By Sharon Robb
January 5, 2014
Vanessa Mesa and CJ Kopecki of South Florida Aquatic Club braved rough conditions to win their age group titles Saturday at the 45th annual Fort Lauderdale Rough Water Swim off Fort Lauderdale beach.
Mesa, 11, won the 11-12 age group and was 30th overall in 28 minutes and 26.1 seconds.
Kopecki, 13, won the 13-14 age group and was third overall in 23:14. In the same age group, teammate Matthew Menocal, 13, was third in his age group and eighth overall in 24:00.
Alfredo Mesa, Jr., 15, was third in the 15-17 age group and 14th overall in 23:21.8.
Joey Pedraza, 26, a member of the U.S. national open water team, won the overall men’s title in 20:31. Former Alabama All-American swimmer Ricardo Valdivia, 49, was second in 22:58.
The field attracted international, national, college and local age group swimmers.
Conditions were challenging with four to six-foot waves, wind and plenty of jellyfish.
SATURDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
10-and-under, 1. Rylie Barnhardt 38:04; 11-12, 1. Vanessa Mesa, SOFLO 28:26; 13-14, 1. Alice Leoni 25:37; 15-17, 1. Megan Moroney 25:12; 18-24, 1. Yuhsyra Dazzia 36:29; 25-29, 1. Mandi Nilsen 40:29; 30-34, 1. Ara Bergillos 31:01; 40-44, 1. Debra Robenhymer 33:12; 45-49, 1. Valerie Yaeger 46:23; 55-59, 1. Kathleen Coolman 59:04; 60-64, 1. Helen Ederen 36:39.
MEN
10-and-under, 1. Simone Vale 38:03; 11-12, 1. Nicholas Vale 29:34; 13-14, 1. CJ Kopecki, SOFLO 23:14, 3. Matthew Menocal, SOFLO 24:00; 15-17, 1. Luis Martinez 22:59, 3. Alfredo Mesa, Jr., SOFLO 23:21; 18-24, 1. Anton Kuzjomkin 24:17; 25-29, 1. Joey Pedraza 20:31; 30-34, 1. Tristran Jordan 28:43; 35-39, 1. Jeff Henderson 23:48; 40-44, 1. Kit Koenig 27:45; 45-49, 1. Ricardo Valdivia 22:58; 50-54, 1. Hugo Villa 28:27; 55-59, 1. Carlos Lloreda 28:18; 60-64, 1. George Brenco 35:22; 65-69, 1. Johns Peck 45:22; 75-and-over, 1. David Nicholas 42:35.
COLLEGE RESULTS
WOMEN
Freshmen: 1. Lucy Emerson, UND 26:20; Sophomores: 1. Jackie Crawford, James Madison 25:20; Juniors: 1. Amiee Hooper, James Madison 24:13; Seniors: 1. Morgan Johnson, James Madison 24:28.
MEN
Freshmen: 1. Noah Lucas, UND 22:58; Sophomores: 1. Shahar Resman, Keene State 22:04; Juniors: 1. Macian Campbell, UND 23:20; Seniors: 1. Drew Ledwith, Keene State 21:54.
FIU INVITATIONAL
Old Dominion won the men’s team title with 687 points at the Florida International University Invitational Saturday in Miami. Grand Valley State was second with 659 and Eastern Michigan was third with 610. New Mexico won the women’s title with 554 points. Florida International, Florida Atlantic and North Florida also competed in the holiday meet. Host FIU was second with 458.5 points and four individual wins. Diver Sabrina Beaupre swept the 1- and 3-meter events, freshman Jennifer Alfani won the 50-yard butterfly in 26.07 and was also a member of the winning 200-yard freestyle relay. Next weekend FIU hosts Central Connecticut at noon at the Biscayne Bay Vista campus.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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