By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
The Speedo Sectionals series continues this weekend in Ithaca, New York. The Thursday through Sunday meet will be conducted in short course yards.
On the women’s side, some 14 year olds lead the charge in a few events. 757 Swim’s Colby Hurt is the top seed (4:23.80) in the 400 IM by over three seconds. Hurt is also the third seed in the 500 freestyle, and second in the 200 IM. In the 200 IM, she is behind Westchester Aquatic Club’s 14 year old Katherine Douglass who is seeded well ahead in 2:01.67. Douglass also owns top seeds in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and the 50 freestyle. Fellow youngster, Nation’s Captial’s Erin Quinn is top seed in the 1000, second in the 500 and third in the 200 freestyle. The weekend will reveal just how dominant this young group can be.
The 200 butterfly could be another particularly interesting race. X-Cel Swimming’s Melinda Tang holds the first seed in 2:03.02. Teammates Hailey Roberti and Madeleine Deardorff are seeded third and fourth in 2:04.89 and 2:05.03, interrupted only by second seed, 12 year old Joy Jiang of Westchester Aquatic Club in 2:03.71. Youth could challenge X-Cel’s apparent dominance in this event.
Nation’s Capital’s A and B relays are entered with the first and second seeds in four of the weekend’s five relays.
On the men’s side, Eastern Express’ Jack McIntyre and Swim Ithaca’s Kevin Miller are the distance forces of the weekend. McIntyre is top seed in the 1650 and the 1000 while he is seeded second in the 200 and 500. Miller holds top honors in the 200 and 500, and is seeded just behind his fellow 17 year old in the 1000 and 1650.
Mount Lebanon Aquatic Club’s Jack Lanphear is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke and sits second in the 200 yard event. He’ll likely have good races with Laguardia Aquatic Club’s Evan Zhang, the top seed in the 200 and third in the 100. Jason Arthur of Jersey Flyers Aquatic Club is the top seed in both men’s backstroke events. Blue Wave Swim Team’s 27 year old Stephen Clendenin is on his heels in both distances.
Scott Romeyn of Central Connecticut Aquatics Team is only entered in two events this weekend, yet he leads the way in the 50 freestyle. The 16 year old’s 20.61 seed time is one of two entries under the 21 second marker. Two additional swimmers find themselves with a tenth of the barrier, setting up for a great match in the men’s splash and dash.
Like their female teammates, Nation’s Capital’s men are the first seed in all five relays.
Full psych sheet available here: 2016 Speedo Sectionals: Ithaca Psych Sheet – Results
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