2022 EASTERN ZONE LC SUPER SECTIONALS
- May 12-15, 2022
- Collegiate School Aquatics Center, Richmond, Virginia
- Long Course Meters (50 meters), prelims/finals
- Full Meet Results
- Results on Meet Mobile: “2022 VA EZ LC Speedo Super Sectional”
The final day of the 2022 Eastern Zone Long Course Super Sectionals in Richmond, VA., saw some of the region’s top age group swimmers continue to thrive as the four-day meet came to a close Sunday night.
Among the highlights of the day was the performance of Nathan Szobota in the boys’ 800 freestyle, as the 14-year-old NOVA of Virginia swimmer clocked a time of 8:30.12 to down teammate Craig Bohlman (8:32.05) and move into 75th all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group.
Szobota’s previous best in the event was 8:44.99, set earlier this year in January.
Following the afternoon distance session, Szobota was back in the pool during the evening finals for the 200 backstroke, where he placed fifth in a personal best time of 2:07.35.
The top four finishers all went under the Junior Nationals standard, led by Stingrays’ Kyle Peck, who closed in 31.02 to claim the win in 2:06.07, lowering his prelim best time of 2:07.69 (he came into the meet having been as fast as 2:07.76).
NOVA’s Benjamin Ackerly was the runner-up in 2:06.47, just off his prelim swim of 2:06.45, and 15-year-old Kenneth Barnicle re-lowered his best time in 2:06.57 for third.
Barnicle dropped nearly two seconds in the prelims in 2:07.37, and with his time from finals, he ranks as the fourth-fastest 15-year-old in the U.S. this season.
Placing fourth in that 200 back was Nation’s Capital’s Simon Bermudez (2:06.86), who went on to win the 200 IM later in the session in a nearly identical time of 2:06.80. That swim falls just shy of the 16-year-old’s PB of 2:06.73, set at the U.S. Open this past December.
Bermudez also led off in 59.24 as the Nation’s Capital boys topped the 400 medley relay field in 3:59.06.
On the girls’ side of the pool, 15-year-old Kate Hotem was among the standouts, as she dropped two seconds in the prelims of the 200 back in 2:17.82 and then matched that time in the final to win comfortably.
Hotem, who came in with a best of 2:19.96, also dipped under the Junior Nationals cut of 2:18.29.
NCAP’s Eleanor Sun, a Princeton commit, capped off her busy meet with a victory by over three seconds in the girls’ 200 IM, clocking 2:18.03 to narrowly miss her best of 2:17.91 set last summer.
Placing second was NOVA’s 14-year-old Elle Scott, who finished in 2:21.45 after setting a lifetime best of 2:20.98 in August 2021.
OTHER DAY 4 WINNERS
- NCAP’s Lauren Tucker, 17, topped the girls’ 1500 freestyle in a time of 17:22.65 in what was just her third time swimming the event. Tucker’s previous best of 18:03.14 was set in July 2021.
- Rising Ohio State sophomore Teresa Ivan followed up her 50 free on Saturday by claiming the girls’ 100 free on Sunday, touching in 56.92 after going 56.71 in the heats. Ivan, 18, also swam the race in a time trial in 56.33, with all three being under her PB entering the competition (57.05). This past season with the Buckeyes, Ivan brought her 100 free best down to 48.48, placing 11th at the Big Ten Championships.
- The boys’ 100 free saw 19-year-old Matvei Namakonov of the Arlington Aquatic Club come away with the win in 52.43, marking his first time under the 53-second barrier as he edged out Greater Somerset’s Rob Alexy (52.53). Alexy, who owns a best time of 51.86, had led the way in the prelims in 52.23.
- The All Star Aquatics quartet of Virginia Hinds (1:05.64), Cameron House (1:13.26), Georgia Yang (1:03.82) and Lauren West (57.91) combined for a time of 4:20.63 in the girls’ 400 medley relay, winning the event by over six seconds. The time put them under the Juniors cut of 4:21.49.