Photo Courtesy: Maddie Kyler

Over 750 swimmers from California and Nevada were on hand at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center for the the Speedo Champions Series Santa Clarita Sectionals hosted by Canyons Aquatic Club last weekend.

The event was spread over four days of exciting competition including a number of athletes looking to qualify for the US Olympic trials next season.

Hometown favorite Abby Weitzeil was the highlight of the week competing in multiple events for the host club, including a tremendous day one performance in the 100 meter freestyle, posting a blistering time of 54.56 seconds to take first in the event.

On day two Weitzeil shined again, showing she is ready to compete for a spot in the upcoming olympic games, anchoring the Canyons 400 freestyle relay team to a second place finish with a time of 53.99 split.

Weitzeil was not the only Canyons swimmer to shine, as Peter Kropp had an equally impressive first two days. He posted a lifetime best 2:17.06 in the men’s 200 meter breaststroke as sprang out to an almost body-length lead in the first turn and found himself taking second by narrow 2.5 second split.

Kropp also anchored the 400 freestyle relay B team to a fourth place finish, just behind the third place A team.

Competition came to a sudden halt on the third day due to inclement weather. After a half hour weather delay the women’s 200 backstroke relay were contested but only three men’s heats were able to finish before it was decided to cancel the rest of day three.

The cancellation did little to deter Valencia high’s Nikol Popov as she placed in the top five of her two day 3 events. Second in the 100 meter breaststroke and fifth in the 100 meter butterfly.

Recent Hart graduate and Stanford commit, Cole Cogswell, followed suit by also finishing fifth in the men’s 200 meter backstroke, posting a time of 57.89 seconds

The event ended just as it had begun for Weitzeil, in championship fashion. She finished first in the 50 meter freestyle and once again anchored her team, this time to a win, in the 400 medley relay.

Canyons Aquatics was the top team at the event, winning the team combined with a score of 1368.5, 326 and a half points ahead of second place Brea Aquatics.

Article By Saile Ramirez, SCVNews Sports Intern