Saturday night at the 2014 Greensboro Sectional meet featured a handful of noteworthy winners, but the anticipated star of the session, Olympian Chloe Sutton, was absent.
She swam a 4:17.80 in prelims of the women’s 400 free before scratching out of finals; she also scratched out of finals in the 200 free on Friday, so this is a little bit of a pattern for her at this meet.
In her absence, YOTA’s Hannah Moore swam a 4:13.53 to win the race, followed by Tennessee’s Mary Griffith in 4:15.43.
Meanwhile, the best race of the night was the men’s 100 breast. There, pro swimmers Brad Craig and Kameron Chastain battled for the win. Craig came away with the win in 1:00.88, which further solidified his role as a contender for the Pan Pacs team this summer. That’s the fastest time by an American so far in 2014.
Chastain also ranks among the top 6 Americans in the event this year after a 1:01.91 in prelims. He couldn’t replicate that speed, though, and slipped to a 1:02.61 in finals.
The men’s 100 fly title went to North Carolina State’s Soeren Dahl, a 21-year old sophomore, in 53.13. The Danish National beat out Kyler VanSwol, who was 2nd in 53.45. NC State’s David Williams was 3rd in 53.77.
Dahl was out under 25 seconds in that race, and he and his teammate Williams both took the swim out very fast.
In the women’s 100 fly, Kentucky’s Christina Bechtel swam a 59.74 to beat SwimMAC senior and Princeton commit Elsa Wleshofer by a fingernail – she was 2nd in 59.76. Of the two, Bechtel is easily the better 200 butterflier to this point of their careers, which is perhaps what gave her the confidence to push the pace early in this swim.
Tennessee’s Molly Hannis won the women’s 100 breaststroke in 1:09.47. She’s been faster than that time twice already this year, but the reservation is perhaps comforting for her given that last season, her best time came before U.S. Nationals.
The other individual event winner on the day came in the men’s 400 free. Kentucky’s Scott Crosthwaite swam a 3:56.74 to win just ahead of his teammate and NCAA Championship qualifier Brandon Flynn (3:56.85). Wildcats held the entire podium, with Andrew Aviotti placing 3rd in 3:59.32.
Full, live meet results available here.
And for those who are interested . . . and want to compare the huge differences between the American and French levels in the youth ranks, I make a little recap of the 1st day of the French 14/15 age group championships.
Some age group records broken on the boy’s side. We have a NAG record for each year between 12 and 17 here in France.
Tanguy Lesparre has broken the 15 age group record in the 50 breast in 29.86
Kryls Miatti, 15 age group record in the 50 back in 27.42
Quentin Loncke, 15 age group record in the 50 fly in 25.78
And Jean Lamorisse, 14 age group record in the 50 back in 28.16
Elsewhere in USA….
Iowa sectionals
“Swimswamers” Jared Anderson and Hannah Saiz shine there!
Mr Anderson was 14th in the 200 breast in 2.25.28. He swam 2.25.14 in prelims.
He qualified for the 100 breast A-Final and finished 7th in 1.04.35.
Miss Saiz won the 200 fly in 2.14.49. She swam 2.14.29 in prelims.
She finished 3rd in the 100 fly final in 1.01.12.
12-year-old young backstroke phenom Regan Smith swam new best times in the 100 back in 1.04.73 and in the 200 back in 2.21.60.
She’s now the 5th 11/12 performer of all-time in the 100 back, ranked between Elizabeth Pelton and Missy Franklin! Beth Bosford holds the NAG record in 1.03.08 back… Read more »
I forgot the Florida LC age group championships.
Great job by Florida Swim Network for broadcasting the meet live.
https://new.livestream.com/floridaswimnetwork3/flagsjuly14
Elizabeth Beisel has commented the entire Saturday session of finals.
She was very professional and as usual very funny!
She has a big future behind the micro in my opinion.
Isabel Ivey, Lucas Kravchenko, Robert Finke, Christin Rockway and Vance Sanders are the dominant swimmers of that meet.
What? Jared can beat Michael Andrew in the 100 breast?! LOL!
I’m honored to get a shout-out from Bobo Gigi! 🙂
It’s normal. 🙂
I tried to be the most comprehensive possible.
Chloe doesn’t look good before US nationals. 🙁
A tough year for her with injuries.
Good swim by Brad Craig.
Cordes should swim the fastest time by an American on the last day of the LA Invite….if he isn’t disqualified. 😉
Who told you she has been injured? I think it is more change of coaches! And combined with not willing to do the work it took to get her to the top?! And that is why she left Mission Viejo?!
Of course, she won’t admit that!
You seem to be well aware.
You are a little harsh with her too.
“Of course, she won’t admit that!” 😆
Do you think she doesn’t train enough?
I don’t remember very well but someone on swimswam said a few weeks ago she had some health issues this year. Perhaps not injuries. I must mis with her training partner.
She tweeted on June 27th: “I’m feeling happy and healthy for the first time in a while.”
The fact is she struggles in the water this year.
Perhaps it’s a problem of training. Perhaps it’s a health problem. Or perhaps she’s simply on a decline… Read more »
About the shoulder, I’ve mistaken Chloe for her training partner Ashley Twichell who had a surgery recently.
I remember reading that one of the meets she had the flu, and sprained her ankle at another meet. Nothing serious but a series of mishaps and apparently some psychological malaise which is likely the more serious problem.
Way to rock it Brad! Vol Strong!
Great swim by Craig, must be close to his PB? Though I was startled to read that it was the fastest time by an American. It only ranks 33rd in the world. I know folks haven’t tapered yet, but it’s getting toward the end of July and we’re lagging behind our places in other events. Hoping for big tapers from Cordes and Fink, if not, Craig could squeak in there.
100 breast, not 100 free, for Brad Craig. Beautiful swim.