By Sharon Robb
PALO ALTO, Calif., August 7, 2019—On a national platform, Lance Lesage of South Florida Aquatic Club swam a best time in his debut at the USA Swimming Speedo Junior National Championships Wednesday at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.
Lesage, 16, swam his first event, the 200-meter backstroke. Seeded 41st in 2:06.42, he swam a lifetime-best 2:06.36, dropped 0.06 seconds and finished 33rd.
Lesage wraps up his meet on Friday with the 100-meter backstroke where he is seeded 62nd in 58.60.
During morning prelims SOFLO teammate Rafael Rodriguez, 17, went 4:39.99 in the 400-meter individual medley and placed 76th. He has the 100-meter butterfly on Thursday.
Other Florida Gold Coast results:
Julia Podkoscielny, 14, swam a best time in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:19.98 to place 57th and dropped 0.34. She has the 100-meter backstroke on Friday.
Paige Maceachern, 16, of Pine Crest Swimming was 53rd in the 400-meter individual medly in 5:04.37.
Other individual winners were:
Samantha Tadder, 16, got her Olympic Trials cut in the 400-meter individual medley in 4:48.52 during morning prelims. She came back at night to win the race and better her time in 4:46.96.
Ian Grum of Dynamo Swim Club won the men’s 400-meter individual medley in 4:23.84 edging Jack Vandeusen of Bolles in 4:24.02. Grum also won the 200-meter backstroke in 1:58.49.
Miranda Heckman of Pleasanton Seahawks won the 100-meter freestyle in 55.98.
Hunter Armstrong of Canton City Schools won the 100-meter freestyle in 49.80.
Felicia Pasadyn of Swim Strongsville won the 200-meter backstroke in 2:12.90.
USA Swimming is live streaming all sessions of junior nationals, unlike the senior national meet, which had sessions split between USA Swimming and NBC Sports. All 10 sessions of the meet will come through live on USASwimming.org. Prelims are 9 a.m. local time and finals at 5 PM. The meet continues through Saturday.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com