August 2015 – South Florida Aquatic Club's Blog

SOFLO’s Pereira Sweeps Four Events At Boca Raton Endless Summer Meet

By Sharon Robb

August 30, 2015—Alessandro Pereira of South Florida Aquatic Club was four-for-four in his events Saturday at the Boca Raton Endless Summer Invite.

Pereira, 8, won the 8-and-under 25-yard freestyle (15.56), 25-yard backstroke (18.76), 25-yard breaststroke (21.76) and 25-yard butterfly (17.09). All four swims were best times.

Other SOFLO top finishers were:

Sarah Vasquez, first, 25-yard freestyle, 18.16; third, 25-yard breaststroke 29.78; third 25-yard butterfly, 23.43.

Kaitlyn Barrios, third, 50-yard backstroke, 44.13; third, 50-yard breaststroke, 45.22; fourth, 50-yard freestyle 35.22; fourth, 50-yard butterfly, 42.78.

Mia Escudero, third, 50-yard breaststroke, 41.69; third, 50-yard butterfly, 36.57; fourth, 100-yard breaststroke 1:30.83.

Owen Smith, second, 25-yard backstroke, 23.29.

Logan Gonzalez, first, 50-yard freestyle, 30.49; second, 50-yard backstroke, 36.23; second, 50-yard breaststroke, 41.92.

Nathaniel Garrick, second, 50-yard freestyle, 39.72; second, 50-yard butterfly, 35.50

Brennan Binder, second, 50-yard freestyle, 30.23; second, 50-yard butterfly, 35.00; third, 100-yard freestyle, 1:06.99; second, 100-yard backstroke, 1:20.46.

Chris Vasquez, first, 50-yard backstroke, 36.27; first, 50-yard butterfly, 34.11; second, 50-yard breaststroke, 39.52.

Sebastian Navarro, third, 50-yard backstroke, 41.80; second, 100-yard butterfly, 1:23.44.

Jacob Navarro, third, 50-yard butterfly, 36.76.

Sebastian Sierra, third, 50-yard butterfly, 30.24.

The day-long meet held at the Boca Raton High School Aquatic Center was an IMX Invitational and final opportunity for swimmers to improve times for rankings.

The short course yards meet also kicked of the fall short course season for club teams.

SATURDAY RESULTS

GIRLS

25-yard freestyle: 8-and-under, 1. Sarah Vasquez, SOFLO 18.16, 2. Layne Smith, FKSC 18.95, 3. Lilia Blanco, Pompano 20.84.

25-yard breaststroke: 8-and-under, 1. Sophia Cavaretta, Pompano 26.29, 2. Lucia Blanco, Pompano 28.93, 3. Sarah Vasquez, SOLO 29.78.

25-yard backstroke: 8-and-under, 1. Lilia Blanco, Pompano 19.24, 2. Layne Smith, FKSC 21.72, 3. Sophia Cavaretta, Pompano 23.07.

25-yard butterfly: 8-and-under, 1. Lilia Blanco, Pompano 18.76, 2. Maria Grant, FKSC 21.00, 3. Sarah Vasquez, SOFLO 23.43.

50-yard freestyle: 9-10, 1. Eliza Chandler, MS 31.92, 2. Karli Cronin, Boca 33.96, 3. Olivia Sargent, FKSC 34.33, 4. Kaitlyn Barrios, SOFLO 35.22; 11-12, 1. Lily Iglesias, MS 27.23, 2. Summer Schulte, Pompano 27.42, 3. Ava Chandler, MS 29.54; 13-14, 1. Emma Ballestas, MS 27.87, 2. Gabriella Costello, Pompano 29.04, 3. Camila Torres-Caiaffa, MS 29.55; 15-and-over, 1. Fatimah Westbrook, Pompano 24.94, 2. Kyla Valls, MS 25.04, 3. Kelly Gest, Pompano 25.60.

50-yard backstroke: 9-10, 1. Eliza Chandler, MS 39.60, 2. Olivia Sargent, FKSC 43.27, 3. Kaitlyn Barrios, SOFLO 44.13; 11-12, 1. Summer Schulte, Pompano 31.23, 2. Ava Chandler, MS 36.16, 3. Ana Lopez-McNenney, FKSC 37.11; 13-14, 1. Gabriella Costello, Pompano 33.03, 2. Courtney Nelson, FKSC 33.42, 3. Camila Torres-Caiaffa, MS 35.44; 15-and-over, 1. Sarah Maraskine, PAQ 28.47, 2. Paloma Sanchez, MS 29.27, 3. Fatimah Westbrook, Pompano 30.58.

50-yard breaststroke: 9-10, 1. Eliza Chandler, MS 42.58, 2. Olivia Sargent, FKSC 43.10, 3. Kaitlyn Barrios, SOFLO 45.22; 11-12, 1. Lily Iglesias, MS 38.77, 2. Ava Chandler, MS 41.42, 3. Mia Escudero, SOFLO 41.69; 13-14, 1. Emma Ballestas, MS 37.80, 2. Jessica Deaton, PAQ 40.00, 3. Gabriella Costello, Pompano 40.52; 15-and-over, 1. Fatimah Westbrook, Pompano 30.78, 2. Victoria Miyamoto, Pompano 32.42, 3. Hannah Cordes, MS 33.89.

50-yard butterfly: 9-10, 1. Eliza Chandler, MS 36.86, 2. Karli Cronin, Boca 39.22, 3. Olivia Sargent, FKSC 42.07, 4. Kaitlyn Barrios, SOFLO 42.78; 11-12, 1. Summer Schulte, Pompano 31.21, 2. Ava Chandler, MS 32.26, 3. Mia Escudero, SOFLO 36.57; 13-14, 1. Gabriella Costello, Pompano 31.15, 2. Camila Torres-Caiaffa, MS 34.20, 3. Isabella Chuecos, Boca 35.81; 15-and-over, 1. Victoria Miyamoto, Pompano 27.91, 2. Kyla Valls, MS 27.93, 3. Fatimah Westbrook, Pompano 28.46.

100-yard freestyle: 12-and-under, 1. Gabi Castillo, Boca 1:03.78, 2. Jillian Fisher, Boca 1:04.06, 3. Zoe Marchetti, FKSC 1:04.80.

100-yard backstroke: 12-and-under, 1. Zoe Marchetti, FKSC 1:09.03, 2. Jillian Fisher, Boca 1:15.82, 3. Gabi Castillo, Boca 1:18.29.

100-yard breaststroke: 12-and-under, 1. Jillian Fisher, Boca 1:23.38, 2. Zoe Marchetti, FKSC 1:28.30, 3. Corley Smith, FKSC 1:30.66, 4. Mia Escudero, SOFLO 1:30.83

100-yard butterfly: 12-and-under, 1. Gabi Castillo, Boca 1:10.97, 2. Zoe Marchetti, FKSC 1:11.17, 3. Jillian Fisher, Boca 1:20.17.

200-yard backstroke: Open, 1. Kelly Harrington, Boca 2:16.68, 2. Paloma Sanchez, MS 2:23.08, 3. Ash Duritsa, Boca 2:25.09.

200-yard breaststroke: Open, 1. Victoria Miyamoto, Pompano 2:28.80, 2. Kelly Harrington, Boca 2:28.93, 3. Hayley Johnson, Boca 2:38.34.

200-yard butterfly: Open, 1. Kyla Valls, MS 2:11.11, 2. Kelly Harrington, Boca 2:20.77, 3. Renata Peralta, MS 2:23.52.

400-yard individual medley: Open, 1. Kelly Harrington, Boca 4:44.23, 2. Marissa Brannan, Unattached 5:05.50, 3. Larissa Anthony, Boca 5:12.14.

BOYS

25-yard freestyle: 8-and-under, 1. Alessandro Pereira, SOFLO 15.56, 2. Evan Osipov, FKSC 19.49, 3. Cashman Domingos, FKSC 19.53.

25-yard backstroke: 8-and-under, 1. Alessandro Pereira, SOFLO 18.76, 2. Owen Smith, SOFLO 23.29, 3. Cashman Domingos, FKSC 23.42.

25-yard breaststroke: 8-and-under, 1. Alessandro Pereira, SOFLO 21.76, 2. Evan Osipov, FKSC 25.41, 3. Cashman Domingos, FKSC 26.40.

25-yard butterfly: 8-and-under, 1. Alessandro Pereira, SOFLO 17.09, 2. Alvarado Andres, FKSC 23.80, 3. Evan Osipov, FKSC 24.33.

50-yard freestyle: 9-10, 1. Logan Gonzalez, SOFLO 30.49, 2. Nathaniel Garrick, SOFLO 39.72, 3. Daniel Grant, FKSC 31.15; 11-12, 1. Raphael Santos, Pompano 26.40, 2. Brennan Binder, SOFLO 30.23, 3. Brian Farias, Unattached 30.62; 13-14, 1. Mattheus Santos, Pompano 23.07, 2. Shane Schulte, Pompano 24.80, 3. Alex Gaudreau, Unattached 26.25; 15-and-over, 1. Julius Petzold, MS 21.94, 2. Tyler Zuyus, Pompano 22.64, 3. Nathan Marshall, Unattached 22.74.

50-yard backstroke: 9-10, 1. Jake Schulte, Pompano 35.24,2. Logan Gonzalez, SOFLO 36.23, 3. Daniel Grant, FKSC 37.68; 11-12, 1. Chris Vasquez, SOFLO 36.27, 2. Brian Farias, Unattached 38.75, 3. Sebastian Navarro, SOFLO 41.80; 13-14, 1. Mattheus Santos, Pompano 28.03, 2. Shane Schulte, Pompano 29.79, 3. Dylan Valdivia, MS 33.17; 15-and-over, 1. Tyler Zuyus, Pompano 26.00, 2. Julius Petzold, MS 26.58, 3. Sean Arrington, Unattached 26.76.

50-yard breaststroke: 9-10, 1. Jake Schulte, Pompano 37.79, 2. Logan Gonzalez, SOFLO 41.92, 3. Daniel Grant, FKSC 43.96; 11-12, 1. Raphael Santos, Pompano 33.91, 2. Chris Vasquez, SOFLO 39.52, 3. Nick Calice, Pompano 40.03; 13-14, 1. Alex Gaudreau, Unattached 34.10, 2. Dylan Valdivia, MS 37.83, 3. Connor Marsh, Pompano 40.02; 15-and-over, 1. Felipe Urrutia, MS 30.31, 2. Geno Darin, PAQ 30.76, 3. Kelly Schulte, Pompano 30.82.

50-yard butterfly: 9-10, 1. Jake Schulte, Pompano 32.20, 2. Nathaniel Garrick, SOFLO 35.50, 3. Jacob Navarro, SOFLO 36.76; 11-12, 1. Chris Vasquez, SOFLO 34.11, 2. Brennan Binder, SOFLO 35.00, 3. Nick Calice, Pompano 35.18; 13-14, 1. Mattheus Santos, Pompano 27.16, 2. Shane Schulte, Pompano 28.69, 3. Sebastian Sierra, SOFLO 30.24; 15-and-over, 1. Nathan Marshall, Unattached 26.18, 2. Julius Petzold, MS 26.34, 3. Alejandro Zaccara, MS 26.35.

100-yard freestyle: 12-and-under, 1. Raphael Santos, Pompano 58.64, 2. Jake Schulte, Pompano 1:02.03, 3. Brennan Binder, SOFLO 1:06.99.

100-yard backstroke: 12-and-under, 1. Tino Gaudreau, Unattached 1:17.92, 2. Brennan Binder, SOFLO 1:20.46, 3. Ivan Goriunov, Unattached 1:23.54.

100-yard breaststroke: 12-and-under, 1. Nick Calice, Pompano 1:27.20, 2. Ivan Goriunov,Unattached 1:35.29.

100-yard butterfly: 12-and-under, 1. Raphael Santos, Pompano 1:05.51, 2. Sebastian Navarro, SOFLO 1:23.44.

200-yard backstroke: Open, 1. Tyler Zuyus, Pompano 2:09.96, 2. Matias Junghahn, MS 2:14.92, 3. Andrei Goriunov, Unattached 2:16.40.

200-yard breaststroke: Open, 1. Felipe Urrutia, Ms 2:23.03, 2. Cameron Taddonio, Boca 2:27.44, 3. Kelly Schulte, Pompano 2:29.04.

200-yard butterfly: Open, 1. Sean Arrington, Unattached 1:57.45, 2 Drake Gil, Boca 2:11.56, 3. Matt Taddonio, Boca 2:14.78.

400-yard individual medley: Open, 1. Sean Arrington, Unattached 4:20.21, 2. Mattheus Santos, Pompano 4:34.97, 3. Matt Taddonio, Boca 4:40.52.

Mixed 12-and-under 100-yard freestyle relay: 1. SOFLO B 59.98, 2. SOFLO A 1:05.06, 3. FKSC 1:08.69.

Mixed 12-and-under 200-yard medley relay: 1. Boca 2:26.37, 2. SOLO A 2:27.80, 3. SOFLO B 2:44.01.

Mixed 13-and-over 200-yard medley relay: 1. Boca 1:51.31, 2. PAQ 1:57.15, 3. Boca 1:58.48.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

South Florida Aquatic Club Swimmers Kick Off Season, Focus Shifts To Olympic Countdown

By Sharon Robb

August 24, 2015—After a summer full of travel and competing in U.S. and international meets, South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers are ready for the next chapter.

On Monday, swimmers of all levels from the SOPRO group of post-grads and Olympians to age group swimmers returned to the friendly confines of Academic Village Pool in Pembroke Pines to resume training.

Several U.S. swimmers are training for the U.S. Olympic Trials. International swimmers are trying to make their countries’ Olympic qualifying standards. Others are training for junior and senior nationals, the high school season and age group meets.

SOFLO CEO and head coach Chris Anderson and SOFLO Performance Consultant Bruce Marchionda welcomed swimmers back on Monday before hitting the pool for workout.

SOPRO is comprised of six pro swimmers including three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson, a world short course record holder and gold medalist; U.S. Olympic gold medalist Claire Donahue; Colombian two-time Olympian and national record holder Carolina Colorado; Colombian national record holder Jorge Murillo Valdes; Bermuda national champion Lisa Blackburn and Wright State alum and school record holder Kile Aukerman.

“It was wonderful getting Alia and Claire in a training environment,” Anderson said. “It really feels like we have started training in a pre-season mode.

“There’s a vibe that they accomplished something great over the summer and now they are focused on next summer and focusing on the trials and Olympics.”

The SOPRO post-grad group started training Monday morning and national group in the afternoon.

“I think everybody is really excited about being home,” Anderson said. “There is a sense of relief to start training and start getting better again.”

SOPRO swimmers competed in the Pan American Games, FINA World Championships and first two legs of the FINA World Cup. For the various age group levels there was also Senior Championships, Junior Olympics, Junior Nationals, Futures, Southern Zone Seniors and Age Group meets.

“These past few months have been a learning experience for everyone,” Anderson said. “Everyone is getting more comfortable in executing their plans for the various competitions from overseas to local meets.

“At least we all have a clear picture of what has to be done…whether it’s making the U.S. Olympic trials, an Olympic standard for a country or tweaking something to get to that next step. Everyone has a clear picture. We have never done that before. Now we know what we have to do to actually succeed.”

With a success-breeds-success attitude, Anderson would like the SOPRO group to increase to 15 swimmers over the next few weeks. The pro swimmers are training for the second cluster of the FINA World Cup in Asia while the age group team, with nearly 200 swimmers, is training for the Sept. 25-27 IMX Ready and Distance Challenge Open Invitational.

“We want to create an atmosphere of high quality training,” Anderson said. “We have some of the finest athletes in the world training in our pool and that creates a culture of success. This is the most excited I’ve been since I have been here.”

The SOFLO coaching staff has already met six times and plan to raise the bar this season with their individual groups.

“We are doing a good job and now we need our staff to take more of a role and think above and beyond the kids they have in their groups,” Anderson said.

Anderson is coaching the pros and running the senior kids program. Marchionda, who started his new SOFLO job earlier this month, is coaching the gold and national group and helping with the pro group.

“It seems to be working well,” Anderson said.

Pembroke Pines Charter School’s high school team with head coach Rose Lockie, SOFLO’s head age group coach, is also training at Academic Village Pool.

In addition to pool training, there is dryland featuring gym work, yoga and cardio.

Anderson and Marchionda plan to talk with potential new SOPRO and post-grad swimmers over the next three weeks hoping to finalize the roster by the end of the month for the eight-month journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

Atkinson Wins Second Gold On Final Day Of FINA/Airweave World Cup Series In Chartres, France

By Sharon Robb

August 16, 2015—Alia Atkinson of South Florida Aquatic Club won her second gold medal Sunday at the FINA/Airweave World Cup Series second stop at the L’Odyssee Complex in Chartres, France.

Atkinson, 26, making her FINA World Cup Series debut, won the 50-meter breaststroke just out-touching American Katie Meili by .10 in 30.85, well off her third-ranked season best of 30.11 at world championships.

It was Atkinson’s 11th win in the 50-meter breaststroke on the FINA World Cup circuit. Atkinson last loss in the event was in 2014 to Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte in Tokyo.

Atkinson was also seventh in the 50-meter butterfly in 27.01. SOFLO teammate Claire Donahue was fourth in 26.74 and finished with $1,750 from her Moscow showing. Atkinson pocketed $3,000 for her two wins in Chartres. Atkinson did not compete in Moscow.

On Saturday, the three-time Jamaican Olympian won the 100-meter breaststroke, her signature event, in 1:07.03, a second off her fourth-ranked season-best of 1:06.21 at world championships.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu leads the women’s prize money list with $65,500. Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa leads the men’s prize money list with $56,000.

The overall points leaders: (MEN) Cameron van der Burgh, 96; Chad Le Clos, 81; Nic Fink, 54; (WOMEN) 1. Katinka Hosszu, 162; 2. Emily Seebohm, 111; 3. Katie Meili and Vitalina Simonova, 42.

Swimmers competed for $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third in addition to a $10,000 bonus check for a world record performance. A prize purse of $92,000 is offered at each FINA stop.

The FINA/Airweave Swimming World Cup comprises eight legs distributed over three clusters with eight different events held separately in Moscow, Paris-Chartres, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Doha and Dubai.

SUNDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

100-meter freestyle: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 54.30, 2. Missy Franklin, USA 54.34, 3. Charlotte Bonnet, France 54.49.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Alia Atkinson, South Florida Aquatic Club/Jamaica 30.85, 2. Katie Meili, USA 30.95, 3. Breeja Larson, ISA 31.06; FLORIDA: 5. Melanie Margalis, USA/St. Petersburg 31.48.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Emily Seebohm, Australia 58.91, 2. KAtinka Hosszu, Hungary 1:00.05, 3. Missy Franklin, USA 1:00.47; FLORIDA: 7. Carolina Colorado, Colombia/SOFLO 1:02.57.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Franziska Hentke, Germany 2:06.58, 2. Cammile Adams, USA 2:06.73, 3. Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Hungary 2:07.11.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Lindsay Vrooman, USA 4:07.16, 2. Lauren Boyle, New Zealand 4:07.80, 3. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 4:09.31.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Vitilina, Ussia 2:25.26, 2. Breeja Larson, USA 2:26.36, 3. Lisa Zaiser, Austria 2:30.16.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Beryl Gastaldello, France 26.35, 2. Marie Wattel, France 26.46, 3. Sasha Touretski, Switzerland 26.60; FLORIDA: 4. Claire Donahue, USA/SOFLO 26.74, 7. Alia Atkinson, Jamaica/SOFLO 27.01.

400-meter individual medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 4:35.80, 2. Zsuzsanna, Hungary 4:37.63, 3. Vien Nguyen, Vietnam/St. Augustine 4:42.53.

MEN

200-meter freestyle: 1. Daniel Smith, Australia 1:46.50, 2. Devon Brown, South Africa 1:47.55, 3. Jeremy Stravius, France 1:48.11.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Cameron Van Der Burgh, South Africa 58.97, 2. Nic Fink, USA 1:00.00, 3. Cody Miller, USA 1:00.21.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Chad Le Clos, South Africa 51.04, 2. Tom Shields, USA 51.27, 3. Tim Phillips, USA 52.10.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Camille Lacourt, France 24.75, 2. Pavel Sankovich, Belarus/FSU 25.17; 3. Zheng Wen Quah, Singapore 25.22.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Hiromasa Fujimori, Japan 1:59.39, 2. Ganesh Pedurand, France 2:01.73, 3. David Verraszto, Hungary 2:02.92.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Josh Schneider, USA 22.11, 2. Clement Mignon, France 22.40, 3. Tommaso D’Orsogna, Australia 22.44.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Chad Le Closs, South Africa 1:57.81, 2. Keita Sunama, Japan 1:58.57, 3. Ashley Delaney, Australia 1:59.24.

1500-meter freestyle: 1. Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy 15:04.98, 2. Jan Micka, Czechoslavakia 15:07.75, 3. Damien Joly, France 15:08.07.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Takes Gold On Day One Of FINA/Airweave World Cup Series In Chartres, France

By Sharon Robb

August 15, 2015—Three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson won a gold medal on the opening day of the FINA/Airweave World Cup Series second stop at the L’Odyssee Complex in Chartres, France.

Atkinson, 26, of South Florida Aquatic Club, making her FINA World Cup Series debut, won the 100-meter breaststroke, her signature event, in 1:07.03, a second off her fourth-ranked season-best of 1:06.21 at world championships.

Americans Katie Meili took silver in 1:07.30 and Melanie Margalis of St. Petersburg took bronze in 1:07.49.

Atkinson had the second fastest prelim time in 1:07.99 behind Meili in 1:07.86. Margalis had the fourth fastest in 1:09.27.

Atkinson, the Jamaican national record holder is coming off her silver and bronze medal performances at the recent XVI FINA World Aquatic Championships. She pocketed $1,500 for first place.

SOFLO’s Claire Donahue was fifth in the 100-meter butterfly in 59.20 after taking the second seed in prelims in 59.12.

Frenchwoman Beryl Gastaldello, a sophomore at Texas A&M, lowered her own national record in the 50-meter backstroke in 28.01. Her previous record was 28.02. With great front-end speed, American Natalie Coughlin won the event in 27.65.

American Josh Schneider swam a lifetime-best 48.91 to take silver in the 100-meter freestyle. It was the first time he was under 49 seconds with a time drop of almost .5.

Ryan Lochte, entered in several events before the meet, did not swim.

Swimmers are competing for $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third in addition to a $10,000 bonus check for a world record performance. A prize purse of $92,000 is being offered at each FINA stop.

The final leg of the first cluster concludes on Sunday in Chartres.

SATURDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

200-meter freestyle: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 1:56.06, 2. Missy Franklin, USA 1:57.28, 3. Charlotte Bonnet, France 1:58.28.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Alia Atkinson, South Florida Aquatic Club 1:07.03, 2. Katie Meili, USA 1:07.30, 3. Melanie Margalis, St. Petersburg 1:07.49.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Madeline Groves, Australia 57.98, 2. Brianna Throssell, Australia 58.21, 3. Marie Wattel, France 58.63; FLORIDA: 5. Claire Donahue, SOFLO 59.20.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Natalie Coughlin, USA 27.65, 2. Emily Seebohm, Australia 27.74, 3. Beryl Gastaldello, France 28.01; FLORIDA: 8. Carolina Colorado, Colombia/SOFLO 29.94.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 2:10.19, 2. Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Hungary 2:10.82, 3. Lisa Zaiser, Austroa 2:12.59; FLORIDA: 4. Vien Nguyen, Vietnam/St. Augustine 2:14.01.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Anna Santamans, France 24.78, 2. Natalie Coughlin, USA 24.83, 3. KAtinka Hosszu, Hungary 25.51.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Daria Ustinova, Russia 2:07.43, 2. Emily Seebohm, Australia 2:08.78, 3. Missy Franklin, USA 2:09.25; FLORIDA: 6. Carolina Colorado, Colombia/SOFLO 2:16.03.

800-meter freestyle: 1. Lauren Boyle, New Zealand 8:26.46, 2. Bingjie Li 8:30.09, 3. Lindsay Vrooman, USA 8:30.16.

MEN

100-meter freestyle: 1. Medhy Metella, France 48.69, 2. Josh Schneider, USA 48.91, 3. Jeremy Stravius, France 48.93

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Cameron van Der Burgh, South Africa 26.74, 2. Brendan McHugh, USA 27.61, 3. Renato Prono Fernandez, Paraguay 27.76.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Camille Lacourt, France 53.39, 2. Ashley Delaney, Australia 54.25, 3. Wen Quah Zheng, Singapore 54.34; FLORIDA: 5. Pavel Sankovich, Belarus/FSU 54.96.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Chad Le Clos, South Africa 1:54.18, 2. Jordan Coelho, France 1:57.58, 3. David Morgan, Australia 1:58.93.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Jan Micka, Czechoslavakia 3:50.54, 2. Devon Brown, South Africa 3;50.67, 3. David Brandl, Austria 3:51.15.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Nicolas Fink, USA 2:08.89, 2. Cody Miller, USA 2:10.04, 3. Kazuki Kohinata, Japan 2:10.58.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Chad Le Clos, South Africa 23.23, 2. Timothy Phillips, USA 23.42, 3. Jayden Hadler, Australia 23.66; FLORIDA: 18. Pavel Sankovich, Belarus/FSU 24.64.

400-meter individual medley: 1. David Verraszto, Hungary 4:27.05, 2. Benjamin Doyle, Ireland 4:31.61, 3. Mohammed Al Ghaferi, United Arab Emirates 5:25.69.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Joins FINA World Cup Series In Chartres, France

By Sharon Robb
August 14, 2015—Three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson will join the FINA World Cup Series second stop on Saturday in L’Odyssee, Chartres, France.

The South Florida Aquatic Club swimmer skipped the opening stop in Moscow to shoot a Speedo catalog in Europe.

The photo shoot in Montenegro was part of Atkinson’s contractual obligations to Speedo, who she signed with earlier in the year.

Atkinson posted a photo on her Instagram page with the caption: “Who would have thought that a little girl from Jamaica could make it this big.”

Atkinson is coming off her silver and bronze medal performances at the recent XVI FINA World Aquatic Championships.

Atkinson will be joined by SOFLO teammates Claire Donahue, who took a gold medal and bronze medal in Moscow, and Carolina Colorado and Jorge Murillo of Colombia. Atkinson was a big money winner in last year’s FINA World Cup Series.

The two-day meet is 90 kilometers outside of Paris, France in Chartres.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu leads the women’s points standings with $7,500 and 75 points after the opening cluster.

South African Cameron van der Burgh leads the men’s standings with $3,000 and 48 points.

A total of $96,000 in prize money will be offered at the Paris-Chartres stop, the final meet of the first cluster. An additional $150,000 will be distributed among the top six male and female performers.

The FINA/Airweave Swimming World Cup comprises eight legs distributed over three clusters with eight different events held separately in Moscow, Chartres, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Doha and Dubai.

The event has attracted 250 swimmers in 32 events.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

TYR JULY SWIMMER OF THE MONTH: Christian Tijero

By Sharon Robb

August 13, 2015—All it took was watching Michael Phelps compete in the Summer Olympics for Christian Tijero to fall in love with the sport.

“I saw him swim all those races and it was so interesting,” Tijero said. “It looked like fun. I thought ‘why don’t I try it.’

“I remember telling my mom I wanted to try out for swimming,” said Tijero, whose favorite strokes are backstroke and butterfly. “I really liked it. It’s a fun sport. It was really competitive.”

Tijero started swimming at age 6 and joined South Florida Aquatic Club in September, 2014. Since then he has flourished in the sport.

Tijero, competing as a 9-year-old at last month’s Florida Gold Coast Junior Olympics, posted seven best times in five individual events and two relays.

“I wanted to do good in the meet, I trained hard for it,” Tijero said. “I didn’t expect all those best times. I was really surprised and really happy.

“I put on a good show. I gave it all I had. I went out to celebrate. I had ice cream and watched the Smurfs II movie.”

For his efforts and training work ethic, Tijero, 10, has been chosen as the first-ever TYR Swimmer of the Month.

TYR, one of the nation’s top USA manufacturers of recreational and competitive swimwear and equipment, recently signed on to sponsor South Florida Aquatic Club for the next five-and-a-half years.

The Renaissance Charter School fifth grader has progressed remarkably while in the Asteroids group with Coach Luis and is excited about moving into the Bronze group with Coach Rose.

“It’s harder when you move up,” he said. “Coach Rose is harder but it will motivate me and make me a better swimmer.”

Tijero is still a big fan of Michael Phelps, at 31, in the midst of training to make the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“He is my role model,” Tijero said. “I do watch videos when he swims. He’s always been my favorite and he won so many medals.”

The 4-foot-5, 75-pound Tijero said he plans to work even harder this season. In addition to training, he is eating healthy and getting his rest which he said will help his swimming.

“I like practice, it prepares me for my competition and really helps me work on what I need to improve,” Tijero said. “I try to work on my strokes a lot.

“Now my goals start all over again the Bronze group. I want to try harder and get more JO cuts and best times. I would like to get some Florida Gold Coast records but I don’t think I am up to that yet. I know I have to train harder to make my goals for the next JOs. It’s really about training and preparing myself for the next meet.

“I really like the water and hanging out with my friends,” Tijero said. “It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun, too.”

Tijero is excited that his dad has bought him a holder to hang all his medals. He is up to 15 medals so far with many, many more to come.

Tijero joins past Swimmers of the Month Joseph Lee, Alana Acevedo, CJ Kopecki, Zackary Harris and Madison Johnson.

The TYR Swimmer of the Month award, chosen by the SOFLO coaching staff, is awarded each month to the swimmer who excels at both swim meets and practice sessions. Each TYR Swimmer of the Month will receive a free TYR mini backpack.—Sharon Robb

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Donahue Gets Second Medal On Day Two Of FINA World Cup Series In Moscow

By Sharon Robb

August 12, 2015—Claire Donahue of South Florida Aquatic Club added another medal Wednesday in the FINA World Cup Series opening stop in Moscow.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medalist added a bronze medal to her 100-meter butterfly gold after placing third in the 50-meter butterfly in 26.20 on Day Two.

Donahue totaled $1,750 for two days of work.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu is already on her way to defending her FINA World Cup crown with $7,500 and 75 total points after two days of competition.

South African Cameron van der Burgh leads the men’s standings with $3,000 and 48 points.

The second leg of the opening cluster is this weekend in Paris-Chartres where three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson of South Florida Aquatic Club will join the team. Also competing are SOFLO’s Carolina Colorado and Jorge Murillo of Colombia.

WEDNESDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

100-meter freestyle: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 54.10, 2. Natalia Lovtcova, Russia 54.62, 3. Veronika Popova, Russia 54.73.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Katie Meili, USA 30.76, 2. Breeja Larson, USA 30.84, 3. Melanie Margalis, USA 31.44.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Emily Seebohm, Australia 58.88, 2. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 59.46, 3. Mie Oe Nielsen, Denmark 1:00.52; FLORIDA: 6. Carolina Colorado, Colombia/South Florida Aquatic Club 1:02.26.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Cammile Adams, USA 2:06.33, 2. Franziska Hentke, Germany 2:06.51, 3. Madeline Groves, Australia 2:07.67.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Yiwen Shao, China 4:07.30, 2. Diletta Carli, Italy 4:08.12, 3. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 4:08.28; FLORIDA: 15. Nguyen Vien, Vietnam/St. Augustine 4:24.77.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Vitaline Simonova, Russia 2:22.94, 2. Tessa Wallace, Australia 2:23.97, 3. Mariia Astashkina, Russia 2:26.06.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Jeanette Ottesen, Denmark 25.51, 2. Svetlana Chimrova, Club 5 26.14, 3. Claire Donahue, USA/South Florida Aquatic Club 26.20; FLORIDA: 9. Carolina Colorado, Colombia/South Florida Aquatic Club 27.36.

400-meter individual medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 4:36.25, 2. Nguyen Vien, Vietnam 4:40.79, 3. Lara Grangeon, France 4:41.54.

MEN

200-meter freestyle: 1. Danila Izotov, Russia 1:46.93, 2. Myles Brown, South Africa 1:47.80, 3. Nikita Lobintsev, Russia 1:47.83.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Cameron Van Der Burgh, South Africa 59.27, 2. Nic Fink, USA 59.52, 3. Cody Miller, USA 1:00.07; FLORIDA: 10. Jorge Murillo, Colombia 1:01.71.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Tom Shields, USA 51.36, 2. Chad Le Clos, South Africa 51.45, 3. Tim Phillips, USA 51.75; FLORIDA: 16. Pavel Sankovich, Poland/Florida State 53.69.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Camille Lacourt, France 24.67, 2. Zheng Wen Quah, Singapore 25.13, 3. Grigory Tarasevich, Russia 25.14; FLORIDA: 4. Pavel Sankovich, Poland/Florida State 25.28.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Philip Heintz, Germany 1:58.46, 2. Chase Kalisz, USA 1:59.40, 3. Hiromasa Fujimori, Japan 1:59.57.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Josh Schneider, USA 21.80, 2. Evgeny Sedov, Club 20 21.84, 3. Andrii Govorov, Ukraine 22.10.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Ashley Delaney, Australia 1:58.41, 2. Shun Wang, China 1:58.68, 3. Benjamin Stasiulis, France 1:59.20.

1500-meter freestyle: 1. Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy 14:55.06, 2. Joris Bouchaut, France 15:09.21, 3. Evgeny Drobotov, Russia 15:49.22.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Claire Donahue Ties For Gold In FINA World Cup Series Opener

By Sharon Robb

August 10, 2015—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Claire Donahue bounced back from a disappointing XVI FINA World Championships to tie for a gold medal Tuesday in the FINA World Cup Series opener in Moscow.

The U.S. Olympic gold medalist tied Aussie Madeline Groves in the 100-meter butterfly in 58.08, 19th fastest time in the world this year. Donahue was leading with 10 meters to go but Groves put in a late surge and Donahue held on to tie. Each pocketed $1,250 in prize money.

SOFLO’s Carolina Colorado of Colombia finished out of the medal table finishing eighth in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:17.64.

SOFLO teammate Jorge Murillo, also of Colombia, was 12th in the 50-meter breaststroke in 28.22.

Second-day action in Moscow continues on Wednesday before moving to Paris-Chartres this weekend to conclude the first cluster.

TUESDAY RESULTS

WOMEN

200-meter freestyle: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 1:56.83, 2. Bronte Barratt, Australia 1:57.15, 3. Melanie Margalis, USA 1:58.30; FLORIDA: 19. Nguyen Vien, Vietnam 2:02.45

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Katie Meili, USA 1:06.68, 2. Breeja Larson, USA 1:07.19, 3. Vitalina Simonova, Russia 1:07.51.

100-meter butterfly: 1. tie, Claire Donahue, USA/SOFLO and Madeline Groves, Australia 58.08, 3. Natalia Lovtcova, Russia 58.42.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Emily Seebohm, Australia 27.90, 2. Mie Oe Nielsen, Denmark 28.05, 3. Daria Ustinova, Russia 28.52.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary 2:10.68, 2. Zsuzsanna Jakobos, Hungary 2:12.15, 3. Nguyen Vien, Vietnam/St. Augustine 2:12.33.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Jeanette Ottesen, Denmark 24.62, 2. Dar’Ya Stepanyuk, Ukraine 25.10, 3. Natalia Lovtcova, Russia 25.17.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Daria Ustinova, Russia 2:08.21, 2. Emily Seebohm, Australia 2:09.61, 3. Daryna Zevina, Ukraine 2:11.78; FLORIDA: 8. Caroline Colorado, Colombia/SOFLO 2:17.64.

800-meter freestyle: 1. Yuhan Zhang, China 8:30.60, 2. Diletta Carli, Italy 8:32.12, 3. Martina Caramignoli, Italy 8:37.03.

MEN

100-meter freestyle: 1. Chad Le Clos, South Africa 48.16, 2. Nikita Lobintsev, Russia 48.58, 3. Jeremy Stravius, Russia 48.93.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Cameron Van Der Burgh, South Africa 26.96, 2. Peter Stevens, Slovakia 27.46, 3. Brendan McHugh, USA 27.71; FLORIDA: 12. Jorge Murillo, Colombia 28.22

100-meter backstroke: 1. Camille Lacourt, France 53.44, 2. Grigory Tarasevich, Russia 54.01, 3. Zheng Wen Quah, Singapore 54.03; FLORIDA: 7. Pavel Sankovich, Belarus/FSU 55.57.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Viktor Bromer, Denmark 1:55.03, 2. Aleksandr Kudashev, Russia 1:57.09, 3. Chase Kalisz, USA 1:57.66.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Myles Brown, South Africa 3:48.52, 2. Jordan Pothain, France 3:49.66, 3. Damien Joly, France 3:50.55.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Marco Koch, Germany 2:08.77, 2. Cody Miller, USA 2:09.08, 3. Nic Fink, USA 2:09.51.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Andrii Govoroz, Ukraine 23.30, 2. Tim Phillips, USA 23.55, 3. Evgeny Sedov, Club 20 23.59.

400-meter individual medley: 1. David Verraszto, Hungary 4:14.89, 2. Federico Turrini, Italy 4:15.10, 3. Alexander Osipenko, Russia 4:16.98.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

South Florida Aquatic Club Swimmers’ World Travels Continue At FINA World Cup Series

By Sharon Robb

August 10, 2015—Fresh off the XVI FINA World Aquatic Championships that ended on Sunday, South Florida Aquatic Club’s pro swimmers will compete in FINA World Cup Series that opens in Moscow on Tuesday.

SOFLO teammates Claire Donahue, U.S. Olympic gold medalist; Carolina Colorado, two-time Colombian Olympian; and Jorge Murillo of Colombia will compete on the first two stops of the series in Moscow on Tuesday and Wednesday and Paris-Chartres on Aug. 15-16. The trio is among the Top 10 seeds in their events.

Murillo will compete in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststoke events. Colorado will swim the 50-, 100- and 200-meter backstrokes. Donahue will compete in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly.

Three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson will join her teammates for the Paris-Chartres leg. SOFLO CEO and head coach Chris Anderson will coach his swimmers at both stops and return home Aug. 17 to prepare for the fall age group and high school seasons.

This year’s series is starting in Europe to take advantage of the swimmers’ presence because of the world championships. FINA officials were hoping to attract the top names. The Middle East stops in Doha and Dubai will now be held at the end of the series.

Prize money has significantly increased to $2 million to attract more top level athletes. There have also been several additions. The series stops will be held exclusively in 50-meter pools. All legs will serve as qualifying events for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Paris-Chartres has also been added as a new site for the series.

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the 2013 and 2014 men’s and women’s winners of the series, return to defend their titles.

While Moscow and Paris is the first cluster of cities, the second cluster is Sept. 25-26 Hong Kong, Sept. 29-30 Beijing and Oct. 3-4 Singapore; and third cluster is Oct.28-29 Tokyo, Nov. 2-3 Doha and Nov. 6-7 Dubai.

ELSEWHERE

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Lisa Blackburn, a national record holder for Bermuda, won the 200-meter individual medley age group title at U.S. Masters Summer National Championships in Geneva, Ohio. Blackburn, 44, won the 40-44 in 2:25.81. She also won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:46.74, 100-meter breaststroke in 1:15.07, 50-meter breaststroke in 34.64 and was second in the 50-meter freestyle in 27.44.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Alia Atkinson Takes Silver, Makes History At XVI FINA World Aquatic Championships

By Sharon Robb

August 9, 2015—In one of the most exciting races of the XVI FINA World Aquatic Championships, three-time Jamaican Olympian Alia Atkinson just missed a gold medal on the eighth and final day of competition in Kazan, Russia.

Against a stacked field, the South Florida Aquatic Club swimmer went out hard early in the 50-meter breaststroke to win her first silver medal at a world championships.

Atkinson, 26, who had already earned a bronze medal earlier in the week in the 100-meter breaststroke, finished just 0.06 seconds out of first place in 30.11, breaking her own Jamaican national record and beating the favorites Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania and Yulia Efimova of Russia.

Atkinson’s previous national record was 30.17 at last year’s Commonwealth Games. Atkinson owns eight different individual national records.

“It’s fantastic,” Atkinson beamed. “The last two worlds I was ninth in both events, so to come back and medal in both shows how much I am improving.”

Atkinson is the first Jamaican swimmer to make the finals of the 50-meter breaststroke. At her first world championship in Barcelona in 2013, she did not get past the semifinals.

“It’s a real confidence-booster because I’ve always been successful in short course, but not long course,” said Atkinson, the world short course gold medalist and world record holder in the event.

With Atkinson’s silver and bronze, Jamaica finished 25th in the medal standings. No other Caribbean country placed in the medal table.

Atkinson was second fastest qualifier in the 50 breaststroke prelims behind Meilutyte in 30.27 but faltered to sixth fastest in the semifinals in 30.78.

Sweden’s Jennie Johansson, 27, shocked the field to take the gold medal in 30.05 and win her first title at a major international meet.

Efimova took the bronze in 30.13, just 1/100ths of a second ahead of Ruta Meilutyte, the reigning Olympic 100-meter breaststroke champion, in 30.14 and American Jessica Hardy in 30.20.

Just 0.15 seconds separated the top five finishers.

In other races, Aussie Bronte Campbell, 21, won the women’s 50-meter freestyle to compete her freestyle sweep after winning the 100 title. Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands took silver just 0.10 seconds behind and Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrum took the bronze 0.19 seconds behind.

Hungarian Katinka Hosszu won the 400-meter individual medley in 4:30.39. American Maya DiRado took silver in 4:31.71 and Aussie Emily Overholt took bronze in 4:32.52.

China won the 4×100-meter medley relay in 3:54.41. Sweden won the silver in a European record 3:55.24 and Australia took the bronze in 3:55.56. The U.S. team, with Missy Franklin, Jessica Hardy, Kendyl Stewart and Simone Manuel was shut out of medals placing fourth in 3:56.76. Great Britain and Japan were disqualified.

The United States finished on top of the medal standings with 23 medals: eight gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals. A much-improved Australia team since its 2012 London Olympics disaster, finished second with seven gold, three silver and six bronze. China was third with 13 medals: five gold, one silver and seven bronze.

American teenager Katie Ledecky was named Best Female Swimmer of the Meet.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com