By Katie Lively, Swimming World College Intern
Another meet record almost fell on the fourth and final night of the Western Region Sectionals as Kyle Robrock of the University of Denver Hilltoppers (TOPS) took the men’s 50 free in 22.93. The meet record is 22.85.
Robrock became the second man at this year’s meet to win multiple events after previously winning the 100 free. His win total was matched only by unattached Oregon swimmer Nick Thorne, who took the 100 and 200 fly. In the 50 free, Robrock finished nearly half a second ahead of Scottsdale Aquatic Club’s Jack Blake, who finished in 23.38 and just out-touched Colin Eaton (23.45) of Mount Hood Aquatics (MHA).
Matti Harrison of Phoenix Swim Club (PSC) later became the second woman to win multiple events at the meet as the final day came to a close, taking the 1500 after previously winning the 800. Harrison was the only woman under 17 minutes on the day, finishing in 16:59.79. Behind her were Mckenzee Gordon of SAC in 17:01.96 and Caitlyn Wilson of Tualatin Hills Swim Club (THSC) in 17:08.27. The only other woman to win more than one event was SAC’s Taylor Ruck, who won the 100 and 200 free earlier in the meet.
The winner of the men’s 1500 was new to the top of the podium, but he had danced around it all meet. Aaron Sett of Foothills Swim Team (FST) had already placed second in both the 200 and 400 free. On the final day, he came through with a comfortable victory in the 1500 in 16:06.99. Several seconds behind was teammate Daniel Notarianni in 16:14.42, followed by Nathan Rock of RallySport Aquatic Club (RACE) in 16:21.15.
Taking a tightly contested women’s 50 free was Alayna Connor of The Dolphins Portland Swimming (TDPS) in 26.31. Less than a tenth of a second behind her were 10th seed Katelyn Martin of Boise YMCA Swim Team (BY) in 26.34 and top seed Jamie Stone of MHA in 26.39. Marjorie Driscoll of RACE moved up from the 24th seed to tie for fourth with Alysha Bush of Pitchfork Aquatics (FORK) in 26.51.
Results were also all over the map in the women’s 200 IM as none of the top four finishers were projected to place in the top three. Fourth seed Robin Pinger of Oregon City Swim Team (OCST) took the event in 2:20.61 with teammate and fifth seed Laura Laderoute behind her in 2:21.92, followed by ninth seed Sandra Freeman of RACE in 2:22.67. Coming up from the 15th seed to finish fourth overall in 2:22.80 was Katharine Berkoff of the Missoula Aquatic Club (MAC), who previously won the 200 back and placed second in the 100.
The top three spots of the men’s 200 IM were separated by less than a second, with PSC’s Cameron Heidenreich claiming the victory in 2:08.38. A backstroke leg of 31.64 propelled RACE’s Michael Bartholomew to second in 2:08.72, while his teammate Connor Corrigan made up ground on the other two in the second half of the race to finish third in 2:09.03.
All results can be found on Meet Mobile.
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