Editorial content for the USA Swimming Summer Nationals coverage is sponsored by TritonWear. Visit TritonWear.com for more information on our sponsor. For full Swimming World coverage, check event coverage page.
Ashley Twichell of Trojan Swim Club had a commanding swim in the mile to kick off the last night of finals in Irvine, dropping more than 10 seconds from her previous best to win the event in 15:55.68. That is a 13 second drop from her best time of 16:08.70 from the TYR Pro Series in Atlanta earlier this year and moves the 29-year-old from tenth to third overall in the world rankings for 2018.
In second was 400 IM champion Ally McHugh out of Penn State, swimming another gutsy race to run down top seed Erica Sullivan over the last 50 and grab second in 16:02.56. That is a 14 second personal best for McHugh, who had had a monster meet this week in Irvine. Sullivan was third in 16:02.88.
In fourth was Haley Anderson in 16:04.81, which was a six second drop and her third lifetime best in a distance event at this meet. The top 4 had a good separation from the rest of the pack, with Hannah Moore finishing in fifth (16:12.24) followed by Megan Byrnes (16:18.55) and 15-year-old Mariah Denigan in seventh, who was the fastest out of the morning heats with a 16:19.29. Chase Travis (16:21.66) rounded out the top 8.
Congratulations
Ashley Twichell does not represent Trojan swim club. Great write up otherwise.