Anna Moesch, Star of Y Nationals, Closes Out Competition With Record 100 Freestyle
When the Y Nationals started earlier this week, Greater Somerset’s Anna Moesch was expected to be the headliner of the competition. In addition to being a University of Virginia recruit, Moesch had previously starred in national-level competitions. Still, it was quite the finale for the sprint star, particularly what she pulled off on Saturday night.
Racing the 100-yard freestyle, Moesch clocked a time of 47.11 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center to slice .65 off the record she established at last year’s meet. Moesch was out in 22.81 and came home in 24.30 for her record performance, which supplied a margin of more than two seconds over runnerup Katie Lawrence (49.71). The win gave Moesch a sweep of the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, and her time in the 100 free would have placed fifth at the recent NCAA Championships.
Greater Somerset’s other standout, Emily Thompson, added another victory to her collection. Bound for Stanford University, Thompson scared the Y record in the 200 butterfly when she touched the wall in 1:54.63. That time was just shy of the 2015 record of Courtney Harnish, who clocked a 1:54.37. Fanwood-Scotch Plains’ (FSPY) Billie Sherratt was second to Thompson in 1:58.70. Thompson previously won the 100 fly, 200 individual medley and 400 IM.
Moesch and Thompson capped the meet by leading Greater Somerset, which captured the women’s team title, to a win in the 400 freestyle relay. After Colleen Bull led off in 50.77, Erica Maltsev split 50.34. Moesch followed with a leg of 47.41 and Thompson punctuated the first-place finish with an anchor of 49.44. The relay was timed in 3:17.96.
Indiana’s Preston Kessler earned a narrow victory over Greater Somerset’s Garrett Gould in the 100 freestyle, 43.52 to 43.55. Kessler trailed Gould at the midway point, but rallied over the back half of the race. In the men’s 200 butterfly, John Rusnock overcame a one-plus second deficit over the last 50 yards to get the win in 1:46.44.
Schroeder YMCA, which earned the men’s team crown, prevailed in the 400 freestyle relay. Schroeder was timed in 2:58.61, thanks to Jack Sullivan (44.51), Sam Lorenz (44.18), Brody LePine (45.13) and Ethan Schutten (44.79). Ridley Area was second in 2:58.98.
In the 1650 freestyle, wins were claimed by York’s McKenna Potteiger (16:56.16) and Lynchburg’s J.C. Gordon (15:30.12). Victories in the 100 breaststroke went to York’s Molly Yacoviello (1:01.99) and Triangle Area’s John Taylor (53.28).
Looking great. Now get her to Charlottesville for Olympic trials training with the rest of the UVA squad.