By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
Three swimmers finished under Olympic Trials cuts at the Jenks Speedo Sectionals Thursday night. For two of those swimmers, that was a new qualification time.
Oklahoma Baptist’s Vitor Da Franca ran away with the men’s 200 breaststroke, and earned the first Olympic Trials Cut of the weekend. The 28 year old finished in 2:17.52. His teammate Fernando Morillas was in a close race for second, and wound up tied for third with a 2:20.89. Club North’s Elliot Eisele-Miller also touched in 2:20.89. Tsunami Swim Team’s Christopher Novak finished second in 2:20.30.
Genevieve Pfeifer of the CSP Tideriders also earned a Trials cut in the 200 backstroke. The 16 year old entered the meet with a seed time of 2:20.80, and finished the night with a 2:14.91, well under the 2:16.59 qualification standard. Rylee Linhardt of King Marlin was second in 2:17.30. Edwardsville YMCA’s Bailey Grinter finished third (2:19.70).
In the men’s 200 backstroke, Nicholas Alexander of Flyers Aquatics touched in 2:03.21, under the Trials cut the 17 year old already had. Paul Le finished second in 2:04.29. Oklahoma Baptist’s Nicholas Brun was third (2:05.95).
The women’s 1500 featured an incredibly close race. Wichita Swim Club’s Katherine Dreiling touched in 17:30.17, just ahead of Alexis Daniels (17:30.64) of the CSP Tideriders. Lauren Peterson from the Kansas City Blazers finished third in 17:44.41.
The race for first was also close in the men’s 800. Jonesboro’s Jack Little got his hand to the wall just ahead of CSP’s Matthew Hillmer as the two finished in 8:27.32 and 8:28.53. Adam Grimm of the Rec Plex Sharks was third (8:37.49).
The top three women’s 100 freestylers were all under 58 seconds. Rockwood’s Jordan Stout was the winner with a 57.53. Two unattached swimmers, Laura Galarza and Breonna Barker touched second and third in 57.72 and 57.84.
Another Rockwood swimmer claimed the men’s 100 freestyle. Fifteen year old Jack Dolan finished in 51.25, just ahead of Oklahoma Baptist’s Marc Sambolin in 51.41. Unattached Le was third (51.56).
Columbia Swim Club’s Nicole Williams won the women’s 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:36.92. Her teammate Ellen Flanagan touched third (2:38.57). Greater Nebraska’s Dannie Dilsaver finished second in 2:37.38.
Action resumes tomorrow with 9AM Prelims and 5:30 Finals. Tomorrow’s events include the 200 freestyle, 400 IM, 100 butterfly, and 400 freestyle relay.
Results available on Meet Mobile.
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