As hosts of the Central Speedo Sectionals, the Ohio State Swim Club (OSSC) started their strong showing at their home pool with the women winning every event tonight in Columbus.
The OSSC presence started off during the women’s 200 meter backstroke. After the preliminary session, Kaitlyn Ferrara and Mikayla Murphy of the Ohio State Swim Club were seeded first and second entering the finals tonight. The two were just five hundredths apart this morning, Ferrara at 2:16.16 and Murphy at 2:16.66. However, Ferrara had a strong finish tonight, winning the event with a best time of 2:14.27 with Murphy behind her at 2:16.31 and Amanda Smith in third at 2:16.75.
As for the men’s 200 back, OSSC did not have as forceful of a finish as the women. As the top finisher after the preliminary session, Austin Quinn was again the top finisher with a time of 2:01.86 dropping a full three seconds from this morning’s session. As they did this morning, Rob Zofchak of Club Wolverine and Brendan Meyer of the Kentucky Clippers once again finished second and third after Quinn. Both Zofchak and Meyer had drops from this morning, finishing at 2:02.84 and 2:03.59 respectively.
The OSSC was back in action for the women’s 50 meter free with four swimmers in the final heat of the event and the entire heat being separated by just .63. Macie McNichols of the Ohio State Swim Club out touched Erin Sheehan of Upper Arlington Swim Club by only five hundredths to steal the win. McNichols finished with a 26.25 and Sheehan touched at 26.30. Aliena Schmidtke was right behind the two with a 26.44 to finish third.
The men’s 50 meter free was also dominated by OSSC, with five swimmers competing in the final heat. The top four finishers in the event were Joshua Fleagle (23.33), Matt McHugh (23.40), Nicholas Brodie (23.55) and Clark Jackman (23.58) all members of the Ohio State Swim Club.
With a full turn around from the 50, the finals of the women’s 800 meter free took off. Lindsey Clary of the Ohio State Swim Club dominated the field, finishing ten seconds ahead of the rest of the heat at 8:48.19. Although Clary stole first early in the race, the battle for second came down between Georgia Mosher of Club Wolverine who raced in the final heat, and Sophie Skinner of the Kentucky Clippers who swam in the preliminary session. Although Mosher finished second at night, Skinner crushed the preliminary heats going 8:58.47, which put her in second behind Clary and pushed Mosher to third at 8:58.68.
Although Clary crushed the distance event for the women, the men’s mile was a little closer. Christian Imbus of the Cincinnati Marlins touched first at 16:04.50 with Jonathon Burke finishing second with a best time of 16:08.13. Skyler Cook-Weeks was then third right behind Burke with a time of 16:10.13.
The OSSC excitement continued into the women’s 200 meter breast, with Taylor Vargo finishing first at 2:29.52, just out touching Madeleine Vonderhaar of the Kentucky Clippers who finished at 2:29.77. The two dominated the heat, finishing five seconds before the rest of the field which again hosted two more OSSC swimmers, Janessa Mathews and Katie Antal who finished third and fourth in the finals.
The men’s 200 meter breast was just as thrilling as the women’s event with Devon Nowicki out touching Ross Palazzo by just .14 for the win. Nowicki, the outside smoker, finished with a best time of 2:18.00, dropping nearly seven seconds from his preliminary time. Just behind him was Palazzo who finished at a 2:18.14 right ahead of the top seed Jacob Foster who touched at 2:19.86.
As the first night of the Central Speedo Sectionals came to an end with the women’s 800 meter free relay, the Ohio State Swim Club did not let up on their domination, winning the event in at 8:22.75. In second was the Kentucky Clippers at 8:25.46 and right behind them was Club Wolverine at 8:26.66, both teams finishing the night with a strong presence in finals.
Day two of the meet will continue tomorrow with the men’s and women’s 200 meter medley relay, 200 meter free, 100 meter fly, 400 meter IM and 400 meter free relay.
All results can be found on Meet Mobile
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Northern Kentucky Clippers !
The OSSC swimmers mentioned are all college swimmers. Clippers are all high school age or younger.
Neat.
Most OSSC swimmers are not tapered for this meet.