The Lakeside Aquatics Club faced a tougher road at last weekend’s sectional championships.

    The 2009 Speedo Championship Series Sectional Championships – held at the University of Houston – was regarded as one of the fastest sectional championships in the U.S. and featured some of the top swimmers from USA swim clubs in Texas and Louisiana. LAC sent 21 swimmers to this year’s event, 16 more than the year before.

    “Overall, the swimmers did very well at a high level of competition,” LAC head coach Mike Yearwood said. “We had kids that got best times, new cuts for next spring’s Sectional meet and finaled. We look forward to returning next year with even better results. It was a great experience for our swimmers.”

    LAC’s swimmers qualified for sectionals at the Bill Nixon Memorial Long Course A Invitational at the end of June.

    LAC was the host of the meet, which was held in Keller. LAC is one of the fastest growing teams in the country and the largest in North Texas with close to 600 swimmers. LAC has locations in Keller, The Colony, Flower Mound and Denton.

    Kierstin Thornhill made it to the championship finals in the 100 breaststroke, placing seventh with a time of 1:15.95. Kierstin was also in the 200 breast finals, placing fifth with a time of 2:41.01. Connor Adams – another seasoned veteran – had a best time of 1:00.92 in the 100 fly and placed 17th in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.60.

    Mirissa Mullins also posted best times in the 200 backstroke (2:28.78) and the 800 freestyle. She placed 39th with a sectional cut time of 9:30.26. Laney Gorman also reached a personal best in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:33.39 and reached her sectional cut in the 800 freestyle with a time of 9:30.13 – which netted her a 37th placing overall.

    Jordan Kimmey finished with a 5:13.75 in the 400 individual medley for a 38th spot. Kimmey also finished 28th in the 200 fly with a time of 2:25.99.

    Alex Sellers had several top times, including in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:10.55. She also finished the 100 fly in 1:08.99. Hayley Schneider had personal bests in the 200 IM (2:33.09), 100 fly (1:06.24) and the 200 fly (2:33.08).

    Danielle Pawlichuk got a personal best in the 100 fly with a time of 1:08.71 while Shelbi Ragsdale reached a personal best in the 200 IM with a time of 2:37.46. Mackenzie Thornton finished the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:34.04.

    Leah Weber finished with a time of 1:21.38 in the 100 breaststroke while Nick Mankus swam in three events and reached best times in all three (100 fly, 400 IM and 200 IM). Mankus improved his 400 IM time by eight seconds and the 100 fly by one second. Kelsey Fugere also did well in the 50 freestyle, 100 free and 200 free.