The 2020 Speedo Sectionals Plantation concluded on Sunday night in south Florida as a lot of the big names in the meet scratched on the final night. The highlight of the night came from Florida International’s Taylor Grabenhorst as she won the 200 breaststroke with a 2:32.49, getting under the US Olympic Trials cut of 2:33.29. Grabenhorst had just missed the cut in the heats when she swam a 2:33.32.
SPEEDO SECTIONALS PLANTATION – FULL RESULTS
She just finished her senior season at Florida International University where the team recently won its sixth straight Conference USA title. Grabenhorst dominated and won by five seconds over Summer Smith.
Azura’s Raphael Windmuller nearly got under the Olympic Trial cut in the men’s 200 breast with a 2:17.91, just missing the cut of 2:17.89. However, Windmuller represents Brazil internationally so he would not have been eligible for Trials anyway.
15-year-old Josh Parent of Bluefish Swim Club nearly booked his ticket to Omaha in the 1500 as he swam a 15:46.71, missing the 15:44 cut by two seconds. Parent had a good back half in beating Joaquin Vargas (16:00.36) of Azura.
Pipeline’s Michelle Morgan also took a stab at the Olympic Trial cut in the 800 free to start the last night of the Speedo Sectionals Plantation with an 8:52.65, getting within four seconds of the cut.
13-year-old Erika Pelaez finished off her impressive meet with a win in the 200 backstroke at 2:16.21. She just out-touched early leader Celina Marquez (2:16.34) and also held off a hard charge from Julia Podkoscielny (2:16.90) of Pine Crest Swimming.
Azura’s Yeziel Morales dominated the men’s 200 back with a 2:02.95 as he won handily over Streamline’s Fernando Ruvalcaba Cruz (2:07.33). Morales took advantage of scratches from Tom Peribonio and Josh Zuchowski. Ruvalcaba’s brother Hector took a convincing win in the 200 butterfly earlier in the night with a 2:00.43 as he followed Lockett Bowley of Blue Dolphins in winning the women’s race at 2:16.42.
Veterans Alia Atkinson (31) and Runar Borgen (26) took wins in the 100 freestyle at 56.80 and 51.28 respectively.