Hester Leads Marlins on Second Night of Finals

Columbus, Ohio, March 3.  At the Ohio Swimming Tim Meyer Senior Championships the Marlins took to the second night of finals without skipping a beat.  Rachael Hester lead the squad with two top 10 finishes, but the team had many fantastic performances.

The evening got started with the distance events.  Hester’s prelim swim in the 1000 Freestyle held on to finish in 6^thplace.  In the Men’s 1650, Kevin Mosko, swimming out of lane one dropped nearly 40 seconds off his seed time to get yet another Sectional cut.  This was a two for one swim for Kevin, as his 1000 (9:58) split of the 1650 was also under the USA Swimming Sectional time standard of 10:03.

Following the distance events, the 200 ‘Flyers got their chance to shine.  Grant ‘The Cadillac’ Carr hit the water first for the Marlins and used a strong first 100 to drop two seconds off his morning swim to qualify for Sectionals as well as dip under 2:00 for the first time.  Gabe Rapp was the lone Marlin swimming in the top 10.  Using his great under water work, Gabe was able to nip a few tenths off of his prelim time as well as hold strong in 3^rd.

The Marlins were paced by Lindsey Niehaus in the 100 Freestyle.  Lindsey, swimming in the Bonus Final, took the race out the only way she knew how, fast.  Holding on the last 10 yards, she dropped .8 off of her prelim time to hit her first 53 second swim.

In the Women’s 400 IM Kirsten Mosko and Dana Zerbini paced nearly identical races.  Both girls swimming in outside lanes, Dana sneaking into the Bonus Final and Kirsten swimming in the Consolation Final, both girls used strong Breaststroke legs to help drop their prelim times.  Dana finished in 27^thwith a 4 second drop from prelims and Kirsten placed 20^thwith a 2 second drop.

After a quick warm down and some help from three heats of Men’s 400 IMs, the girls were back in action in the 200 breaststroke.  Dana was first up swimming once again in the Bonus Final.  Taking the race out strong and maintaining her composure, Dana finished with her first time under 2:30 placing 22^ndoverall.  Kirsten as well as Allison Wade were the Marlins swimming in the Consolation Final.  Kirsten, perhaps still feeling the effects of the 400 IM, swam a great race, but just could not hang on to her prelim time.  She finished in 19^thplace.  Allison took it out fast and had a great closing 50 to help her qualify for Sectionals for the first time.  Dropping 1.5 seconds from her morning swim, Allison moved up to 16^thplace.  Swimming in her second Championship heat, Rachael Hester took it out strong but fell a little short of her prelim time.  Keeping her place from Prelims, Rachael finished the race in 7^thplace.

In the Men’s finals of the 200 Breaststroke, Will Imbus was the lone Marlin holding on to score points for the team.  Will was a little off his pace from the morning, where he achieved his Sectional cut in the event, but still swam a strong race finishing in 18^thplace.

Sunday’s morning session is a timed final with the 200 IM, 100 Back and 500 Free.  The Marlins are looking to capitalize on all the great swims and complete this year’s Tim Meyer Senior Championships with more great swims.