Whelehan swept the 100/200 free, back, and fly, winning 6 events, while Burks added breaststroke PBs and Chao recorded 9 victories. Stock photo via Jack Spitser/Spitser Photography
ESSZ Age Group Sectional Championships
- March 19-22, 2026
- Triangle Aquatic Center Indoor Competition Pool, Cary, NC
- SCY (25 yards)
- “2026 NC TAC ESSZ Age Group Sectionals” on Meet Mobile
Continuing her impressive 2026 campaign, 14-year-old Finola Whelehan was untouchable in Cary at the Age Group Sectional Championships, finishing the meet with an unblemished record of 6 wins in all six of her individual events, and another three wins as a member of TAC Titans’ relays.
Though she did not set any best times at this meet, Whelehan still managed a dominant showing, winning the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly races.
She was 49.80/1:45.07 in the freestyles, both sitting less than a second off of her lifetime bests. She clocked 54.69/1:58.64 in the backstroke; both performances were just over a second slower than her fastest-ever times, while her 100 fly (52.34) was only a quarter of a second slower than her career best. Whelehan’s 200 fly was the biggest add of the meet for her, still winning by nearly nine full seconds in 1:57.04, two and a half seconds slower than her best time…