Ashlea Gierke captures Women’s 200m breast-stroke gold medal - USA Swimming Sectionals, Mount Hood
Ashlea Gierke of Unattached-IE clinched the title of the Women’s 200m breast-stroke meet on the second day of the 2011 USA Swimming Sectionals, being held in Mount Hood, Oregon.
The 20-year-old Gierke impressed the arena with her gold winning effort of 2 minutes and 31.30 seconds in the final round. Her time was 11.18 seconds slower than the world mark of 2 minutes and 20.12 seconds, set by Annamay Pierse of Canada during 2009.
She was also 11.08 seconds slower than the American record of 2 minutes and 20.22 seconds, made by Rebecca Soni of USA in 2009. In addition, her time was almost three seconds slower than the meet record time of 2 minutes and 28.89 seconds, made by Megan Jendrick
in 2010.
She was followed by Christine Wixted of Colorado Stars-C, who reached the podium for the silver medal in 2 minutes and 35.06 seconds. With their astonishing efforts, Gierke and Wixted qualified for the Olympic Trials, as they posted a time well under the
Olympic Trials qualification bar of 2 minutes and 35.99 seconds.
Wixted stayed only 1.35 seconds faster than her closest competitor, Kyrene Clarke of Colorado Springs, who earned the bronze medal of the 200m event in a time of 2 minutes and 36.41 seconds.
Valerie Pagett was the fourth fastest swimmer of the race, as she ended her swim in a time of 2 minutes and 36.75 seconds. She was followed by Mackenzi Luick of Lake Oswego Swim, who concluded her swim in the fifth best place, with a timing of 2 minutes
and 38.13 seconds.
Jordan M Ehly of Las Cruces Aquatic was the sixth fastest finisher, as she submitted an effort of 2 minutes and 38.25 seconds. They were followed by Madel Eyolfson of Boise YMCA Swim and Miranda Reetz of DU Hilltoppers-C, who completed their swims in the
seventh and eighth fastest places, with timings of 2:38.37 and 2:38.54 minutes, respectively.
Furthermore, the winners were awarded medals for their competitive swims after the completion of all scheduled swimming events.
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