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The final night of Speedo Sectionals in Columbia, MO highlighted the expertise of Michael Chadwick, representing the University of Missouri, who edged past Michael Andrew in the 100 freestyle and ultimately claimed two titles during the course of the evening.
Also of note were continued dominating performances by Hayley Pike in the weekend’s culminating distance event, along with another victory and historically-ranked age group performance by Kate McCarville in the 200 butterfly.
Women’s 1650 Free
Hayley Pike of the Razorback Aquatic Club Aquahawgs dominated the competition to post the winning time of 16:49.69. Pike stayed incredibly consistent while swimming her self-paced race. After the first 100 yards, she held to 30s and 31s for her 50 splits.
Three seconds behind, Claire Campbell, representing Ad Astra Area Aquatics, dropped over 15 seconds from her seed time to go 17:02.75. The bronze went to Columbia Swim Club’s Grace Beahan in 17:08.95.
Men’s 1650 Free
The longest event of the meet for the men proved to be as tight as a sprint event, as Jack Little of Jonesburo Jets Swim Team and 16-year-old Evan Holt of Club North Swimming dueled to the end. At the thousand mark, Little held a sizeable three second lead, but Holt suddenly made a move.
Holt dropped four consecutive 56-second 100 splits, followed by a 57.37, and 56.43 and 55.43 to close out the swim. This aggressive back half was not quite enough, though, as Little’s consistent 57s landed him at 15:37.87 for gold, exactly one tenth ahead of Holt.
Meanwhile, the Rec Plex Sharks’ Adam Grimm coasted to bronze in 15:48.19.
Women’s 200 Back
Wichita Swim Club’s Astrid Dirkzwager and American Energy Swim Club’s Dewi Blose once again faced off in the final backstroke event of the weekend, with Dirkzwager winning the battle. Dirkzwager was on the offensive from the first 100, which she paced in 58.46, while Blose took a more conservative approach (59.15) and fought hard on the back half (1:00.63).
Ultimately, Dirkzwager’s gamble paid off. She claimed the victory in 1:59.49, while Blose earned silver in 1:59.78. Lincoln Select Swimming’s Alexandra Hathaway, only thirteen years old, beat out Greater Nebraska Swim Team’s star, Caroline Theil (2:00.97) for bronze in 2:00.59.
Men’s 200 Back
The men’s race proved slightly less competitive, as Kade Knoch, swimming for King Marlin Swim Club, found the wall and the top of the podium in 1:47.30. Knoch was closely pursued by Wichita Swim Club’s Benjamin Patton during the first 100 yards. Knoch flipped at 52.13, and Patton was only a hundredth behind in 52.14.
During the second 100, however, Knoch found another gear for victory. Patton, who stopped the clock in 1:48.17, managed to fend off River City Aquatics’ Jacob Bening (1:48.78) to the end.
Women’s 100 Free
In the sprint freestyle event of the night, three young women dipped under 51. Martina Thomas of the Razorback Aquatic Club Aquahawgs swam the sprint in a controlled, even pace. Out at 24.41, Thomas came back in 25.93 for gold in 50.34.
Silver went to Megan Keil of the Wichita Aqua Shocks, who took a more conventional approach. Keil turned first at the 50 in 24.20 and closed out the back half in a nicely spaced 26.21 for a final time of 50.41. The Clayton Shaw Park Tideriders’ Kirsten Votava pounced on bronze in 50.84.
Men’s 100 Free
Michael Chadwick of the University of Missouri once again faced of with the Race Pace Club’s Michael Andrew, but this time, Chadwick emerged the victor with a solid 42.12. After the 50, Chadwick led by eight hundredths, but it was his second fifty, in 21.93, that made all the difference.
Andrew found silver in 42.88–a respectable swim that earns him the thirteenth ranking for the best times of all time for his age group. The bronze belonged to Patrick Callan of Trident Aquatics Club, the only other man under 44 seconds, in 43.96.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Kate McCarville of Springfield Aquatics once again dominated an older field in the 200 fly. McCarville turned out the 11th-fastest time of all time for her age group in the event thanks to a strong closing.
Luciana Thomas, representing the Razorback Aquatic Club Aquahawgs, led after the first 100, in 56.75, while McCarville conserved energy in 57.43. McCarville came back strong to hit the pad in 1:58.80. Thomas settled for silver in 1:59.11. Leading the pack over two minutes, Tsunami Swim Team’s Paige Riekhof took the bronze with a 2:03.89.
Men’s 200 Fly
American Energy Swim Club’s Luke Davis led the way on the men’s side by taking out the first hundred yards in an aggressive 51 seconds. Davis closed for gold and a 1:47.98.
Dane Florea of Columbia Swim Club found silver in 1:48.73, while Parkway Swim Club’s Noah Scheuermann grabbed the bronze in 1:50.18, just touching out Kade Knoch (1:50.25), fresh off of his 200 back victory.
Women’s 50 Breast
The shortest breaststroke event of the weekend proved to be the territory of the University of Missouri’s Katharine Ross, who deftly captured the title in 27.71. The real battle was for silver, with Hanna Newby of American Energy and Katherine Steward of Splash Club, Inc. dueling to the end.
In the end, Newby claimed silver with a 28.61, while Steward took care of bronze in 28.80.
Men’s 50 Breast
In the final individual event of the night, Michael Chadwick took care of business for the second time. He dropped half a second from the morning to rack up another gold medal in 24.63.
Not far behind, Nick Staver, swimming unattached, collected silver in 24.89. Ryan Geheb, also competing unattached, posted a 25.44 for the bronze.
Women’s 4 x 100 Free Relay
The Kansas City Blazers squad of Joely Merriman, Katherine Sullivan, Mackenzie Bravence, and Julia Davison came away with gold in an even 3:26.51.
The next top finishing team was the Arkansas Dolphins Swim Team in 3:28.41, thanks to the combined efforts of Angelina Ke, Anna Jaworski, Alyssa Bloser, and Claire Hyatt. Finally, the bronze went to June Harris, Allison Biddinger, Erin Downey, and Katherine Steward in 3:29.47 for Splash Club, Inc.
Men’s 4 x 100 Free Relay
The Kansas City Blazers team of John Paul Hynes, Aidan Holbrook, Ryan Downing, and Evan Root led the way in the 400 free relay, despite a challenge from Rockwood Swim Club. The deciding factor proved to be the third leg, when Downing surged ahead for the KC Blazers in an impressive 45.76. Root brought it home in 45.88. for a team mark of 3:05.82.
Rockwood Swim Club’s Nicholas Wamsley held on for silver in 3:06.20, but Trident Aquatic Club made a late surge thanks to the talents of Patrick Callan, who threw down a blazing split of 44.04.
Live results are available on MeetMobile – 2018 Region VIII Speedo Spring Sectionals.
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Allison Hartman McCarville!!! That swim was amazing!!!
Congratulations to Kade?