Bryce Mefford Takes Two on Night Three of La Mirada Sectionals

bryce-mefford-butterfly
Photo Courtesy: @ORBlueCrew Twitter

Bryce Mefford came to make a statement on the third night of the La Mirada installment of Speedo Sectionals. Mefford, a UC Berkeley commit, came away with titles in both the 200 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. On the women’s side, Taylor Ault and Catherine Sanchez continued to stack up victories.

The women’s 200 backstroke proved to be a repeat of yesterday’s 100, as Alexandra Crisera of Beach Cities Swimming once again went head-to-head with BREA Aquatics’ Emily Trieu. During the first fifty meters, Crisera and Trieu were neck and neck, but Crisera quickly pulled away with the race. Crisera posted a 2:14.96, while Trieu closed fast to stop the clock at 2:16.28. Courtney Tseng, swimming unattached, filled out the third spot on the podium in 2:17.14.

Event 19  Women 200 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Crisera, Alexandra     16 CITI-CA           2:16.67    2:14.96  
  2 Trieu, Emily           16 BREA-CA           2:19.19    2:16.28  
  3 Tseng, Courtney        17 La Mirada Armada  2:20.03    2:17.14  
  4 Gilbert, Liberty       15 TMEC-CA           2:20.37    2:17.25  
  5 Okubo, Sydney          17 AZOT-CA           2:21.08    2:18.53  
  6 Humel, Colleen         20 San Jose State S  2:19.83    2:18.89  
  7 Pearson, Samantha      15 Un-Brea-CA        2:19.92    2:19.75  
  8 Fox, Juliana           17 PAC-SI            2:21.44    2:21.21  

The men’s 200 title went to the silver medalist in the 100, Bryce Mefford of Sierra Marlins Swim Team. Mefford dominated the competition, his 2:00.76 a full five seconds faster than anyone else in the pack. Mefford was followed by Joseph Molinari of Palo Alto Stanford, who swam an aggressive race from the outside lane to claim silver and a 2:05.98. Behind Molinari, Mario Vasquez of Roadrunner Aquatics nabbed the bronze in 2:07.67, just touching out Ethan Trieu of BREA Aquatics (2:07.92).

Event 20  Men 200 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Mefford, Bryce         18 Sierra Marlins S  2:02.61    2:00.76  
  2 Molinari, Joseph       19 Palo Alto Stanfo  2:09.96    2:05.98  
  3 Vasquez, Mario         21 Roadrunner-CC     2:06.94    2:07.67  
  4 Trieu, Ethan           17 BREA-CA           2:09.02    2:07.92  
  5 Tuitama, Tama          17 Team Rebel-CA     2:08.55    2:08.27  
  6 Anugrah, Dwiki         17 Fusion Aquatics-  2:08.82    2:08.34  
  7 Planells, Preston      16 BREA-CA           2:09.05    2:08.42  
  8 Kulik, Brandon         17 Rancho San Diegu  2:09.02    2:10.67

The 400 freestyle brought together all of the major freestylers on the women’s side, from both the sprint and the distance events. Taylor Ault of La Mirada Armada continued her meet campaign with a commanding swim in the 400 freestyle. Meanwhile, the next top finisher, Katie Glavinovich of Aquazot Swim Club, swam a consistent 400, holding steady at 1:05 after the first one hundred. De Anza Cupertino Aquatics’ Riley Spitser claimed the bronze in 4:20.31.

 Event 21  Women 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Ault, Taylor           18 La Mirada Armada  4:20.05    4:12.65  
  2 Glavinovich, Katie     17 AZOT-CA           4:22.93    4:18.04  
  3 Spitser, Riley         22 De Anza Cupertin  4:21.95    4:20.31  
  4 Williams, Liberty      15 Yucaipa Swim Tea  4:22.46    4:21.06  
  5 Sulkevich, Kathleen    17 La Mirada Armada  4:23.37    4:21.72  
  6 Tseng, Courtney        17 La Mirada Armada  4:21.73    4:23.29  
  7 Thompson, Mikki        17 BREA-CA           4:24.65    4:23.49  
  8 Campbell, Jennifer     20 Palo Alto Stanfo  4:23.43    4:26.54

On the men’s side, the real race was for second place, as La Mirada Armada’s Brad Gonzales fully established his lead during the third 100. Gonzales ultimately topped the field in 3:59.19, while Michael Tenney of BREA Aquatics and Michael Lincoln of Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics battled it out for silver. Thanks to a strong final 100, Tenney (4:00.48) ultimately touched just one-tenth of a second ahead of Lincoln (4:00.58).

Event 22  Men 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Gonzales, Brad         19 La Mirada Armada  4:06.21    3:59.19  
  2 Tenney, Michael        19 BREA-CA           4:03.89    4:00.48  
  3 Lincoln, Michael       18 Palo Alto Stanfo  4:04.29    4:00.58  
  4 Vargas, Kevin          16 La Mirada Armada  4:02.95    4:02.69  
  5 Blitz, Jordan          17 PAC-SI            4:03.45    4:05.94  
  6 Wang, David            17 La Mirada Armada  4:07.37    4:06.11  
  7 Van Krimpen, Owen      20 Roadrunner-CC     4:04.44    4:06.29  
  8 Rawls, Corban          18 Palo Alto Stanfo  4:07.07    4:07.76

The women’s 100 breaststroke saw a showdown between Riley Scott of the Marin Pirates, and Grace Zhao of Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics. Scott led the whole way but Zhao remained close. Scott finished in 1:09.48, while Zhao touched the pad in 1:10.34. Nearly two seconds later, Gianni Pitto of California Gold took third in 1:12.04, touching out Jacqueline Basham of BREA.

Event 23  Women 100 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Scott, Riley           19 Marin Pirates-PC  1:10.61    1:09.48  
  2 Zhao, Grace            17 Palo Alto Stanfo  1:10.80    1:10.34  
  3 Pitto, Gianni          16 California Gold-  1:12.72    1:12.04  
  4 Basham, Jacqueline     17 BREA-CA           1:12.90    1:12.23  
  5 Wang, Vivian           16 Peak Swimming-PC  1:12.67    1:12.50  
  6 Lloyd, Kelsey          16 BREA-CA           1:13.11    1:13.00  
  7 Spradley, Summer       19 Sierra Marlins S  1:12.89    1:13.56  
  8 Feick, Amelia          18 La Mirada Armada  1:13.58    1:13.67

The men’s event brought a similar duel for gold. Daniel Comforti of the Brentwood SeaWolves led from the start, but Mario Koenigsperger edged in from the outside during the second fifty. To round out the podium, Michael Xu, representing PAC-Bay Club Carmel Valley, touched the wall at 1:04.17, just six hundredths ahead of Joseph Brown. 

Event 24  Men 100 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Comforti, Daniel       20 Brentwood Seawol  1:03.39    1:02.48  
  2 Koenigsperger, Mario   20 TROJ-CA           1:05.81    1:02.83  
  3 Xu, Michael            16 PAC-SI            1:04.22    1:04.17  
  4 Brown, Joseph          21 San Luis Obispo-  1:03.82    1:04.23  
  5 Whittington, Brian     19 San Luis Obispo-  1:05.30    1:05.46  
  6 Prolo, Bradley         18 San Clemente Aqu  1:06.04    1:05.96  
  7 Ward, Sean             17 BREA-CA           1:06.30    1:06.13  
  8 He, Joshua             16 Rancho San Diegu  1:06.43    1:06.19

The women’s 100 meter butterfly belonged to La Mirada Armada’s Catherine Sanchez, who owned the field with an impressive 59.55. Sanchez came off the turn fast and never looked back as she steadily widened her gap with the rest of the field. Behind Sanchez, Kenisha Liu of BREA Aquatics worked hard on her turn as well and laid claim to the silver medal and a 1:00.21. Finally, Makenna Turner, representing Diablo Aquatics, took home the bronze with a 1:01.56.

Event 25  Women 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Sanchez, Catherine     18 La Mirada Armada  1:00.43      59.55  
  2 Liu, Kenisha           18 BREA-CA           1:02.04    1:00.21  
  3 Turner, Makenna        17 Diablo Aquatics-  1:02.02    1:01.56  
  4 Anderson, Gabrielle    17 Palo Alto Stanfo  1:02.61    1:02.08  
  5 Bushey, Brenna         21 San Jose State S  1:02.68    1:02.27  
  6 Campbell, Jennifer     20 Palo Alto Stanfo  1:01.93    1:02.38  
  7 Carter, Danielle       16 Palo Alto Stanfo  1:02.87    1:02.51  
  8 O'Brien, Ashleen       16 Diablo Aquatics-  1:03.11    1:04.30

In a packed men’s race, Bryce Mefford of Sierra Marlins Swim Team had his encore, winning the 100 butterfly in 54.50. Mefford touched the wall just ahead of the field and gained on the lead he created during the second lap. Meanwhile, Crown City Aquatics’ Connor Lee gained speed in the second half of the race and also pulled away from the pack. Lee touched just behind Mefford, in 54.76. Finally, Alex Liang of Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics battled for the bronze in 55.17.

Event 26  Men 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
    Name                  Age Team              Prelims     Finals        
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 Mefford, Bryce         18 Sierra Marlins S    55.18      54.50  
  2 Lee, Connor            16 CRWN-CA             55.11      54.76  
  3 Liang, Alex            18 Palo Alto Stanfo    55.62      55.17  
  4 Hu, Ethan              15 Peak Swimming-PC    55.70      55.21  
  5 Comforti, Daniel       20 Brentwood Seawol    55.83      55.42  
  6 Molinari, Joseph       19 Palo Alto Stanfo    55.85      55.53  
  7 DeSomma, Emilio        19 Marin Pirates-PC    55.30      55.56  
  8 Tenney, Michael        19 BREA-CA             55.72      55.63  

The night finished up with the 800 freestyle relays. In the women’s race, the team of Catherine Sanchez, Courtney Tseng, Kathleen Sulkevich, and Taylor Ault from La Mirada Armada brought home the gold in 8:20.43, just ahead of the team of Kenisha Liu, Mikki Thompson, Emily Trieu, and Justina Kozan from BREA Aquatics, who finished in 8:20.97. Third-place finisher Aquazot Swim Club led the rest of the pack in 8:26.33.

Event 27  Women 800 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
====================================================================
    Team                                   Seed     Finals        
====================================================================
  1 La Mirada Armada-CA  'A'            8:15.84    8:20.43  
     1) Sanchez, Catherine 18         2) Tseng, Courtney 17           
     3) Sulkevich, Kathleen 17        4) Ault, Taylor 18              
  2 BREA-CA  'A'                        8:21.12    8:20.97  
     1) Liu, Kenisha 18               2) Thompson, Mikki 17           
     3) Trieu, Emily 16               4) Kozan, Justina 13            
  3 AZOT-CA  'A'                        8:21.59    8:26.33  
     1) Merrell, Eva 17               2) Glavinovich, Katie 17        
     3) Okubo, Sydney 17              4) McCance, Molly 17            
  4 Palo Alto Stanfo-PC  'A'            8:24.90    8:28.50  
     1) Reinstein, Sloane 16          2) Lusk, Zoe 17                 
     3) Wong, Vicky 17                4) Campbell, Jennifer 20        
  5 Roadrunner-CC  'A'                  8:39.32    8:35.90  
     1) Haynes, Jayssielisa 19        2) Skeggs, Ariane 17            
     3) Lemminn, Kassidy 17           4) Cooke, Alisa 19              
  6 Rancho San Diegu-SI  'A'            8:43.21    8:37.80  
     1) Crage, Kira 16                2) Rhee, Rachel 16              
     3) Cosgrove, Madeline 19         4) Natale, Julianna 15          
  7 CITI-CA  'A'                        8:38.61    8:38.21  
     1) Kakazu, Ema 16                2) Derikoletis, Keiko 16        
     3) O'Connor, Katelyn 18          4) Crisera, Alexandra 16        
  8 Palo Alto Stanfo-PC  'B'            8:38.58    8:38.53  
     1) Carter, Danielle 16           2) Anderson, Gabrielle 17       
     3) Tuck, Natalie 18              4) Zhao, Grace 17

The men’s relay title went to the team of Terry JohnsonLiam O’HaimhirginEthan Dillard, and Bryce Mefford in 7:35.12; Mefford posted a blazing 1:52.16 as anchor, the cherry on top of his fast night. Silver went to Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, in 7:37.57, and Ranch San Dieguito took home the bronze in 7:49.84.

Event 28  Men 800 LC Meter Freestyle Relay
====================================================================
    Team                                   Seed     Finals        
====================================================================
  1 Sierra Marlins S-SN  'A'            7:43.82    7:35.12  
     1) O'Haimhirgin, Liam 18         2) Johnson, Terry 20            
     3) Mefford, Colby 16             4) Mefford, Bryce 18            
  2 Palo Alto Stanfo-PC  'A'            7:35.50    7:37.57  
     1) Lincoln, Michael 18           2) Liang, Alex 18               
     3) Rawls, Corban 18              4) Taner, Brooks 16             
  3 Rancho San Diegu-SI  'A'            7:47.81    7:49.84  
     1) Gruwell, Tyler 17             2) Delaney, Dylan 17            
     3) Kulik, Brandon 17             4) Nikolaev, Oleg 17            
  4 Palo Alto Stanfo-PC  'B'            7:55.15    7:50.47  
     1) Matsuda, Daichi 19            2) Makler, Theodore 15          
     3) Molinari, Joseph 19           4) Ama, Joao 19                 
  5 La Mirada Armada-CA  'A'            7:48.13    7:51.81  
     1) Wang, David 17                2) Lee, Michael 17              
     3) Vargas, Kevin 16              4) Gonzales, Brad 19            
  6 Roadrunner-CC  'A'                  7:55.53    7:53.06  
     1) Cobarrubias, Joseph 21        2) Van Krimpen, Owen 20         
     3) Valiente, Steven 21           4) Hultner, Noah 19             
  7 San Luis Obispo-CA  'A'             7:53.99    7:54.84  
     1) Newland, Nolan 22             2) Brown, Zachary 19            
     3) Moore, Morgan 21              4) Linker, Thomas 21            
  8 Marin Pirates-PC  'A'               7:49.77    7:55.90  
     1) Cunnan, Nathaniel 17          2) Turner, Lomax 17             
     3) McIntyre, Zachary 15          4) DeSomma, Emilio 19

 

Live results are available at the link on the sidebar as well as on Meet Mobile under “2017 CA-NV Speedo Championships.” 

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Irene Theders
6 years ago

Wow! awesome ?

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