INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 8. AFTER an exciting first day of swimming at the USA Swimming National Championships held at the IU Natatorium, swimmers returned to the water for the second day of preliminary action.
Women's 100 back
Hayley McGregory, now back with Longhorn Aquatics after training stints in Florida and Maryland, cleared 1:00 with a 59.93 to lead the way in qualifying. Bluefish's Elizabeth Beisel snatched second place with a 1:00.69, while Curl-Burke's Mei Christensen placed third in 1:00.97.
North Baltimore's Elizabeth Pelton (1:01.11), Auburn's Melissa Marik (1:01.12), Athens Bulldog Mary DeScenza (1:01.25), KING's Margaret Hoelzer (1:01.26) and Germantown's Katie Riefenstahl (1:01.31) comprised the rest of the top eight finishers.
Men's 200 free
Michael Phelps of North Baltimore entered the building, as was easily apparent when the crowd welcomed him with a rousing applause at the start. His preliminary swim of 1:46.31 not only gave him the top seed, but was the first swim for him this meet.
Former Club Wolverine teammate Peter Vanderkaay qualified second in 1:46.42, while Longhorn's David Walters touched third in 1:46.46. Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte cruised in for the fourth seed with a 1:46.51, while Longhorn's Ricky Berens and Tennessee's Davis Tarwater tied for fifth with matching 1:46.59s. Club Wolverine's Daniel Madwed placed seventh in 1:47.31, while Santa Barbara's Daniel Beal qualified eighth in 1:47.81.
Men's 100 back
Longhorn's Aaron Peirsol looks to be a man on a mission to reclaim his world record in the event after Aschwin Wildeboer Faber took it away earlier this week with a 52.38 as a relay leadoff. Peirsol blazed through prelims with a time of 53.28, and looked to be cruising throughout the swim.
Nick Thoman claimed second-seed honors with a time of 53.51, while Tucson Ford's Matt Grevers earned third in 53.76. Indiana's Ben Hesen (53.81) and Trojan's Peter Marshall (53.85) qualified fourth and fifth completing the sub-54 crowd. California's David Russell (54.16), Missoula's David Cromwell (54.30) and New York's Randall Bal (54.72) grabbed the rest of the top eight spots.
Women's 200 free
California's Dana Vollmer should be the early favorite heading into this evening's finals. She clocked a 1:56.88 to pace qualifying, just a second off the American and U.S. Open records of 1:55.78 and 1:55.88 held by Katie Hoff.
Allison Schmitt of Club Wolverine is playing with house money after winning the 400 free last night. She qualified second in 1:58.63. KING's Ariana Kukors touched third in 1:59.11, while ASK's Dagny Knutson wound up fourth in 1:59.20.
Tucson Ford's Lacey Nymeyer (1:59.39), Hoff (1:59.40), Terrapins' Kate Dwelley (1:59.45) and Tucson Ford's Alyssa Anderson (1:59.47) made up the rest of the top eight.
More information continues to come out regarding Hoff's status. Hoff, who has been sick since coming off altitude training prior to the Santa Clara Invitational, just began shaking off her illness about a week and a half before this meet.
Men's 200 fly
After enjoying a rare day off yesterday, Michael Phelps continued his quest for a double this evening. After qualifying first in the 200 free, Phelps returned with an easy 1:55.36 for the world-record holder. Phelps' top time in the event stands at an astonishing 1:52.03.
Athens Bulldog Mark Dylla qualified second in 1:56.64, while Club Wolverine's Daniel Madwed (1:57.55) and Tyler Clary (1:57.61) placed third and fourth. Tennessee's Davis Tarwater touched fifth in 1:58.40, while Shreveport's Robert Looney (1:58.99), North Baltimore's Todd Patrick (1:59.29) and Cincinnati Marlin David Mosko (1:59.96) comprised an all sub-2:00 finale.
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