Crowd-Pleasers Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh Win On Final Day Of TYR Pro Swim Series; FGC Swimmers Have Good Showing In Their Backyard

By Sharon Robb
FORT LAUDERDALE, March 4, 2023—The TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale came to a successful end Saturday at the $48 million Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.

In front of the largest crowd of the meet, world record holder Katie Ledecky of Gator Swim Club did not disappoint, winning the 800-meter freestyle in 8:14.70, more than 25 meters ahead of the field.

Canadian Summer McIntosh, training with the Sarasota Sharks, broke another world junior record, this time in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:08.08. She led from start to finish.

Regan Smith was a double winner in the 100-meter backstroke in 57.92 and 100-meter butterfly in 56.60.

Abbey Weitzeil won her third event of the meet in the 50-meter freestyle in 24.40 after winning the 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly. Poland Olympian Kasia Wasick was second in 24.68.

South Florida Aquatic Club Honduran Olympian Julio Horrego, 24, finished 11th in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:17.19, improving his 11th place time of 2:17.93 in prelims. SOFLO teammate Olivia Dinehart was 18th in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:40.00.

After winning two events, Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago was fifth in the 50-meter freestyle in 22.27.

Florida Gold Coast swimmers had a good showing throughout the meet in front of hometown family and friends.

On the final day, Erika Pelaez of Eagle Aquatics was fourth in the 100-meter backstroke in a best time 1:00.12. Julia Podkoscielny of Pine Crest Swimming was 12th in 1:02.94. Aspen Gersper of St. Andrew’s Aquatics was 12th in the 100-meter butterfly in 1:01.04. Podkoscielny was 15th in the 200 IM in 2:19.66. Pelaez was eighth in the 50 freestyle in 25.53. Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics was sixth in the 100-meter butterfly in a best time 52.64, dropping 1.30. Winkler was also ninth in the 50-meter freestyle in 22.49.

SOFLO Saturday prelim results:
Julio Horrego, 24, 200-meter breaststroke, 11. 2:17.93.
Luciano Gonzalez, 29, 50-meter freestyle, 41. 23.81
Olivia Dinehart, 18, 200-meter breaststroke, 27. 2:43.07.
Ricardo Roche, 23, 100-meter backstroke, 32. 100.84.

SOFLO sponsor TYR is an American designer, developer and manufacturer of recreational and competitive swimwear, caps, goggles, triathlon gear and accessories and one of the nation’s top companies. TYR, created by athletes, is named for the Norse god of warriors in Germanic mythology. The company’s mission statement is starting from, powered by and made for athletes, we strive to create and re-imagine technologies that enhance experience and performance at every level.

SATURDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
800-meter freestyle: 1. Katie Ledecky, GSC 8:14.70, 2. Claire Weinstein, SAND 8:33.16, 3. Michaela Mattes, SYS 8:39.61.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Regan Smith, SUN 57.92, 2. Olivia Smoliga, SUN 59.71, 3. Medi Harris, WAL 1:00.05, 4. Erika Pelaez, EA 1:00.12, time drop 0.21, 12. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 1:02.94

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Lilly King, ISC 2:23.33, 2. Kelsey Wog, CAN 2:25.49, 3. Annie Lazor, ISC 2:26.96.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Regan Smith, SUN 56.60, 2. Katerine Savard, CAN 58.63, 3. Ella Jansen, CAN 58.93, 12. Aspen Gersper, SAS 1:01.04.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Summer McIntosh, SYS 2:08.08, 2. Maria Sophie Harvey, CAN 2:11.94, 3. Katie Grimes, SAN 2:12.66, 15. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 2:19.66.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Abbey Weitzeil, CAL 24.40, 2. Kasia Wasick, TRA 24.68, 3. Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, HKG 24.85, 8. Erika Pelaez, EA 25.53.

MEN
800-meter freestyle: 1. Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui, Tunisia 7:48.50, 2. Marwan El Kamash, Egypt 7:50.38, 3. Daniel Jervis, WAL 7:51.93.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Hunter Armstrong, CAL 52.95, 2. Ryan Murphy, CAL 53.33, 3. Justin Ross, MVN 53.63.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Will Licon, TXLA 2:10.77, 2. Anton McKee, PRVT 2:10.86, 3. Chase Kalisz, SUN 2:12.26, 11. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 2:17.19.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Shaine Casas, TXLA 50.80, 2. Ilya Kharun, SAND 51.54, 3. Michael Andrew MASA 51.80, 6. Kaii Winkler, WA 52.64, time drop 1.30.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Chase Kalisz, SUN 1:58.32, 2. Kieran Smith, RAC 2:00.13, 3. Finlay Knox, CAN 2:01.02.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Alberto Mestre, Florida 22.04, 2. Michael Andrew, MASA 22.06, 3. Ryan Held, NYAC 22.19, 5. Dylan Carter, ISC 22.27, 9. Kaii Winkler, EA 22.49.

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

Relays, Wisthon Rendon, Izzy Wilson Lead SOFLO In Its Final Night At Piranhas Senior Invite

By Sharon Robb
PLANTATION, March 4, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club got in some great racing and fine tuning for this month’s senior championships Saturday night at the Piranhas Senior Invite at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

In their final day of competition, SOFLO relays dominated for the second consecutive night.

SOFLO A women swept the 200-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley relays.

The 200-meter freestyle relay of Sophia Grubbs, Gabriela Avila, Ana Villamil and Natalie Gembicki won in 1:55.19. SOFLO’s B team of Mariann Catalasan, Izzy Wilson, Natalia Sibug and Amelie Bicerne was third in 2:06.83.

The 400-meter medley relay team of Gabriella DeLuna, Ana Villamil, Gabriela Avila and Natalie Gembicki won in 4:47.03. The SOFLO B relay was third in 5:07.88 with Mariann Catalasan, Valerie Vank, Izzy Wilson and Natalia Sibug.

SOFLO A men’s 400-meter medley relay won in 4:04.53 with Wisthon Rendon, Manny Melendez, Alejandro Mateus and Aldo Zepeda.

SOFLO A men’s 200-meter freestyle relay was third in 1:43.20 with Aldo Zepeda, Enrique Rodriguez, Manny Melendez and Wisthon Rendon.

Rendon was SOFLO’s top boys’ finisher in individual events, placing second in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:11.24 and third in the 50-meter backstroke in a best time 28.78, dropping 0.12. He finished with 55 points.

Wilson was SOFLO’s top girls finisher, placing fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:37.50 and fifth in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:34.53. She finished with 65 points.

South Florida Aquatic Club finished second among combined teams with 1,596 points among a 13-team field. SOFLO women were second with 830 points among eight teams and SOFLO men were fourth with 648 points among 13 teams. Bolles Sharks are running away with the meet.

The meet concludes Sunday with prelims at 8:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.

SATURDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
200-meter freestyle relay: 1. SOFLO A 1:55.19 (Sophia Grubbs, Gabriela Avila, Ana Villamil, Natalie Gembicki), 2. Plantation 1:56.85, 3. SOFLO B 2:06.83 (Mariann Catalasan, Izzy Wilson, Natalia Sibug, Amelie Bicerne).

50-meter backstroke: 1. Jessie Crane, EAST 32.95; SOFLO: 6. Ana Villamil 33.31, 12. Amelie Bicerne 34.50, 13. Izzy Wilson 34.73, 16. Gabriela Avila 35.26.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Neala Klein, Bolles 2:21.39; SOFLO: 7. Sophia Grubbs 2:42.41.

100-meter freestyle: 1. Blaine Huddleston, Bolles 59.55; SOFLO: 13. Natalie Gembicki 1:02.29, 19. Ana Villamil 1:03.01, 22. Gabriela Avila 1:04.24, 24. Sophia Grubbs 1:05.85.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Jessie Crane, EAST 2:30.49; SOFLO: 5. Izzy Wilson 2:34.53, 8. Amelie Bicerne 2:35.68, 12. Natalie Gembicki 2:42.99, 14. Natalia Sibug 2:45.06.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Brittany Corbett, EAST 4:27.78; SOFLO: 4. Izzy Wilson 4:37.50, 8. Natalie Gembicki 4:44.75, 10. Amelie Bicerne 4:50.47.

400-meter medley relay: 1. SOFLO A 4:47.03 (Gabriella DeLuna, Ana Villamil, Gabriela Avila, Natalie Gembicki), 2. Plantation 4:53.51, 3. SOFLO B 5:07.88 (Mariann Catalasan, Valerie Vank, Izzy Wilson, Natalia Sibug).

MEN
200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Azura 1:39.26, 2. Plantation 1:42.34, 3. SOFLO A 1:43.20 (Aldo Zepeda, Enrique Rodriguez, Manny Melendez, Wisthon Rendon), 5. SOFLO B 1:44.63 Luis Salazar Del Campo, Felix Gonzalez, Austin Nelson, Stephen Kim).

50-meter backstroke: 1. Marvin Johnson, MCCC 28.58; SOFLO: 3. Wisthon Rendon 28.78, 6. Luis Salazar Del Campo 29.46, 8. Manny Melendez 29.51, 9. Aldo Zepeda 29.63, 12. Stephen Kim 30.62.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Anthony Pineiro, UN 2:08.56.

100-meter freestyle: 1. Kayden Lancaster, Bolles 51.80; SOFLO: 13. Luis Salazar Del Campo 56.09.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Anthony Pineiro, UN 2:08.79, 2. Wisthon Rendon, SOFLO 2:11.24.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Gabriel Tortola, PST 4:08.68; SOFLO: 14. Felix Gonzalez, 4:27.82.

400-meter medley relay: 1. SOFLO A 4:04.53 (Wisthon Rendon, Manny Melendez, Alejandro Mateus, Aldo Zepeda), 2. Azura 4:08.87, 3. Plantation 4:13.93.

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