Nazario, Vale, Williams Top Finishers On Day Two Of CCCAN Swimming Championships

By Sharon Robb

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS, June 30, 2019—Diego Nazario of Puerto Rico was South Florida Aquatic Club’s top finisher on Day Two of the 32nd Central American and Caribbean Aquatic Championships [CCCAN] Saturday at National Aquatic Centre.

Nazario, 12, making his CCCAN debut, was seventh in the 100-meter butterfly final in 1:06.71, just off his best time of 1:06.21. He was eighth fastest in prelims in 1:07.36.

The Sharks’ Silver Group swimmer will also swim the 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle.

Other top Florida Gold Coast finishers on Saturday were:

Sidrell Williams, 22, of Jamaica was fourth in the 100-meter butterfly in 56.85. He was fifth fastest in prelims in 57.34. Williams is also competing in the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle and 50-meter freestyle.

Nicholas Vale, 17, of Jamaica was seventh in the 100-meter butterfly in 58.18. He will also swim the 200-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter freestyle and 400-meter freestyle.

Local swimmers still to swim:

SOFLO’s Sebastian Lares, 14, will compete in four individual events and two relays: 100-meter backstroke, 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley and 200-meter backstroke.

Gaby Banks, 16, is seeded second in the 50-meter freestyle in 26.65. She will also swim the 50-meter butterfly, 200-meter breaststroke, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.

Simone Vale, 15, of Jamaica; Renzo Tjon A Joe, 23, of Suriname; Cathy Cooper, 19, of Panama and Lauren Hew of the Cayman Islands.

Jamaica’s Gaby Banks and Nicholas Vale are also shortlisted for the FINA Junior World Championship set for August 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.

An estimated 500 athletes from 29 countries are competing. Several participants are trying to qualify for the World Championship and Pan American Games before the July 3 deadline.

Twenty eight countries are represented at the swimming championships including Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vicente and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and US Virgin Islands.

CCCAN is an age group swimming championship with 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18-and-over age categories. The meet ends Tuesday.

SATURDAY RESULTS
GIRLS

200-meter breaststroke:
11-12, 1. Fernanda Elizabeth Portillo Arrieta, MEX 2:50.46; 13-14, 1. Emily Santos, PAN 2:38.78; 15-17, 1. Elise Alejandra Funes, ESA 2:44.60, 12. Gaby Banks, JAM 3:16.46; 18-and-over, 1. Oreoluwa Cherebin, GRN 2:49.53.

50-meter backstroke:
11-12, 1. Elizabeth Jimenez Garrido, DOM 31.64; 13-14, 1. Elan Daley, BER 31.43; 15-17, 1. Citlali Jimenez Torres, MEX 30.31, 10. Simone Vale, JAM 32.15; 18-and-over, 1. Krystal Lara, DOM 30.12.

100-meter butterfly:
11-12, 1. Valery Ruiz, PAN 1:07.99; 13-14, 1. Miriam Sheehan, PUR 1:01.44; 15-17, 1. Logan Watson-Brown, BERAG 1:04.33, 13. Simone Vale, JAM 1:09.58, 17. Gaby Banks, JAM 1:10.87; 18-and-over, 1. Krystal Lara, DOM 1:01.49.

BOYS

200-meter breaststroke:
11-12, 1. Gavin Kock, ARU 2:38.18; 13-14, 1. Roberto Bonilla, GUA 2:27.58; 15-17, 1. Tyler Christianson, PAN 2:19.54; 18-and-over, 1. Josue Dominguez, DOM 2:19.06.

50-meter backstroke:
11-12, 1. Marvin Johnson, BAH 31.23; 13-14, 1. Nathaniel Thomas, JAM 27.69; 15-17, 1. Davante Carey, BAH 26.91; 18-and-over, 1. Jeron Thompson, TTO 26.96.

100-meter butterfly:
11-12, 1. Marvin Johnson, BAH 1:02.54, 7. Diego Nazario Vazquez, PUR 1:06.71; 13-14, 1. Miguel Eduardo Rojas Newman, MEX 57.95; 15-17, 1. Davante Carey, BAH 56.18, 7. Nicholas Vale, JAM 58.18; 18-and-over, 1. Franco Reyes, PAN 55.18, 4. Sidrell Williams, JAM 56.85.

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

SOFLO Swimmers Dominate Day One Of BRST Endless Summer Invite; Weather Ends Day Two Early

By Sharon Robb

BOCA RATON, June 29, 2019–South Florida Aquatic Club dominated the field on Day One of the Boca Raton Swim Team 15-and-under Endless Summer Invite Friday at Boca Raton Aquatic Center.

SOFLO has the largest team entered with 81 swimmers (41 boys and 40 girls) for the three-day meet and it showed during opening day.

SOFLO individual winners were:

Shelby Evans, 50-meter breaststroke, 48.00; 200-meter breaststroke, 3:36.92.

Sophia Grubbs, 50-meter breaststroke 37.15; 200-meter breaststroke, 3:01.25.

JennaMarie Brames, 100-meter freestyle, 1:03.23.

Fiorella Di Salvo, 100-meter butterfly, 1:17.99.

Juan Vallmitjana, 50-meter breaststroke, 44.53.

Javier Colmenares, 50-meter breaststroke, 35.23; 200-meter breaststroke 2:50.26.

Among SOFLO top three finishers were:

Fiorella Di Salvo, 50-meter breaststroke, second, 41.41; 100-meter freestyle, second 1:10.20.

Mariann Catalasan, 50-meter breaststroke, second, 39.22.

Natalia Sibug, 50-meter breaststroke, third, 39.55; 200-meter breaststroke, second, 3:02.39.

Sofia Gomez, 100-meter freestyle, second, 1:24.50.

Jemma Baldwin, 100-meter freestyle, third, 1:24.66.

Sarah Vasquez, 200-meter breaststroke, second, 3:28.29.

Sarah Acevedo, 400-meter freestyle, third, 4:46.40.

Stefano Mazzi, 50-meter breaststroke, second, 44.60.

Ryan Harries, 50-meter breaststroke, third, 44.91.

Adrian Hernandez, 100-meter freestyle, second, 1:02.98; 100-meter butterfly, second, 1:11.89.

Austin Nelson, 100-meter freestyle, third, 1:06.95.

After a year’s hiatus and one-day format, the meet, held to kick off summer instead of ending it like past years, is over three days and ends on Sunday at Boca Raton High School Aquatic Center.

In addition to SOFLO, some of the other FGC clubs competing are Pine Crest Swimming, FAST, North Palm Beach, Coral Springs Swim Club, Lake Lytal Lightning and Florida Keys.

The meet format features timed finals for swimmers ages 9-and-under and prelims and finals for 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15 age group swimmers. The 400-meter freestyle and longer events are timed finals for all age groups.

Second day action was cancelled mid-meet by meet officials because of the weather. The meet is expected to resume Sunday morning.

FRIDAY RESULTS
GIRLS

50-meter breaststroke:
9-and-under, 1. Shelby Evans, SOFLO 48.00, time drop; SOFLO: 4. Sofia Gomez 50.16, 7. Jordan Evans 52.47, time drop, 8. Mackenzie McPherson 52.86, 9. Olivia Wilson 53.46, time drop, 11. Jemma Baldwin 55.36, time drop; 10-11, 1. Julianna Bell, FAST 39.55; SOFLO: 2. Fiorella Di Salvo 41.41, 4. Sarah Vasquez 45.84, 7. Alexandra Strong 49.08, 8. Alessandra Gendarmi 49.85, 9. Amanda Grubbs 55.05; 12-13, 1. Isabella Rosas Milla, ESQ 38.34; SOFLO: 2. Mariann Catalasan 39.22, 3. Natalia Sibug 39.55, 5. Alexis Christensen 39.90, 6. Anastasia Lutz 42.23, 15. Izzy Wilson 47.29; 14-15, 1. Sophia Grubbs, SOFLO 37.15; SOFLO: 5. Sabrina Osorio 40.41, 9. Shayna Blitz 43.72.

100-meter freestyle:
9-and-under, 1. Cali Jerebek, NPB 1:23.55; SOFLO: 2. Sofia Gomez 1:24.50, time drop, 3. Jemma Baldwin 1:24.66, time drop, 4. Mackenzie McPherson 1:25.96, time drop, 5. Shelby Evans 1:30.14, 8. Olivia Wilson 1:31.97, 11. Jordan Evans 1:41.08; 10-11, 1. Julianna Bell, FAST 1:06.61; SOFLO: 2. Fiorella Di Salvo 1:10.20, 6. Genesis Escobar 1:13.94, 10. Alexandra Strong 1:19.87, 11. Alessandra Strong 1:19.87, 15. Amanda Grubbs 1:32.09; 12-13, 1. Aspen Gersper, SAS 59.13; SOFLO: 5. Anastasia Lutz 1:06.41, 8. Izzy Wilson 1:07.52, 9. Hartley Pitters-Hinds 1:07.96; 14-15, 1. JennaMarie Brames, SOFLO 1:03.23; SOFLO: 14. Sabrina Osorio 1:11.87, 15. Shayna Blitz 1:12.28.

200-meter breaststroke:
9-and-under, 1. Shelby Evans, SOFLO 3:36.92; SOFLO: 4. Jordan Evans 4:06.51, 5. Olivia Wilson 4:09.90, time drop; 10-11, 1. Julianna Bell, FAST 3:16.54; SOFLO: 2. Sarah Vasquez 3:28.29; 12-13, 1. Harper Thurston, NPB 3:00.11; SOFLO: 2. Natalia Sibug 3:02.39; 14-15, 1. Sophia Grubbs, SOFLO 3:01.25.

100-meter butterfly:
9-and-under, 1. Lydia Wagner, LLL 1:51.74; 10-11, 1. Fiorella Di Salvo, SOFLO 1:17.99; SOFLO: 9. Amanda Grubbs 1:48.61; 12-13, 1. Logan Zielinski, FAST 1:11.70; SOFLO: 8. Izzy Wilson 1:23.43, 10. Natalia Sibug 1:23.37, 12. Anastasia Lutz 1:27.62; 14-15, 1. Elizabeth Sikes, BRST 1:09.86; SOFLO: 5. Sofia Osorio 1:18.07, 7. Sophia Grubbs 1:24.22.

400-meter freestyle:
9-15, 1. Aspen Gersper, SAS 4:30.44; SOFLO: 3. Sarah Acevedo 4:46.40, 5. Alexis Christensen 4:51.77, 8. JennaMarie Brames 4:55.69, 9. Ava Kuznki 4:59.87, 15. Mariann Catalasan 5:19.49, 24. Genesis Escobar 5:46.90, 27. Alessandra Gendarmi 6:04.06.

BOYS

50-meter breaststroke:
9-and-under, 1. Caleb Caponera, SAS 44.79; SOFLO: 4. Preston Christensen 57.95, time drop; 10-11, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 44.53; SOFLO: 2. Stefano Mazzi 44.60, 3. Ryan Harries 44.91, 6. Matt McVeigh 46.71, 11. Aryav Thakur 53.28; 12-13, 1. Javier Colmenares, SOFLO 35.23; SOFLO: 6. Alexander Miller 41.08, 9. Nicholas Pelaez 45.26, 11. Armando Bertea 49.82, 12. Alessio Mazzi 50.32; 14-15, 1. Josh Zuchowski, FAST 31.57; SOFLO: 5. Alan Bates 37.98.

100-meter freestyle:
9-and-under, 1. Caleb Caponera, SAS 1:12.36; SOFLO: 8. Preston Christensen 1:39.56; 10-11, 1. William Domokos-Murphy, SAS 1:05.58; SOFLO: 4. Stefano Mazzi 1:11.14, 5. Juan Vallmitjana 1:11.19, 11. Ryan Harries 1:24.47, 13. Aryav Thakur 1:33.29; 12-13, 1. Leonardo Zambrano Camas, ESQ 1:02.63; SOFLO: 2. Adrian Hernandez 1:02.98, 3. Austin Nelson 1:06.95, 4. Alexander Miller 1:09.79, 5. Alessio Mazzi 1:12.52, 6. Nicholas Pelaez 1:14.12; 14-15, 1. Maximillian Zum Tobel, SAS 55.68; SOFLO: 7. Alan Bertea 1:05.57.

200-meter breaststroke:
9-and-under, 1. Robby Wells, NPB 3:56.02; 10-11, 1. Drew McQueeney, FAST 3:41.94; 12-13, 1. Javier Colmenares, SOFLO 2:50.26; 14-15, 1. Josh Zuchowski, FAST 2:28.94.

100-meter butterfly:
9-and-under, 1. Caleb Caponera, SAS 1:21.05; 10-11, 1. William Domokos-Murphy, SAS 1:13.17; SOFLO: 4. Juan Vallmitjana 1:24.91; 12-13, 1. Noah Smith, FAST 1:06.79; SOFLO: 2. Adrian Hernandez 1:11.89, 5. Austin Nelson 1:20.59, 6. Nicholas Pelaez 1:24.34, 7. Alexander Miller 1:24.64, 9. Alessio Mazzi 1:29.79, 11. Armando Bertea 1:41.20; 14-15, 1. Josh Zuchowski, FAST 58.72; SOFLO: 4. Alan Bertea 1:10.69.

400-meter freestyle:
9-15, 1. Pace Edwards, FAST 4:16.02; SOFLO: 4. Javier Colmenares 4:36.56, 7. Zackary Harris 4:40.96, 8. Nate Garrick 4:41.35, 9. Adrian Hernandez 4:44.90, 11. Hashan Ekanayake 4:54.11, 15. Austin Nelson 5:04.24, 19. Stefano Mazzi 5:16.61, 21. Ethan McPeek 5:18.00.

IF YOU GO

What: Boca Raton Swim Team 15&Under Endless Summer Invite

When: Sunday, 8 a.m.

Where: Boca Raton Community High School Aquatic Center, 1501 NW 15th Court, Boca Raton

Of note: Admission is $3 per session. Heat sheets are $2 per session. The meet is sponsored by Boca Raton Aquatics and Boca Raton Swim Team. The meet is limited to 350 swimmers. For more information call 561-251-3724.

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

SOFLO Swimmers Get In Solid Two Days Of Racing At XXI FLA International Cup

By Sharon Robb

PLANTATION, June 29, 2019—South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers got in two days of solid racing at the XXI FLA International Cup at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Two-time Vietnam Olympian and national record holder Vien Nguyen led the team on Friday. Nguyen, 22, won the 200-meter butterfly in 2:22.27 and 200-meter backstroke in 2:27.27. She was also second in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:00.82

Marco Cabrera Duarte, 18, won the 50-meter backstroke in 28.75 and 200-meter backstroke in 2:10.13. Both were best times. He dropped 0.26 off his 50 and 0.69 off his 200.

Lance Lesage, 16, won the 50-meter backstroke in 28.07 and 200-meter backstroke in 2:09.19, a best time by 0.65.

Jacqueline Lugo, 17, won the 50-meter butterfly in 30.51 and was fourth in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:04.18. She also won the 100-yard freestyle mixed event in 56.29, a best time by 5.95.

Garrett Oliver, 16, was seventh in the 50-meter backstroke in 32.00 and 50-meter butterfly in 32.08. Both were best times, by 9.27 in the backstroke and 10.13 in the butterfly. He was also 17th in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:02.85.

Juan Pablo Pineda, 17, was third in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:08.71. He was also sixth in the 50-meter butterfly in 28.78, a best time by 0.70 and seventh in the 100-meter freestyle in 59.08.

Lucy Smutny, 16, was sixth in the 50-meter backstroke in 36.11, fifth in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:45.74 and 11th in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:05.42, a best time by 1.10.

Robert Wilson, 16, was second in the 50-meter butterfly in 27.32 and fifth in the 100-meter freestyle in 56.02.

SOFLO, which entered for only two days, finished eighth with 162 points. The men’s team was sixth with 84 points and eighth with 78 points.

All sessions were timed finals. The meet featured 22 Florida Gold Coast, Caribbean and out-of-state teams, down from 31 last year. The four-day meet continues Saturday and ends on Sunday.

IF YOU GO

What: XXI FLA International Cup

When: Saturday-Sunday

Schedule: Saturday, Session 2A, 8 a.m., Session 2B, 30 minutes after Session A, Session 2C, 5 p.m.; Saturday, Session 3, 8 a.m.; Sunday, Session 4, 9 a.m.

Where: Plantation Aquatic Complex, 9151 NW Second St., Plantation.

Of note: All sessions are timed finals. Admission is $5 per sesssion. All sessions pass is also available. Heat sheets are free online. For information call 954-593-8552 or go to Plantation Swim Team’s website.

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

Mexico Sweeps Open Distance Events; Panama Wins Relay With Cooper; SOFLO’s Lares, Banks, Nazario Swim Saturday

By Sharon Robb

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS, June 28, 2019—Mexico got off to a good start in the distance events and mixed relays on opening day of the 32nd Central American and Caribbean Aquatic Championships [CCCAN] Friday at National Aquatic Centre.

Cathy Cooper led off Panama’s winning mixed 4×50-meter freestyle relay that won in 1:41.90.

SOFLO’s Gaby Banks and Nicholas Vale were relay members of Jamaica’s second place 15-17 4×50-meter freestyle relay in 1:43.08, lower than its entry time of 1:43.70.

Mexico swept three of the four mixed 4×50-meter freestyle relays.

Venezuela’s Maria Yegres, 13, had the fastest time in all age groups, winning the 13-14 800-meter freestyle in 9:04.80.

Mexico’s Axxel Salgado Salinas, 18, won the 18-and-over 1500-meter freestyle in 16:02.80, fastest time in all age groups.

Weather permitting, South Florida Aquatic Club and Florida Gold Coast swimmers race on Saturday.

Sebastian Lares, 14, will compete in four individual events and two relays: 13-14 100-meter backstroke, 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley and 200-meter backstroke.

Gaby Banks, 16, is seeded second in the 50-meter freestyle in 26.65. She will also swim the 50-meter butterfly, 200-meter breaststroke, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.

SOFLO’s Diego Nazario, 12, making his CCCAN debut, will represent Puerto Rico. The Silver Group swimmer is entered in the 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter butterfly, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle.

Pine Crest alum and Kenyon College-bound Nicholas Vale are representing Jamaica. He will be joined by his younger sister, Simone Vale, 15, and Sidrell Williams, another Florida Gold Coast swimmer. Renzo Tjon A Joe, 23, will represent Suriname. Cathy Cooper, 19, is competing for Panama. Lauren Hew will represent the Cayman Islands.

Banks and Vale are also shortlisted for the FINA Junior World Championship set for August 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.

An estimated 500 athletes from 29 countries are competing. Several participants are trying to qualify for the World Championship and Pan American Games before the July 3 deadline.

Twenty eight countries are represented at the swimming championships including Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vicente and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and US Virgin Islands.

CCCAN is an age group swimming championship with 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18-and-over age categories. The meet ends Tuesday.

FRIDAY RESULTS
GIRLS

800-meter freestyle:
13-14, 1. Maria Yegres, VEN 9:04.80; 15-17, 1. Michelle Ramirez, HOND 9:14.59; 18-and-over, 1. Mariajose Lopez Lizarraga, MEX 9:14.70.

4×50-meter freestyle relay: 11-12, 1. Mexico 1:51.27, 2. Bahamas 1:52.00, 3. Dominican Republic 1:52.35; 13-14, 1. Mexico 1:45.09, 2. Bermuda 1:45.95, 3. Jamaica 1:46.72; 15-17, 1. Mexico 1:42.089, 2. Jamaica 1:43.08, 3. Puerto Rico 1:44.15; 18-and-over, 1. Panama 1:41.90, 2. Mexico 1:42.41, 3. Honduras 1:43.44.

BOYS

1500-meter freestyle:
13-14, 1. Alan Alejandro Gonzalez Mujica, MEX 16:23.56; 15-17, 1. Chance Conde, PUR 16:25.00; 18-and-over, 1. Axxel Salgado Salinas, MEX 16:02.80

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

SOFLO’s Sebastian Lares, Gaby Banks, FGC Swimmers Compete In CCCAN Swimming Championships That Begin Friday In Barbados

By Sharon Robb

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS, June 27, 2019—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Sebastian Lares of Panama and Gaby Banks of Jamaica will compete in the 32nd Central American and Caribbean Aquatic Championships [CCCAN] at National Aquatic Centre.

Lares, 14, will compete in four individual events and two relays. He will compete in the 13-14 100-meter backstroke, 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter individual medley and 200-meter backstroke.

Banks, 16, is seeded second in the 50-meter freestyle in 26.65. She will also swim the 50-meter butterfly, 200-meter breaststroke, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter breaststroke, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.

Pine Crest alum and Kenyon College-bound Nicholas Vale will represent Jamaica. He will be joined by his younger sister, Simone Vale, 15, and Sidrell Williams, another Florida Gold Coast swimmer. Renzo Tjon A Joe, 23, will represent Suriname. Cathy Cooper, 19, will compete for Panama. Lauren Hew will represent the Cayman Islands.

Banks and Vale are also shortlisted for the FINA Junior World Championship set for August 20-25 in Budapest, Hungary.

An estimated 500 athletes from 29 countries are expected to compete in pool swimming. Several participants will try to qualify for the World Championship and Pan American Games before the July 3 deadline.

Twenty eight countries will be represented at the swimming championships including Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vicente and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and US Virgin Islands.

Barbados Aquatic Sports Association president Tony Selby said during the meet’s press conference that he expects a competitive meet.

“There is going to be a lot of competition in swimming,” Selby said. “I have had a look at the psych sheet and the competition is going to be stiff. Obviously, the powerhouses of the Caribbean are Trinidad and Bahamas, they will all be here as well trying to maintain glory to the English-speaking Caribbean over the Central American countries.”

According to Selby, Mexico has not competed in CCCAN for several years, and they are coming to make a statement with a large group of 81 athletes.

CCCAN is an age group swimming championship with 11-12, 13-14, 15-17 and 18-and-over age categories.

The swimming will be held from Friday to July 2. The races will be swam as preliminary qualifying heats in the morning and finals at night, a similar format to CARIFTA and other four- or five-day swim meets.

The Championships, which also features synchronized swimming, open water swimming and water polo, began on Monday.

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

Olympian Vien Nguyen Wins Opening Event At XXI FLA International Cup

By Sharon Robb

PLANTATION, June 27, 2019—Two-time Vietnam Olympian and national record holder Vien Nguyen of South Florida Aquatic Club won her first event Thursday at the XXI FLA International Cup at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Nguyen, 22, won the 400-meter individual medley in 4:53.55. She has three events left to swim: 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter backstroke and mixed 100 freestyle.

The remaining SOFLO contingent begins competing on Friday. They are: Marco Cabrera Duarte, 18, Lance Lesage, 16, Jacqueline Lugo, 17, Garrett Oliver, 16, Juan Pablo Pineda, 17, Lucy Smutny, 16 and Robert Wilson, 16.

All sessions are timed finals. The meet features 22 Florida Gold Coast, Caribbean and out-of-state teams, down from 31 last year.

IF YOU GO

What: XXI FLA International Cup

When: Friday-Sunday

Schedule: Friday and Saturday, Session 2A, 8 a.m., Session 2B, 30 minutes after Session A, Session 2C, 5 p.m.; Saturday, Session 3, 8 a.m.; Sunday, Session 4, 9 a.m.

Where: Plantation Aquatic Complex, 9151 NW Second St., Plantation.

Of note: All sessions are timed finals. Admission is $5 per sesssion. All sessions pass is also available. Heat sheets are free online. For information call 954-593-8552 or go to Plantation Swim Team’s website.

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

SOFLO’s Jennifer Martin Preps For World Games At U.S. Police & Fire Championships On Saturday

By Sharon Robb

SAN DIEGO, June 27, 2019—With the Aug. 8-18 World Police and Fire Games just 41 days away in China, Jennifer Martin will get her first big test Saturday at the United States Police & Fire Championships.

The City of Pembroke Pines police sergeant will compete in the one-day swimming competition at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. The championships got under way on June 2 with various other sports.

Martin, 38, representing the Pembroke Pines Police Department, will compete in nine events including four relays.

When not working full-time, Martin has been training and fine tuning with SOFLO head coach Chris Anderson at SOFLO’s Academic Village Pool, where she use to coach with the Comets Swim Team. She has also been cross training in the gym and local road races.

For the second consecutive year, Martin is being sponsored by the Broward County PBA (Police Benevolent Association).

Over three hours, Martin has a Herculean lineup of individual and relay events. She will compete in the 30-39 50-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke. She will also swim four relays: 200 freestyle, 200 medley, 200 medley mixed and 200 freestyle mixed.

“It’s a very challenging day for me,” Martin said.

Martin has been among top athletes in several local, state, national and international competitions. It is the second time she will compete in the United States Police & Fire Championships.

At the 2018 competition in less than three hours, Martin won nine gold medals and broke three USPFC meet records including an 18-year-old record. She competed in three races in less than seven minutes which included two meet-record performances.

Martin won the 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 50 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke and was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay mixed relay and 200 freestyle mixed relay.

She broke meet records in the 50 breaststroke (1990 record of 33.93) in 33.11, 100 breaststroke (1994 record of 1:17.89) in 1:13 and 50 butterfly (2016 record of 28.36) in 28.1.

In her last major international competition, the 2017 World Police & Fire Games in Los Angeles, Martin won seven gold medals and one silver and broke five world records over four days of open water and pool racing.

The eight-day United States Police & Fire Championships is an Olympic-style competition with athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs from across the country. It got under way June 22 and ends on Saturday.

Athletes compete in 54 different sports at 33 venues throughout the San Diego county.

It began in 1967 as the California Police Olympics, in 1990 was the California Police Summer Games, in 2000 was the California Police and Fire Games, and since 2012 has been known as the U.S. Police and Fire Championships.

The California Police Athletic Federation is the governing body for the U.S. Police & Fire Championships. Its mission is to promote sport and physical fitness among personnel representing various agencies.

The World Police & Fire Games are set for 2019 in Chengdu, China. The World Games are held every two years.

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

Olympian Vien Nguyen Heads SOFLO At XXI FLA International Cup

By Sharon Robb

PLANTATION, June 26, 2019—Two-time Vietnam Olympian and national record holder Vien Nguyen heads South Florida Aquatic Club’s eight-swimmer contingent at the XXI FLA International Cup at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Nguyen, 22, will compete in four events: 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter butterfly, 200-meter backstroke and mixed 100 freestyle. She is the top seed in the 400 IM in 4:38.66 on Thursday.

Nguyen will be joined by five boys and two girls: Marco Cabrera Duarte, 18, Lance Lesage, 16, Jacqueline Lugo, 17, Garrett Oliver, 16, Juan Pablo Pineda, 17, Lucy Smutny, 16 and Robert Wilson, 16.

SOFLO will compete for two days during the four-day meet. The meet is Thursday through Sunday.

All sessions are timed finals. The meet features 22 Florida Gold Coast, Caribbean and out-of-state teams, down from 31 last year.

IF YOU GO

What: XXI FLA International Cup

When: Thursday-Sunday

Schedule: Thursday, Session 1A, 2 p.m., Session 1B, 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Session 2A, 8 a.m., Session 2B, 30 minutes after Session A, Session 2C, 5 p.m.; Saturday, Session 3, 8 a.m.; Sunday, Session 4, 9 a.m.

Where: Plantation Aquatic Complex, 9151 NW Second St., Plantation.

Of note: All sessions are timed finals. Admission is $5 per session. All sessions pass is also available. Heat sheets are free online. For information call 954-593-8552 or go to Plantation Swim Team’s website.

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

SOFLO Ready To Race At BRST 15&Under Endless Summer Invite This Weekend

By Sharon Robb

BOCA RATON, June 26, 2019–South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers seeking to add a few more qualifying cut times or get in a little more quality racing will get the chance this weekend at the Boca Raton Swim Team 15-&-under Endless Summer Invite.

SOFLO has the largest team entered with 81 swimmers (41 boys and 40 girls) for the three-day meet.

After a year’s hiatus and one-day format, the meet, being held to kick off summer instead of ending it like past years, will be held Friday through Sunday at the Boca Raton High School Aquatic Center.

The meet will serve as a fine tuning meet for upcoming tournaments including the July 18-21 FGC 14&Under Junior Olympics in Stuart.

In addition to SOFLO, some of the other FGC clubs competing are Pine Crest Swimming, FAST, North Palm Beach, Coral Springs Swim Club, Lake Lytal Lightning and Florida Keys.

Among SOFLO top seeds are:

Christian Tijero, 13, 100-meter freestyle, 1:02.27.

Olivia Wilson, 9, 200-meter breaststroke, 4:09.98.

Sarah Acevedo, 15, 100-meter butterfly, 1:09.18; 1500-meter freestyle 18:11.16.

Javier Colmenares, 12, 200-meter breaststroke, 2:57.43; 100-meter breaststroke 1:18.88.

Derek Hau, 11, 200-meter breaststroke, no seed time; 100-meter breaststroke 1:36.87.

Maddie Smutny, 14, 200-meter butterfly, 2:34.81.

Lydia Smutny, 10, 200-meter butterfly, no seed time.

Fiorella Di Salvo, 11, 100-meter backstroke 1:18.55; 200-meter backstroke 2:43.03.

Giada Porven, 11, 50-meter backstroke, 39.60.

Jenna Baldwin, 8, 200-meter backstroke, no seed time.

The meet format features timed finals for swimmers ages 9-and-under and prelims and finals for 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15 age group swimmers. The 400-meter freestyle and longer events are timed finals for all age groups.

IF YOU GO

What: Boca Raton Swim Team 15&Under Endless Summer Invite

When: Friday-Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., finals 5:30 p.m.

Where: Boca Raton Community High School Aquatic Center, 1501 NW 15th Court, Boca Raton

Of note: Admission is $3 per session. Heat sheets are $2 per session. The meet is sponsored by Boca Raton Aquatics and Boca Raton Swim Team. The meet is limited to 350 swimmers. For more information call 561-251-3724.

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

SOFLO’s Dinehart Sisters End On Good Note; Sarasota YMCA Sharks Sweep Team Titles At Shark Open

By Sharon Robb

SARASOTA, June 23, 2019—Olivia and Elena Dinehart led South Florida Aquatic Club on the fourth and final day of the Sarasota Shark Open Sunday at Selby Aquatic Center.

Olivia Dinehart, 14, was second in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:42.91 with a time drop of 2.51 and fourth in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:01.41 with a time drop of 0.90. She finished with 43 points in high point.

Elena Dinehart, 14, was third in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:31.51 with a time drop of 3.84. She finished with 29 points.

LeeAnn Ranalli, 16, was fourth in the 100-meter freestyle in 1:05.38 with a time drop of 0.60.

Gabriela Avila, 12, was sixth in the 50-meter breaststroke in 44.75.

Sophia Avila, 10, was eighth in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:36.77.

Paige Lane, 16, was tenth in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:31.72 with a time drop of 6.22 from 2:37.94.

Felix Gonzalez, 12, was SOFLO’s top boys’ finisher in the 50-meter breaststroke in 45.71 with a time drop of 2.30.

Miguel Sierra, 16, was also among SOFLO’s top boys finishers placing seventh in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:13.77 with a time drop of 2.81 and and seventh in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:05.93.

Host Sarasota YMCA Sharks, early leaders since Day One, swept all three team titles with 1,157 points in combined, 442 in boys and 715 in girls team standings. The Sharks were the only team to crack the 1,000-point barrier.

With only 11 swimmers, SOFLO was eighth in combined with 87 points and seventh in the girls team standings with 77 points.

The meet format was prelims and finals for 11-12, 13-14 and 15-and-over and timed finals for 10-and-unders and 11-and-over who did not have qualifying times.

SUNDAY RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. Sarasota Sharks 1,157, 2. Tampa Bay Aquatic Club 540, 3. Asphalt Green 375.5, 4. Gwinnett Aquatics 346.5, 5. Sky Family Hurricanes 345, 8. South Florida Aquatic Club 87, 9. TS Aquatics 73.

BOYS TEAM TOTALS: 1. Sarasota Sharks 442, 2. Tampa Bay Aquatic Club 268, 3. Sky Family Hurricanes 262, 4. Asphalt Green 235.5, 5. Gwinnett Aquatics 225.5, 9. TS Aquatics 41, 11. SOFLO 10.

GIRLS TEAM TOTALS: 1. Sarasota Sharks 715, 2. Tampa Bay Aquatic Club 272, 3. Tide Swimming 168, 4. Asphalt Green 140, 5. Gwinnett Aquatics 121, 7. SOFLO 77, 9. TS Aquatics 32.

GIRLS

200-meter butterfly:
13-14, 1. Summer Cardwell, TBAC 2:22.75; SOFLO: 3. Elena Dinehart 2:31.51, time drop; Open, 1. Annika Stafford, SKY 2:35.64; Open, 1. Isabel Traba, SYS 2:20.03; SOFLO: 10. Paige Lane 2:31.72, time drop.

100-meter freestyle:
11-and-over, 1. Annika Stafford, SKY 1:03.14; SOFLO: 4. LeeAnn Ranalli 1:05.38, time drop, 34. Dahlia Hirsch 1:14.14, time drop, 41. Genesis Escobar 1:16.21, time drop, 48. Elise Dinehart 1:19.96; 11-12, 1. Maeve Eckerman, SYS 1:04.43; 13-14, 1. Summer Cardwell, TBAC 58.87; SOFLO: 4. Olivia Dinehart 1:01.41, time drop, 9. Elena Dinehart 1:03.16, time drop; Open, 1. Emma Weyant, SYS 59.00.

50-meter breaststroke:
10-and-under, 1. Angelina Lista, SYS 44.74; 12-and-under, 1. Alexa Paredes, TBAC 41.13; SOFLO: 6. Gabriela Avila 44.75, 10. Elise Dinehart 48.10, 11. Genesis Escobar 48.28, time drop; 11-12, 1. Riley Leach, SYS 39.12.

200-meter breaststroke:
Open, 1. Haley Burke, GA 3:11.73; SOFLO: 16. LeeAnn Ranalli 3:28.20; 13-14, 1. Gracie Weyant, SYS 2:37.99; SOFLO: 2. Olivia Dinehart 2:42.91, time drop; Open, 1. Emma Weyant, SYS 2:40.75.

100-meter backstroke:
10-and-under, 1. Janae Sanders, PYP 1:24.29; SOFLO: 8. Sophia Avila 1:36.77; 11-and-over, 1. Cindy Dong, SYS 1:14.11; SOFLO: 30. Gabriela Avila 1:27.62, 48. Genesis Escobar 1:33.40, 52. Elise Dinehart 1:38.57.

Mixed 400-meter freestyle:
MEN: 10-and-under, 1. Sawyer Nass, SKY 5:37.66; 11-12, 1. Turner Mitten, SYS 5:18.90; WOMEN: 10-and-under, 1. Gemma Gledhill, SYS 5:26.51; 11-12, 1. Kayla Deckers, GA 5:35.45.

400-meter freestyle:
11-12, 1. Kate Domian, SKY 5:00.59.

BOYS

200-meter butterfly:
Open, 1. Jake Walker, SYS 2:44.27; 13-14, 1. Andrew Taylor, TBAC 2:16.57; Open, 1. Alexander Gusev, SYS 2:08.12; SOFLO: 7. Miguel Sierra 2:13.77, time drop.

100-meter freestyle:
10-and-under, 1. Ryan Wadsworth, SKY 1:08.12; 11-and-over, 1. Trey Scott, SYS 1:01.53; 11-12, 1. Baylor Stanton, GA 1:01.85; 13-14, 1. Felipe Baffico, SYS 58.15; Open, 1. Grant Sanders, UNSPA 52.11; SOFLO: 14. Miguel Sierra 56.21.

50-meter breaststroke:
10-and-under, 1. Sawyer Nass, SKY 43.07; 12-and-undr, 1. Alex Tollit, AGUA 41.92; SOFLO: 4. Felix Gonzalez 45.71, time drop; 11-12, 1. Naoki Shibata, AGUA 37.39.

200-meter breaststroke:
13-14, 1. Graham Simmon, GA 2:33.87; Open, 1. Trey Scott, SYS 2:53.33; 13-14, 1. Graham Simmon, GA 2:33.87; Open, 1. Grant Sanders, UNSPA 2:15.81.

100-meter backstroke:
10-and-under, 1. Nels Angelillis, TBAC 1:18.37; 11-and-under, 1. Trey Scott, SYS 1:10.50; SOFLO: 17. Felix Gonzalez 1:25.30, time drop; 11-12, 1. Denys Mialkovskyi, AGUA 1:08.19; 13-14, 1. Andrew Taylor, TBAC 1:04.58; Open, 1. Joseph Licht, TBAC 59.16; SOFLO: 7. Miguel Sierra 1:05.93.

400-meter freestyle:
11-12, 1. Isaac Saenz, GA 4:47.28.

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