Five South Florida, Florida Gold Coast Swimmers Will Compete At Commonwealth Games

By Sharon Robb
BIRMINGHAM, England, July 26, 2022–Five swimmers with South Florida and Florida Gold Coast connections will compete in the XXII Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatic Center.

The meet begins Friday and ends Wednesday, August 3.

Azura Florida Aquatics is sending three swimmers: St. Andrew’s School alum Sidrell Williams of Jamaica, Kito Campbell of Jamaica and Jayhan Odlum-Smith of St. Lucia.

Two-time Olympian Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago and Plantation American Heritage alum and St. Andrew’s School alum and Florida State’s Izaak Bastian of the Bahamas will also compete.

Seven reigning world champions will compete including Ben Proud, Elijah Winnington, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Mollie O’Callaghan, Kylie Masse, Kaylee McKeown and Summer McIntosh.

Other notables competing are Adam Peaty, Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Duncan Scott and Maggie MacNeil.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place at Alexander Stadium on Thursday with all 72 countries within the Commonwealth. While the Closing Ceremony is scheduled to take place on 8 August 2022, with all 72 countries returning to Alexander Stadium.

Commonwealth Games Federation’s Executive Board has included 3 new sports namely Women’s T20 cricket, beach volleyball, and Para table tennis for the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games.

ESPN, BBC and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will live stream the events on their platforms. Prelims are 10:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. EST) and finals 7 p.m. (2 p.m. EST).

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

SOFLO Swimmers Ready For This Weekend’s FGC Senior Championships

By Sharon Robb
CORAL SPRINGS, July 19, 2022–After successful BB Championships and Junior Olympics, South Florida Aquatic Club’s championship season continues this weekend with the Florida Gold Coast Senior Championships at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

The three-day meet gets under way Friday with prelims at 8:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Aquatics is defending long course champions after winning its first-ever title last August.

In one of the closest finishes, St. Andrew’s Aquatics won the combined team title. Defending seven-time champion SOFLO finished runner-up in combined with 1,295.50, 151.50 points behind St. Andrew’s Aquatics with 1,446. Jupiter Dragons were third with 1,064.50. They were the only teams to crack the 1,000-point barrier among a field of 35 teams.

St. Andrew’s Aquatics also won the boys team title with 1,143. SOFLO was second with 790 and Swim Fort Lauderdale was third with 675.

Jupiter Dragons, led by Heidi Smithwick, winner of seven individual and relay events, won the girls’ team title with 710.50 points, just 41.50 points ahead of Gulliver Swim Club with 669. Pine Crest was third with 665.50. SOFLO was fourth with 505.50 and St. Andrew’s Aquatics was sixth with 303.

Because of bad weather and impending storms moving in from the Everglades, the final night session was cancelled and results were morning timed finals. The 400-meter medley relays and fast heats of the 1500 freestyles were not contested.

St. Andrew’s swimmers dedicated the win to longtime head coach Sid Cassidy, who underwent coronary angioplasty and stent surgery and was unable to be at the meet. But this year Cassidy will be at the meet celebrating his one-year successful surgery anniversary.

In March, SOFLO won its eighth senior championship title at the short course meet. SOFLO swept all three team titles.

SOFLO topped a field of 36 teams to win the combined team title with a record 2,048 points topping its previous record of 2,007 set at last year’s short course championships. TS Aquatics finished runner-up with 946 points for its best finish in a major championship meet. Pine Crest Swimming was third with 673.5.

SOFLO won the women’s team title with 1,072.5, also a record, ahead of TS Aquatics with 579.5 and Pine Crest Swimming with 530. SOFLO won the men’s team title with 976 points ahead of Metro Aquatics with 465 and Azura Florida Aquatics with 421.

This year the field is wide open with Azura Florida Aquatics with its talent-laden relays as the heavy favorite.

SOFLO has 29 swimmers (19 boys and 10 girls) entered in 131 individual events and 16 relays in eight relay events. After senior champs, SOFLO swimmers have Zones and Futures remaining to end the summer.

Dominic Bono, 19, Olivia Dinehart, 17, Elena Dinehart, 17, Enrique Rodriguez, 17, Agustin Rodriguez, 17, Maddie Smutny, 17, Aldo Zepeda, 17, and Sara Quintero, 18, head SOFLO’s contingent.

University of Georgia junior Connor Haigh, 20, swimming unattached for SOFLO, is top seed in the 200 breaststroke in 2:18.54 and 100 breaststroke in 1:04.37.

The star-studded field features U.S. junior national team members and Florida commit Julia Podkoscielny, 17, of Pine Crest Swimming and Stanford-bound Josh Zuchowski, 18, of FAST. Both are prepping for the Aug. 24-27 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii where they will represent the U.S. internationally. Zuchowski is also competing at senior and junior nationals. Podkoscielny is swimming one event (200 backstroke) at this weekend’s meet and will also compete at Futures.

Among other top-seeded swimmers are Heidi Smithwick, 18, of Jupiter Dragons; Daniel Ramirez, 29, of Westminster Academy; Gabriel Araya, 23, of Azura; Mia Zahab, 20, of Golden Panthers; Dylan Felt, 18, of Swim Fort Lauderdale; Emily Trieschmann, 19, of Nova Southeastern; Paola Gonzalez, 16, swimming unattached; Lismar Lyon, 21, of Midtown Weston; Steven Aimable, 23, of Azura; Matheo Mateos, 21, of Azura; Maria Jose Arrua, 23, of Azura; Alyssa Bozzuto, 16, of FAST; Carlin Hughes, 15, Lake Lytal Lightning; Cortes Robles, 18, of Azura; and Matheus Siniscalchi, 16, of Azura.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Florida Gold Coast LCM Senior Championships.

WHEN: Friday-Sunday.

WHERE: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd.

TIMELINES BEFORE SCRATCHES: Friday, 8:30-11:35 a.m., 5-7:37 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30-11:49 a.m., 5-7:31 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-12:32 p.m., 5-7:29 p.m.;

ADMISSION: $5 per sessions for prelims and finals. There will be a concession stand available. Heat sheets are available at http://www.swimcssc.com or Meet Mobile. For more information call swim office 954-340-5032.

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

Azura Wins Three Events; SOFLO’s Rodriguez Seventh In Prelims At Puerto Rico International Swimming Open

By Sharon Robb
SALINAS, Puerto Rico, April 23, 2022—Despite a pool water problem that forced Friday’s finals to be moved, swimmers overcame the adversity to swim well Saturday morning.

Four of the finals on Friday had to be rescheduled because of an issue with the pool water being cloudy. The events were moved to another pool and four of the finals were held Saturday morning before Saturday’s prelims.

SOFLO’s Enrique Rodriguez, 17, was seventh in the 400-meter freestyle prelims in 4:16.09 on Friday. The final is being rescheduled because of the pool problem.

SOFLO’s Aldo Zepeda, 16, was 27th in the 100-meter freestyle in 57.23.

Azura Florida Aquatics picked up three more wins.

Top-seeded Julimar Avila, 24, of Honduras won the 100-meter butterfly in 1:02.18. She also won the 50-meter butterfly earlier in the meet in 28.40. She was her country’s only woman swimmer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nicole Frank, 18, of Uruguay won the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:34.11. She was second in the 50-meter breaststroke in 33.10. She also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Two-time Olympian Abbas Qali, 29, of Kuwait won the 100-meter butterfly in 54.68. He was the only male swimmer to represent Kuwait at the Olympics.

The four-day meet runs through Sunday. Prelims are 9 a.m. and finals are 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to SOFLO, swimmers from Azura Florida Aquatics (21 swimmers) and Plantation Swim Team (24 swimmers) are among the 35-team field. Swimmers from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Uruguay and Puerto Rico head the field.

The FINA meet is a qualifying event for the May 13-29 19th FINA World Swimming Championship in Hungary and 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY MORNING FINALS
WOMEN
100-meter butterfly: 1. Julimar Avila, Azura 1:02.18, 2. Gabriela Robles Cortes, Azura 1:04.58, 3. Alexandria Hope Cotter, FPN 1:04.74.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Nicole Frank Rodriguez, Azura 2:34.11, 2. Emily Santos, MVAC 2:36.14, 3. Elisa Alejandra Funes, GCMST 2:39.86.

MEN
100-meter butterfly: 1. Abbas Qali, Azura 54.68, 2. Yeziel Morales, Puerto Rico 54.81, 3. Erick Gordillo, GUA 54.83, 4. Davidson Vincent, Azura 55.00, 9. Renato Herran, PST 57.95.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Xavier Ruiz, SJC 2:20.41, 2. Ryan Tirado, MST 2:26.62, 3. Jorell Melendez Figueroa, LMDM 2:27.72, 4. Emanuel Cuarta, PST 2:32.34.

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

SOFLO’s Luciano Gonzalez Takes Silver At Puerto Rico International Swimming Open

By Sharon Robb
SALINAS, Puerto Rico, April 21, 2022—Luciano Gonzalez was South Florida Aquatic Club’s top finisher Thursday at the Puerto Rico International Swimming Open at Albergue Olimico German Rieckehoff.

Gonzalez, 27, was SOFLO’s top finisher placing second in the 50-meter butterfly in 25.04. He was fourth fastest in prelims in 25.29.

SOFLO’s Enrique Rodriguez, 17, finished sixth in the 800-meter freestyle in 8:47.40, dropping 10.65 off his previous best of 8:58.05.

SOFLO’s Aldo Zepeda, 16, placed ninth in the 50-meter backstroke prelims in a best time 28.67, dropping 3.73 and came back in finals to finish ninth in 28.83.

Azura Florida Aquatics had three individual winners.

Julimar Avila, 24, Kito Campbell, 18, and Jayhan Odlum-Smith, 19, won individual events.

Avila, the top seed, won the 50-meter butterfly in 28.40.

Campbell, also the fastest morning qualifier, won the 50-meter breaststroke in a best time 28.36, dropping 1.16.

Odlum-Smith, second fastest in morning prelims, won the 50-meter butterfly in 24.63.

The four-day meet runs through Sunday. Prelims are 9 a.m. and finals are 5:30 p.m. Friday, Satuday and Sunday.

In addition to SOFLO, swimmers from Azura Florida Aquatics (21 swimmers) and Plantation Swim Team (24 swimmers) are among the 35-team field. Swimmers from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Puerto Rico head the field.

The FINA meet is a qualifying event for the May 13-29 19th FINA World Swimming Championship in Hungary and 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships.

THURSDAY FINALS
WOMEN
50-meter backstroke: 1. Liznel Ortiz, CAM 29.99, 2. Daniela Gutierrez, UN-CC 30.52, 3. Maria Jose Arrua, Azura 30.66.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Emily Santos, MVAC 32.87, 2. Nicole Frank Rodriguez, Azura 33.10, 3. Marissa Marie Lugo, HUM 33.69.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Julimar Avila, Azura 28.40, 2. Alexandria Hope Cotter, FPN 28.83, 3. Regina Torres Pomar, MVAC 29.22.

MEN
50-meter backstroke: 1. Yeziel Morales, Puerto Rico 26.19, 2. Erick Gordillo, GUA 26.98, 3. Carlos Cobos, Azura 27.33.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Kito Campbell, Azura 28.36, 2. Kebo Stubbs, MVAC 29.77, 3. Xavier Ruiz, SJC 29.94.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Jayhan Odlum-Smith, Azura 24.6; 2. Luciano Gonzalez, SOFLO 25.04, 3. Davidson Vincent, Azura 25.08.

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

SOFLO’s Rendon, Rodriguez, Zepeda Head To Puerto Rico For International Competition

By Sharon Robb
SALINAS, Puerto Rico, April 19, 2022—South Florida Aquatic Club will have three swimmers competing at the Puerto Rico International Swimming Open.

The four-day meet gets underway Thursday and runs through Sunday at Albergue Olimico German Rieckehoff. Thursday events are 5 p.m. for prelims and 8 p.m. for finals. Prelims are 9 a.m. and finals are 5:30 p.m. Friday, Satuday and Sunday.

Wisthon Rendon, 17, Enrique Rodriguez, 17, and Aldo Zepeda, 16, will compete in the international meet. The trio will each compete in six events.

SOFLO will be joined by swimmers from Azura Florida Aquatics (21 swimmers) and Plantation Swim Team (24 swimmers) among the 35-team field. Swimmers from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Puerto Rico head the field.

The FINA meet is a qualifying event for the May 13-29 19th FINA World Swimming Championship in Hungary and 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships.

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

South Florida Aquatic Club Captures Eighth Florida Gold Coast Senior Championship Title; Horrego Double Winner On Final Day

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 20, 2022–South Florida Aquatic Club added another chapter in its team history after winning the combined, women’s and men’s team titles of the Florida Gold Coast Senior Championships Sunday at Academic Village Pool.

SOFLO topped a field of 36 teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade to win the combined team title with a record 2,048 points topping its previous record of 2,007 set at last year’s short course championships.

TS Aquatics finished runner-up with 946 points for its best finish in a major championship meet. Pine Crest Swimming was third with 673.5.

SOFLO won the women’s team title with 1,072.5, also a record, ahead of TS Aquatics with 579.5 and Pine Crest Swimming with 530.

SOFLO won the men’s team title with 976 points ahead of Metro Aquatics with 465 and Azura Florida Aquatics with 421.

SOFLO won the title with 53 swimmers (32 boys and 21 girls) competing in 301 individual events and on 16 relay teams.

SOFLO’s and University of Florida-bound Mallory Schleicher won girls’ high point with 132 points and Olivia Dinehart was runner-up with 128 points and Elena Dinehart was fourth with 117.

Izzy Wilson saved her best for last winning the 1,650-yard freestyle in 17:20.11. SOFLO’s Michelle Marinheiro, 19, broke 18 minutes in the 1,650-yard freestyle to finish fifth in a best time 17:43.48.

Honduran Olympian Julio Horrego was a double winner in the 100-yard breaststroke in a best time 53.07, dropping 0.78 seconds and 200-yard individual medley in 1:48.78.

Former SOFLO swimmer Juan Mora was second behind Horrego in the 100-yard breaststroke in 54.82 in his final Florida Gold Coast meet appearance before participating in Doral’s graduation ceremonies in May and heading off to the Naval Academy in June.

SOFLO’s Olivia Dinehart was second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:03.64.

SUNDAY RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 2,048.5, 2. TS Aquatics 946.5, 3. Pine Crest Swimming 673.5, 4. Azura 668, 5. Metro Aquatics 651, 6. Gulliver 620, 7. St. Andrew’s Aquatics 521, 8. Midtown Weston 520.5, 9. Plantation 450, 10. Swim Fort Lauderdle 425.

WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 1,072.5, 2. TS Aquatics 579.5, 3. Pine Crest 530.5, 4. Midtown Weston 513.5, 5. Gulliver 374.5, 6. St. Andrew’s 270, 7. Azura 247, 8. Pompano Beach Piranhas 188, 9. Metro Aquatics 186, 10. Coral Springs Swim Club 157.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 976, 2. Metro Aquatics 465, 3. Azura 421, 4. Plantation 405, 5. Swim Fort Lauderdale 400, 6. TS Aquatics 367, 7. Eagle Aquatics 269.5, 8. St. Andrew’s 251, 9. Gulliver 245.5, 10. Pompano Beach Piranhas 147.

TOP 20 HIGH POINT AWARDS
WOMEN: 1. Mallory Schleicher, SOFLO 132; SOFLO: 2. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 128, 4. Elena Dinehart 117, 8. Natalie Gembicki 91, 14. Maddy Smutny 69, 16. Izzy Wilson, SOFLO 65.
MEN: 1. Kaii Winkler, Eagle Aquatics 138; SOFLO: 6. Javier Colmenares 102, 10. Julio Horrego 93, 14. Alex Golding 73, 22. Javier Roman 45, 23. Sebastian Lares 44, 24. Enrique Rodriguez 42, 28. tie, Wisthon Rendon 37 and Austin Nelson, 37.

WOMEN
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Izzy Wilson, SOFLO 17:20.11, 2. Britta Schwengle, Azura 17:27.16, 3. Jessica Smith, WOW 17:36.66; SOFLO: 5. Michelle Marinheiro 17:43.48, time drop 18.02.

100-yard backstroke: 1. Jillian Crooks, TSA 55.26,2. Sirena Rowe, Azura 55.36, 3. Elena Dinehart, SOFLO 56.71; SOFLO: 20. Sara Quintero 1:00.66, 21. Gabriella DeLuna 1:00.11.

100-yard breaststroke: 1. Nicole Frank Rodriguez, Azura 1:01.72, 2. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 1:03.64, 3. Julimar Avila, Azura 1:03.67; SOFLO: 10. Sophia Grubbs 1:07.43, 13. Ana Villamil 1:06.89, 22. Sally Golding 1:09.01, 23. Sabrina Osorio 1:09.41.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Sirena Rowe, Azura 23.00, 2. Lismar Lyon, MWA 23.05, 3. Jillian Crooks, TSA 23.06; SOFLO: 9. Natalie Gembicki 24.32, 14. Ana Villamil 24.68, 20. Maddy Smutny 25.08, 24. Gabriela Avila 25.17.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Nicole Frank Rodriguez, Azura 2:01.13, 2. Julimar Avila, Azura 2:01.34, 3. Riley Botting, PC 2:03.08; SOFLO: 4. Mallory Schleicher 2:04.44, 5. Olivia Dinehart 2:05.92, 7. Natalie Gembicki 2:07.99, 10. Elena Dinehart 2:08.85, 15. Maddy Smutny 2:10.29, 19. Gabriella DeLuna 2:11.96, 23. Sally Golding 2:11.60.

MEN
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Gabriel Araya, Azura 15:36.16, 2. Dylan Felt, SFTL 1:46.78, 3. Sauod Alshamroukh, Azura 16:06.16; SOFLO: 10. Ivan Grass 16:34.61, 15. Hashan Ekanayake 16:48.81, 17. Felix Gonzalez 16:50.66, 20. Nicholas Pelaez 17:13.97.

100-yard backstroke: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 48.60, 2. Landon Kyser, HAT 49.05, 3. Alex Marrero, PST 49.41; SOFLO: 7. Ricardo Roche 50.63, 9. Sebastian Lares 51.00, 10. Aldo Zepeda 52.18, 15. Enrique Rodriguez 52.81, 16. Austin Nelson 52.94, 19. Alejandro Mateus 53.81.

100-yard breaststroke: 1. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 53.07, 2. Juan Mora, UN 54.82, 3. Kito Campbell, UN 56.62; SOFLO: 5. Javier Colmenares 56.84, 11. Manuel Melendez 59.50, 14. Alex Golding 1:00.48, 21. Javier Roman 1:01.08.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 20.22, 2. Sidrell Williams, Azura 20.60, 3. Zarek Wilson, TSA 20.80; SOFLO: 25. Agustin Rodriguez 22.01.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 1:48.78, 2. Esteban Nunez Del Prado, Azura 1:49.24, 3. Landon Kyser, HAT 1:51.48; SOFLO: 4. Ricardo Roche 1:52.09, 6. Javier Colmenares 1:53.96, 11. Alex Golding 1:54.27, 13. Enrique Rodriguez 1:56.36, 14. Javier Roman 1:57.24, 22. Wisthon Rendon 1:59.33, 27. Adrian Hernandez 2:00.86, 28. Alejandro Mateus 2:02.26.

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

Aruba’s Patrick Groters Wins Second Gold Medal, Breaks Second Junior Pan American Games Record Twice

By Sharon Robb
CALI, Colombia, November 30, 2021–Patrick Groters of Aruba won his second gold medal and broke his second meet record at the Junior Pan American Games Tuesday at Hernando Botero O’Byrne Swimming Pool.

On the fifth and final night of the inaugural competition, Groters, 22, won the 200-meter individual medley with an exciting finish in 2:02.09, holding off Guatemala’s Erick Gordillo in 2:02.47.

Groters broke his second Junior Pan American Games record in morning prelims in 2:03.93 and came back to break it again in finals in 2:02.09.

The former NSU University School and Pine Crest Swim Club swimmer, now at University of South Carolina, finished with two gold medals, two meet records, two national records, one silver medal and three World Championship qualifying times.

Nicole Frank, 17, of Uruguay and Azura Florida Aquatics, won her first gold medal of the meet in the 200-meter individual medley. She won in a best time 2:17.46, a drop of 0.78. She was second fastest in morning prelims in 2:21.61.

Brazil swept the men’s and women’s team titles.

Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, hosted the first-ever edition of the Junior Pan American Games.

It was a key event in the lead-up to the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and Paris 2024 Olympics, allowing up-and-coming athletes a new level of competition they didn’t have in past years.

Approximately 3,000 volunteers, 1,400 technical officials and 1,142 other officials participated along with 4,806 athletes from 41 countries and territories affiliated with Panam Sports in 39 sports. The meet was for ages up to 22.

Neither the U.S. or Canada, the region’s most successful countries, sent swim teams to the event although they competed in other sports. Brazil (25), Colombia (25), and Mexico (26) had the largest delegations of swimmers.

The Games were initially scheduled to begin on June 5 but were postponed to September 9 to 19. It was further delayed because of COVID-19 before moving to late November and early December.

WOMEN
1500-meter freestyle: 1. Karen Durango Restrepo, Colombia 17:18.34, 2. Maite Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cuba 17:35.28, 3. Michelle Jativa, Ecuador 17:45.32.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Nicole Frank, Uruguay 2:17.46, 2. Maria Selene Alborzen, Argentina 2:18.99, 3. Fernando De Groeij, Brazil 2:19.32.

MEN
1500-meter freestyle: 1. Gerald Hernandez Huerta, Nicaragua 16:44.64, 2. Juan Jose Bolanos, Costa Rica 16:50.44, 3. Miguel Siwady, Honduras 16:52.42.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Patrick Groters, Aruba 2:02.09, 2. Erick Gordillo, Guatemala 2:02.47, 3. Matheo Mateos, Paraguay 2:04.53.

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

Aruba’s Patrick Groters Medals Again, Breaks National Record At Junior Pan American Games; Brazil Leads Team Standings

By Sharon Robb
CALI, Colombia, November 28, 2021–Patrick Groters of Aruba won his second medal of the inaugural Junior Pan American Games Sunday at Hernando Botero O’Byrne Swimming Pool.

In an exciting men’s 100-meter backstroke, Groters, 22, finished second in a national record 55.75, just behind Mexico’s Diego Camacho Salgado in 55.38. Groters dropped 0.07. He was fourth fastest in morning prelims in 56.63. Earlier in the meet, Groters took gold in the 200 backstroke in the first-ever Junior Pan American Games record.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s Gaby Banks, 18, of Florida State who represents Jamaica internationally, was 22nd in the 100-meter freestyle 59.48. She has the 50-meter freestyle left to swim.

Nicole Frank, 17, of Uruguay and Azura was third fastest in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2:34.52. She finished fourth in finals in 2:33.36, a best time with a 0.30 drop.

South Florida Heat’s Micaela Sierra, 17, of Uruguay and Azura was eighth fastest in 2:36.79 in the 200-meter breaststroke and finished sixth in 2:36.41.

Peru’s Joaquin Vargas, 19, of Azura, was eighth fastest qualifier in the 100-meter freestyle in 51.21 and came back in finals to finish seventh in 51.23. Gabriel Araya, 22, of Chile was 22nd in 52.75 and 15th in finals in 52.77.

Brazil leads the men’s and women’s team standings followed by Colombia and Mexico.

Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, is hosting the first-ever edition of the Junior Pan American Games.

It is a key event in the lead-up to the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and Paris 2024 Olympics, allowing up-and-coming athletes a new level of competition they didn’t have in past years.

Approximately 3,000 volunteers, 1,400 technical officials and 1,142 other officials are participating along with 4,806 athletes from 41 countries and territories affiliated with Panam Sports in 39 sports. The meet is for ages up to 22.

Neither the U.S. or Canada, the region’s most successful countries, sent swim teams to the event although they are competing in other sports. Brazil (25), Colombia (25), and Mexico (26) have the largest delegations of swimmers.

The Games were initially scheduled to begin on June 5 but were postponed to September 9 to 19. It was further delayed because of COVID-19 before moving to late November and early December.

WOMEN
100-meter freestyle:

1. Stephanie Balduccini, Brazil 54.63, 2. Ana Carolina Vieira, Brazil 55.89, 3. Anicka Delgado, Ecuador 56.32.

200-meter breaststroke:

1. Martina Lucia Barbeito, Argentina 2:30.17, 2. Bruna Monteiro Leme, Brazil 2:31.15, 3. Maria Selene Alborzen, Argentina 2:32.21.

100-meter backstroke:

1. Tayde Andrea Sansores De La Fuente, Mexico 1:02.00, 2. Julia Karla Ferreira Goes, Brazil 1:02.82, 3. Celia Del Rocio Pulido Ortiz, Mexico 1:03.24.

800-meter freestyle:

1. Mayte Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cuba 9:10.66, 2. Danna Alejandra Martinez, Ecuador 9:17.31, 3. Daniela Alfaro, Costa Rica 9:23.10.

MEN
100-meter freestyle:

1. Breno Martins Correia, Brazil 49.33, 2. Lucas Peixoto, Brazil 49.71, 3. Andres Dupont Cabrera, Mexico 50.37.

200-meter breaststroke:

1. Andres Eduardo Puente Bustamante, Mexico 2:14.85, 2. Juan Bautista Carrocia, Argentina 2:16.78, 3. Roberto Bonilla Flores, Guatemala 2:17.18.

100-meter backstroke:

1. Diego Camacho Salgado, Mexico 55.38, 2. Patrick Groters, Aruba 55.75, 3. Jack Kirby, Barbados 56.18.

800-meter freestyle:

1. Graham Chatoor, Trinidad & Tobago 8:33.58, 2. Juan Jose Bolanos, Costa Rica 8:46.68, 3. Jenry Jahir Lopez, Ecuador 8:48.07.

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

Patrick Groters Flag Bearer For Aruba; Uruguay’s Nicole Frank Top FGC Finisher On Opening Night At Junior Pan American Games

By Sharon Robb
CALI, Colombia, November 27, 2021–The Florida Gold Coast is well-represented at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games at Hernando Botero O’Byrne Swimming Pool.

On opening night Friday, Uruguay’s Nicole Frank, 17, who trains with Azura Florida Aquatics, finished fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke in a best time 1:10.34. She was fastest morning qualifier in a best time 1:10.20. Her previous best was 1:12.70.

Also in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke prelims, Uruguay’s Micaela Sierra of South Florida Heat and Azura was 11th in 1:14.73 and finished third in the consolation in a personal best 1:14.43.

Maria Munoz, 22, of Peru and Azura Florida Aquatics, was fourth fastest qualifier in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:18.65 and finished seventh in 2:20.17.

Azura’s Gabriela Araya, 22, of Chile was ninth fastest in the men’s 200-meter butterfly prelims in 2:05.13. He did not swim finals.

In morning prelims, Peru’s Joaquin Vargas, 19, of Azura Florida Aquatics was sixth fastest in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:02.55. He went on to finish sixth in 3:58.81.

Aruba national team member Patrick Groters was 13th in the 400-meter freestyle prelims in 4:11.07. On Saturday, he will swim the 200-meter backstroke. He is also entered in the 100 backstroke, 200 IM and 400 IM.

Groters, now at University of South Carolina, swam at NSU University School and Pine Crest Swim Club. He was chosen as one of Aruba’s flag bearers in the Opening Ceremonies. Patrick’s older brother Jordy Groters, is coaching Aruba’s swimmers. Jordy Groters also swam at NSU University School, Pine Crest Swim Club and Missouri and founded and now coaches Giants Aquatics Aruba.

Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, is hosting the first-ever edition of the Junior Pan American Games.

It is a key event in the lead-up to the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and Paris 2024 Olympics, allowing up-and-coming athletes a new level of competition they didn’t have past years.

Approximately 3,000 volunteers, 1,400 technical officials and 1,142 other officials are participating along with 4,806 athletes from 41 countries and territories affiliated with Panam Sports in 39 sports. The meet is for ages up to 22.

Neither the U.S. or Canada, the region’s most successful countries, sent swim teams to the event although they are competing in other sports. Brazil (25), Colombia (25), and Mexico (26) have the largest delegations of swimmers.

The Games were initially scheduled to begin on June 5 but were postponed to September 9 to 19. It was further delayed because of COVID-19 before moving to late November and early December.

WOMEN
400-meter freestyle:

1. Maria Paula Heitmann, Brazil 4:17.64, 2. Lucia Gauna, Argentina 4:19.14, 3. Delfina Dini, Argentina 4:19.24.

100-meter breaststroke:

1. Martina Lucia Barbeito, Argentina 1:08.74, 2. Giulia Oliveira Carvalho, Brazil 1:10.24, 3. Bruna Monteiro Leme, Brazil 1:10.27.

200-meter butterfly:

1. Karen Durango Restrepo, Colombia 2:13.51, 2. Rafaela Trevisan Raurich, Brazil 2:14.58, 3. Samantha Banos, Colombia 2:15.90.

400-meter freestyle relay: 1. Brazil 3:45.06, 2. Mexico 3:49.97, 3. Colo,bia 3:51.05.

MEN
400-meter freestyle:

1. Santi Corredor, Colombia 3:53.14, 2. Eduardo de Moraes, Brazil 3:53.23, 3. Juan Manuel Morales Restrepo, Colombia 3:57.26.

100-meter breaststroke:

1. Mariano Lazzerini, Chile 1:02.28, 2. Andres Puente Bustamante, Mexcico 1:02.29, 3. Bernhard Christianson, Panama 1:03.16.

200-meter butterfly:

1. Matheus Gonche, Brazil 1:59.63, 2. Roberto Bonilla Flores, Guatemala 2:01.08, 3. Kayky Mota, Brazil 2:01.60.

400-meter freestyle relay:

1. Brazil 3:17.14, 2. Mexico 3:24.02, 3. Colombia 3:24.40.

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

Aussie Ariarne Titmus Knocks Off Katie Ledecky; Peaty, MacNeil, Dressel Win Gold

By Sharon Robb
TOKYO, Japan, July 25, 2021–In a thrilling showdown, Ariarne Titmus of Australia knocked off defending champion and world record holder Katie Ledecky Sunday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Swimming side-by-side in the 400-meter freestyle, the Tasmanian-born Titmus, 20, closed the gap to 2/10ths of a second at the 300-meter mark and pulled ahead in the final 50 meters to win in 3:56.69, an Oceanic women’s record and second fastest time in history.

Titmus, ranked No. 1 in the world, handed Ledecky, 24, her first individual Olympic loss. The American finished in 3:57.36, her second fastest career time. China’s Bingjie Li was third in an Asian record 4:01.88.

“I can’t believe it, I’m trying to contain my emotions,” Titmus said. “This past year I don’t know whether it’s gone fast or slow, but to get here was a relief. To come here and do the job, I’m over the moon.

“I thanked her, I wouldn’t be here without her. She set this incredible standard. I’ve been trying to chase her, it’s really exciting now we have this battle going. It’s really fun to race.

“I tried to stay as composed as I could. Then just tried to stick to my race plan. I can’t believe I pulled it off.”

The Ledecky-Titmus matchup was one of the most anticipated and talked-about Olympic races. Titmus had defeated Ledecky at the 2019 World Championships in South Korea in the 400 freestyle but Ledecky had a severe stomach virus. In June, Titmus had flirted with Ledecky’s world record of 3:56.46 when she went 3:56.90 at her country’s Olympic trials.

Titmus won the first individual gold medal for Australia since Stephanie Rice in 2008.

“I looked at the 300 and saw she was right there,” Ledecky said. “I knew it would be a fight to the finish. I can’t be disappointed. I did my best, I fought tooth and nail. She said she couldn’t have done it without me and I think she pushed me.”

Titmus’ coach Dean Boxall was emotional and animated after watching his swimmer touch first, running and gyrating in the stands.

It ended Ledecky’s quest to win the first of five possible gold medals. The two will meet again in the 200 and 800 freestyles and 4×200 freestyle relay.

In the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay final, anchor leg Zach Apple pulled away with a 46.6 split for a 9/10ths of a second lead to clinch the win for the U.S. in 3:08.97. Italy was second in 3:10.11 and Australia third in 3:10.22.

Floridian Caeleb Dressel led off in 47.2 followed by Blake Pieroni in 47.5 and Bowen Becker in 47.4 who led by 2/10ths after the third leg.

“We knew there was a huge target on our back,” said Dressel, a Clay High School, Bolles Club and Florida alum. “I’d say we dominated that pretty well. We’re never going to doubt ourselves, that’s not how the U.S. team works. We had a couple people rule us out in that event. We’re never going to take that so it feels nice to dominate and have it back on home soil.”

The U.S. men have won two of the last three Olympic 400 relays.

Local swimmers results:

Azura’s Celina Marquez of El Salvador, fifth in her heat of the 100-meter backstroke in 1:03.75.

Aruba’s Mikel Schreuders, an NSU University School/Pine Crest Club alum, second in his heat of the 200-meter freestyle in 1:49.43.

Azura’s Joaquin Vargas of Peru, third in his heat of the 200-meter freestyle in 1:49.93.

In other championship medal finals:

Women’s 100-meter butterfly:
Canadian Maggie MacNeil, in the outside lane, swam the second fastest time in history to win the gold medal in 55.59 ahead of China’s Yufei Zhang in 55.64 and Aussie Emma McKeon in 55.72. American 18-year-old Stanford-commit Torri Huske o f Arlington, Va. missed the podium by 1/100ths in 55.73. MacNeil, World and Pan Pac champion who swims at University of Michigan, is the first Canadian to win the gold medal in the event. Swimming without her contact lenses, it took her a while to focus on the scoreboard and realize she was listed first. World and Olympic record holder Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden, who bounced back from a shattered elbow sustained slipping on ice, was seventh in 56.91.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke: Defending champion, world record holder and heavy favorite Adam Peaty of Great Britain won back-to-back Olympic gold in 57.37 ahead of Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands in 58.00, the first medal in the event for his country and Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy in 58.33. American medal favorite Michael Andrew finished out of the medals placing fourth in 58.84.

SUNDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
100-meter butterfly: 1. Maggie MacNeil, CAN 55.59, 2. Yufei Zhang, CHINA 55.64, 3. Emma McKeon, AUS 55.72.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Ariarne Titmus, AUS 3:56.69, 2. Katie Ledecky, US 3:57.36, 3. Bingjie Li, CHINA 4:01.08.

MEN
100-meter breaststroke: 1. Adam Peaty, GBR 57.37, 2. Arno Kamminga, Netherlands 58.00, 3. Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA 58.33.

4×100-meter freestyle relay: 1. United States 3:08.97, 2. Italy 3:10.11, 3. Australia 3:10.22.

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