By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
Another stop of the Speedo Sectionals Series will be swum in long course meters this weekend. Beginning Thursday in Buffalo, New York a number of swimmers will have chances to qualify for Olympic Trials.
On the women’s side, one of those swimmers is Erica Worth of Berkeley Aquatics. The 17 year old already has the cut in the 800 freestyle, and is also seeded first in the 400, less than two seconds from the qualifying time.
In the 200 butterfly, two swimmers are within a second of the Trials time. Makayla Sargent of Victor Swim Club leads the way and 14 year old Lauryn Johnson of Long Island Aquatics is right behind her. Johnson is also a second seed in the 100 butterfly, just behind Central Jersey’s Helen Grossman. These ladies should have some nice races as they try to punch their tickets to Omaha.
Wilton Wahoo Ky-lee Perry is another swimmer to watch this weekend. The 17 year old has already posted Trials cuts in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Other swimmers will also try to follow her speedy lead.
Scarlet Aquatics, Berkeley Aquatics, and Asphalt Green sit atop the psych sheet in the women’s relays this weekend.
On the men’s side, Kieran Smith of Ridgefield Aquatics is a young swimmer to watch. The 15 year old is the top seed in the 200 IM, just over a second from the Trials cut. He already has the qualification standard in the 400 IM, where he is the second seed. Smith is no lower than seventh in any of his eight entries.
Garrett Clarke is closing in on two Trials cuts. The unattached 20 year old is only three tenths away in the 200 breaststroke and just under a second away from the 100. With prelims and finals long course opportunities we’ll see what he can do.
Scarlet Aquatics is the top seed in each of the men’s five relays this weekend.
Full psych sheet available here: 2016 Speedo Sectionals: Buffalo Psych Sheet – Results
