and Brazil Olympian Felipe Lima, 29, of Azura Florida Aquatics.

THURSDAY DAY ONE RESULTS

GIRLS

400-meter freestyle:

10-and-under, 1. McKenna Fiore, Gulf Coast 5:27.06.

800-meter freestyle:

10-and-under, 1. Nicole Rodriguez, Gulf Coast 10:50.14; 11-12, 1. Olivia Graham, SYS 9:50.54; 13-14, 1. Kathleen Golding, SOFLO 9:05.91, best time; SOFLO: 12. Delanie Perez 10:25.61, best time, 14. Alexandra Crespo 10:29.01, best time, 17. Abolade Oyetunji 10:31.99, best time, 23. Katherine DeBarros 10:59.43; 15-and-over, 1. Danielle Valley, SYS 9:01.52; SOFLO: 23. Maria Lopez 10:03.82, 26. Stephanie Mlujeak 10:34.72.

1500-meter freestyle:

13-14, 1. Mackenzie Arena, BNY 17:45.10; 15-and-over, 1. Kendall Brent, SWIM 17:10.57; SOFLO: 2. Kylie Herman 19:06.01.

BOYS

400-meter freestyle:

10-and-under, 1. Cole Firlie, SYS 5:01.93; SOFLO: 13. Alejandro Mateus 6:24.91, best time.

800-meter freestyle:

11-12, 1. Rafael Rodriguez, SOFLO 9:06.99, best time; SOFLO: 6. Leonardo Mateus 9:58.89, best time, 10. Nicolas Rossi 10:29.77, best time; 13-14, 1. Alexander Webster, SYS 8:56.86; SOFLO: 3. Kevin Porto 9:07.15, best time, 4. CJ Kopecki 9:09.32; 15-and-over, 1. Marcelo Acosta, Azura 8:27.30; SOFLO: 21. Matthew Menocal 9:47.86.

1500-meter freestyle:

13-14, 1. Brendan Firlie, SYS 17:28.66; 15-and-over, 1. Carter Page, SYS 16:31.10; SOFLO: 10. Ronald Santos 18:10.83.

IF YOU GO

What: Gulf Coast Swim Team Summer Invitational

When: Thursday-Sunday

Where: FGCU Aquatic Center, 10501 FGCU Lake Parkway, Fort Myers

Schedule: Thursday, 11 a.m.; Friday-Sunday, morning sessions 8 a.m., afternoon sessions noon; Friday-Saturday, finals 6 p.m.; Sunday finals 5:30 p.m.

Admission: $3 per session, $3 heat sheets. For information call 239-560-4820.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com