In Columbia, Missouri, the 2015 Region VIII Summer Sectionals meet began today at the Mizzou Aquatics Center.
The women’s 200 meter backstroke proved exciting with Hannah Stevens of the University of Missouri declaring victory by over five seconds with a time of 2:12.90, far under the Olympic Trials time standard of 2:16.59. Taking second was teammate Ellen Suek with a time of 2:18.27, while Erin Oeltjen came in third with a time of 2:18.97.
In the opening event, Lauren Votava of Rockwood Swim Club grabbed the win in the women’s 100 meter freestyle with a time of 56.46 despite adding almost three tenths from prelims. Her entry time, prelim time, and finals time were all under the Olympic Trials time standard of 56.49. Taryn Collura touched second in a time of 56.79. Taking third place, Madeline Monroe posted a time of 57.01.
On the men’s side, Andrew Sansoucie from the University of Missouri stole the win with a time of 51.52, dropping approximately half a second from his entry time. Second place went to Keiser Witte with a time of 51.60, while Levi Hanks raced to third with a time of 52.03.
Representing the University of Missouri, Abigail Duncan smashed the competition with a time of 2:30.50 in the women’s 200 meter breaststroke. Her entry time, prelim time, and finals time were all well under the Olympic Trials time standard of 2:34.99. Scoring second in the event and also posting an Olympic Trials cut was Bailee Nunn from Springfield Aquatics with a time of 2:33.06. Coming in third, and dropping almost nine seconds from her entry time, was Haley Downey with a time of 2:35.93.
There were more Olympic Trials-worthy races in the men’s 200 meter breaststroke as well. Michal Rokita (Unattached-Mizzou) touched the wall first in a time of 2:17.45, right ahead of Phillip Willett (Rockwood Swim Club), who posted a time of 2:17.52. Both made the Trials cut of 2:18.39 at the meet. Uldis Tazans came in third with a time of 2:19.63.
The last event of the evening, the men’s 200 meter backstroke, was claimed with a time of 2:04.32 by Nicholas Alexander from the Flyers Aquatic Swim Team. Sliding into second was Brennan Balogh posting a time of 2:05.12, barely ahead of Brandon Weissman’s third place time of 2:05.36.
2015 Columbia Speedo Sectionals – Results