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ATLANTA, Georgia, December 4. THE first night of finals action provided some quick swims at the USA Swimming Short Course Championships held in Atlanta, Ga.
Amanda Weir of SwimAtlanta notched several quick times in the women's 50 free as a leadoff and in the championship heat. Meanwhile, Matt Grevers of Tucson Ford joined Ben Wildman-Tobriner under 19 seconds in the men's 50 free.
Women's 200 freestyle relay
Amanda Weir of SwimAtlanta turned on the afterburners to post a time of 21.67 as the leadoff leg for her third 21-second time of the day. That led her team of Weir, Allyson Sweeney, Caroline Kenney and Jana Mangimelli to a third-place effort of 1:30.98.
Florida's foursome of Stephanie Napier, Gemma Spofforth, Shara Stafford and Sarah Bateman won the title in 1:29.61, while Auburn's team of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Melissa Marik, Ava Ohlgren and Caitlin Geary placed second in 1:30.12.
Men's 200 freestyle relay
Michigan's squad of Chris Brady, Charlie Houchin, Alon Mandel and Bobby Savulich claimed the sprint relay title in 1:19.13, just edging the 1:19.24 clocked by second-place Georgia Tech's Garrett Robberson, Mauricio Sousa, Sullivan Lynch and Nigel Plummer.
Auburn's quartet of Karl Krug, Gideon Louw, Kohlton Norys and Steve Scheren placed third in 1:19.31. Louw dropped a strong split of 19.36, the fastest of the finale.
Women's 500 freestyle
Mary DeScenza of Athens Bulldog demonstrated her veteran experience by smoking the field with a winning effort of 4:35.63.
Allison Schmitt, who attends the University of Georgia after competing at the 2008 Olympics, placed second in 4:39.55 with a superior back half. Auburn's Maggie Bird completed the podium with a time of 4:40.91.
Men's 500 freestyle
Michigan's Matt Patton topped the middle distance event with a swift time of 4:12.80, while teammate Tyler Clary claimed second in 4:14.66. Mark Randall of Alabama wound up third in 4:17.34.
Women's 200 IM
Dagny Knutson of Minot Swim Club became the fourth-fastest swimmer of all time in the event with a dominant time of 1:54.03 as she's proving she's a rising star in the U.S. women's swimming scene.
KING's Ariana Kukors pocketed second place in 1:57.17, while Auburn's Ava Ohlgren rounded out the top three in 1:57.23.
Men's 200 IM
After spending more time at fashion shows than in the water training after the 2008 Beijing Games, Ryan Lochte still threw down a time of 1:40.89 to win the sprint medley. That time came up less than a second short of his American record of 1:40.08.
Eric Shanteau of the Texas Longhorns, also coming off an Olympic run, took second with a time of 1:42.59, while Hidemasa Sano of Trojan finished third in 1:43.48.
Women's 50 freestyle
Lara Jackson's 21.37 American record set this morning at the Texas Invite was just too much of a target for SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir as Weir settled for the national title with a time of 21.82. Wisconsin's Jackie Vavrek placed second in 22.27, while Whitney Campbell of Louisville touched third in 22.42.
Men's 50 freestyle
Matt Grevers of Tucson Ford scared Ben Wildman-Tobriner's American record of 18.87 with a blistering time of 18.95 to grab the sprint crown. Grevers now stands as the second-fastest American in the event ever.
California's William Copeland blazed a time of 19.05, while Yale's Alex Righi placed third in 19.13. Notably, Ryan Lochte took seventh in 19.39.
Women's 400 medley relay
Florida's Gemma Spofforth, Lindsay Rogers, Julianne Lago and Shara Stafford won the race in 3:34.66, while KING's Leona Jennings, Ariana Kukors, Lindsey Marchand and Kim Jasmer placed second in 3:36.25. Auburn's Melissa Marik, Micah Lawrence, Ava Ohlgren and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace completed the top three in 3:39.27.
Men's 400 medley relay
On the strength of a monster leadoff backstroke leg of 45.59 from Matt Grevers, Tucson Ford's squad of Grevers, Bart Steninger, Jeff Dash and Adam Ritter won the medley relay going away with a 3:07.03.
Auburn's Kohlton Norys, Michael Silva, Jordan Anderson and Gideon Louw finished second in 3:12.30, while Florida's Rexford Tullius, Clark Burckle, Shaune Fraser and Raul Martinez touched third in 3:12.39.