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ORLANDO – Andrew Seliskar popped two major lifetime bests in earning his fourth and fifth titles at the NCSA junior nationals, putting the Nation’s Capital 18-year-old in the top 20 in the world in each event.
Seliskar held back on his short course yards prelim qualifying this morning to have the energy to put up something special tonight. He started with a 2:12.82 in the 200 breast, lowering his personal best by three seconds and ranking 11th in the world, three tenths away from a top-ten ranking. Only Cody Miller (2:10.28) and Josh Prenot (2:12.17) have been faster among Americans so far this year. Seliskar had a race with teammate Carsten Vissering through 100 meters, with Seliskar at 1:04.50 to Vissering’s 1:04.94. Vissering fell off the pace after Seliskar popped a 33.90 in the third 50 and finished second with a lifetime best 2:14.46. Ethan Browne of Excel Aquatics finished third with a 2:15.87.
Less than 20 minutes later, Seliskar was the class of the field in the 100 fly with a 52.81, breaking 53 seconds for the first time. He’s now 16th in the world with the swim and has the fourth-fastest swim among Americans so far in 2014. Frederick Schubert of NOVA of Virginia and Zach Harting of Huntsville Swim Association finished well behind in a tie for second with a 55.28.
Tabhan Afrik of Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics clipped his lifetime best in winning the men’s 100 free with a 50.83, inching closer to the Olympic Trials qualifying time of 50.69. Knox Auerbach of Dynamo Swim Club also dipped under 51 with a runner-up time of 50.92, while James Jones took third with a 51.17.
John Shebat of Nation’s Capital Swim Club took the 100 back final out hard with a 26.57 and held off challenges from Michael Taylor and Ethan Young to win with a 55.20. The top three all broke 56 seconds for the first time in their careers, as Taylor of Dynamo (55.72) and Young of Carpet Capital (55.97) dipped under the barrier and qualified for the Olympic Trials.
Lucie Nordmann won her second title of the meet, taking the 100 backstroke with a quick 1:01.76 to earn a new lifetime best. She led from start to finish, holding off Megan Moroney of Saint Andrew’s Swimming, who was second with a 1:02.81, and third-place finisher Carrie Boone of Nation’s Capital and her 1:02.86.
Paige Madden of City of Mobile Swimming and Katie Drabot of Ozaukee Aquatics were neck-and-neck in the final 50 meters of the 400 free final, with Madden taking the win with a 4:14.56 to Drabot’s 4:14.67. Kendal Brent of Swim Florida was also in the hunt, finishing third with a 4:15.19.
Riley Scott of Marin Pirates and Margaret Aroesty of Long Island Aquatic Club were in a tight race in the women’s 200 breast final, swimming stroke for stroke through the first 150 meters. But Scott pulled away in the final stretch to win with a 2:32.52. Olivia Anderson of Aquajets put together a 1:19.18 in the final 100 to get past Aroesty and take second with a 2:33.40 to Aroesty’s 2:33.42. Madeleine Vonderhaar of Northern Kentucky Clippers had led for 150 meters but faded to fourth with a 2:33.61.
Lauren Case of Chattahoochee Gold had the makings of a sub-1:00 swim in the 100 butterfly final, but fell short with a 1:00.07 after a 28.03 opening 50 meters. Cassidy Bayer of Nation’s Capital, the 200 fly winner, also nearly got under with a 1:00.17 for second, while Caroline McTaggart of All Star Aquatics, the 50 fly winner, was third with a 1:00.56.
2015 NCSA Junior Nationals, Day 4 Finals – Results
