By Sharon Robb
CORAL SPRINGS, March 9, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers got off to a good start at the Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships Thursday at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.
Jianna Amores and Juan Vallmitjana won individual distance events against a good field.
Amores, 12, won the 400-yard individual medley in a best time 4:58.05, dropping 10.94 seconds from her previous best. She has six events remaining over the next three days.
Vallmitjana, 14, won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 15:58.25, also a best time dropping 9.65 from his previous best. He also has six events left to swim.
Other SOFLO Top 15 point-scorers were:
Jemma Baldwin, 1,650 freestyle, 3. 19:01.94, best time.
Carley Kapan, 1,650 freestyle, 4. Carley Kaplan 18:06.24, best time.
Didia Miccolis, 1,650 freestyle, 10. 20:51.28.
Sophie Szutkowski, 400 IM, 11. 5:17.16, best time.
Sofia Rodriguez, 400 IM, 12. 5:18.96.
Mason Jimenez, 1,650-yard freestyle, 7. 17:06.53, time drop.
Gabriel Ferrer, 500 freestyle, 9. 6:23.41, best time.
Ethan Phan, 500 freestyle, 10. 6:24.52, time drop.
Luis Escobar, 500 freestyle, 14. 6:36.26, best time.
Noah Mejias, 400 IM, 9. 5:02.99.
Eric Ferrer, 400 IM, 10. 5:07.76, best time.
The top six finishers in each event qualify for the FGC All-Star team for the March 24-26 All-Star Meet in Fort Pierce.
The four-day meet continues Friday with prelims and finals.
SOFLO has 53 swimmers competing in 273 individual events and 20 relays. The meet has attracted 530 swimmers from throughout the Florida Gold Coast.
In addition to favorites SOFLO, St. Andrew’s and Metro Aquatics, among other FGC clubs competing are Jupiter Dragons, Eagle Aquatics, Midtown Weston Aquatics, Pompano Piranhas, Lake Lytal Lightning, Swim Fort Lauderdale, Pine Crest, North Palm Beach, FAST, Sunrise Swimming, Wahoos of Wellington, SwimFast, Azura, Heritage Aquatics and host Coral Springs Swim Club.
THURSDAY RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 197, 2. St. Andrew’s 189, 3. Pompano Beach 131, 4. Eagle Aquatics 97, 5. Midtown Weston 93.
BOYS TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 101, 2. St. Andrew’s 83, 3. Midtown Weston 65, 4. Pompano Beach 58 and Metro Aquatics 58.
GIRLS TEAM TOTALS: 1. St. Andrew’s 106, 2. SOFLO 96, 3. Pompano Beach 73, 4. Eagle Aquatics 63, 5. Wellington 59.
GIRLS
1,650-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 17:53.92; SOFLO: 3. Jemma Baldwin 19:01.94, time drop 14.70, 10. Didia Miccolis 20:51.28.
13-14, 1. Veronica Metz, WOW 17:16.54; SOFLO: 4. Carley Kaplan 18:06.24, time drop 14.99.
500-yard freestyle:
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAS 5:45.39.
400-yard individual medley:
11-12, 1. Jianna Amores, SOFLO 4:58.05, time drop 10.94; SOFLO: 11. Sophie Szutkowski 5:17.16, time drop 2.86, 12. Sofia Rodriguez 5:18.96.
BOYS
1,650-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Alexander Diaz, MWA 18:10.37.
13-14, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 15:58.25, time drop 9.65; SOFLO: 7. Mason Jimenez 17:06.53, time drop 44.39.
500-yard freestyle:
10-and-under, 1. Joaquin Gomez-Liendo, SAS 5:52.17; SOFLO: 9. Gabriel Ferrer 6:23.41, time drop 18.80, 10. Ethan Phan 6:24.52, time drop 7.84, 14. Luis Escobar 6:36.26, time drop 4.25.
400-yard individual medley:
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 4:35.28; SOFLO: 9. Noah Mejias 5:02.99, 10. Eric Ferrer 5:07.76, time drop 1.03.
IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd.
Timelines: Friday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30-11:01. a.m. and finals, 5:30-8:15 p.m.; Saturday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30-11:23 a.m. and finals, 5:30-8:29 p.m.; Sunday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30 a.m.-11:59 a.m. and finals 5:30-7:04 p.m.
Admission: $5 per person, cash only. Heat sheets are free and can be found at http://www.swimcssc.com or Meet Mobile. A concession stand will be available.
Note: Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning so move your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed or you’re going to miss your first morning prelim race!
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