On the first full day of the 2019 YMCA National Championships one YMCA National record fell, at the hands of Upper Main Line’s Brendan Burns. Max McHugh’s 200 breaststroke record, which had seemed untouchable, was put on notice in both prelims and finals. In the women’s meet, there was a tie for first in two events.
Women
The women from Blue Ash won the opening event of the night as Emma Shuppert (24.89), Kathy Zhao (29.81), Megan Glass (23.88), and Emma Fortman (22.93) touched in 1:41.51 to take the 200 medley relay. Des Moines’ Ellie Clark, Mary Martin, Berit Quass and Jasmine Rumley were second in 1:41.80. Bath Area’s Ella Martin, Haily Harper, Olivia Harper, and Margie McLeod were third in 1:41.88.
After a quick relay split, Glass was back to win the 100 fly. She touched the wall in 53.24 to tie for the victory with Orlando’s Olivia Taylor. Spartanburg’s Annika McEnroe (53.99) finished third.
Bradford’s Paige Hetrick ran away with the 200 backstroke, touching in 1:53.09. That time was over three seconds ahead of Countryside’s Maggie Clough in second (1:56.46) and Red Bank’s Grace Kayal (1:56.68) in third.
Charity Pittard of Boise won the 200 breaststroke in 2:11.54. Spartanburg took second and third with Annika McEnroe (2:12.68) and Hannah Ownbey (2:14.29).
The night ended for the women with a second tie for a National Title. Sarasota’s Emma Weyant (50.00), Savannah Barr (49.88), Christina Cianciolo (51.08), and Addie Sauickie (51.42) touched in 3:22.38, at the same time as Triangle Area’s Lauren Medlin (50.33), Hailey Hicks (50.40), Mathea Myhrvold (51.20), and a quick closing Kayla Miller (50.45). Spartanburg took third in 3:23.17.
Men
Brendan Burns downed his own National Record in the 100 fly. The senior from Upper Main Line touched in 46.10, under his own National record of 46.61 set last year. State College’s Matthew Brownst was second (47.87) and Tri-County’s Tim Stollings (48.11) took third.
Burns’ 20.89 fly split powered him and his teammates (Jack Christian, Ben Doyle, and Matthew Hopkins) to the National title in the 200 medley relay in 1:30.63, just a tenth ahead of Somerset Hills’ Jack Alexy, Joe Castagno, Lukas Scheidl, and Roo Fenton in 1:30.77. Scheidl, Trent Russano, Fenton, and Alexy ended the night with a win in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:00.88. Burns, an Indiana commit, posted a 43.60 leading off Upper Main Line’s third place relay (3:02.92). Triangle Area (3:02.60) was second.
Somerset Valley’s Matt Fallon was the only man under two minutes in the 200 breaststroke, and he was well under the mark. Fallon touched in 1:54.27. That time was less than a second shy of Max McHugh‘s National record. McHugh finished second in the event at NCAAs last week. Red Bank’s Johnny Nutt was second (2:01.49) and BR Ryall’s James Doromal was third (2:02.15).
Ridley Area’s Sam Wesley went out hard in the 200 backstroke and just held on. He touched in 1:45.04. Red Bank’s Paul Retterer used an exceptionally strong second 100 to take second in 1:45.84. Lynchburg’s John Michael Go placed third (1:46.66).
Results available here.
When to go Yota!!!
Saw it in person…pretty damn impressive
Matt ‘Brownstead’….
Watched him in the medley relay and then 100 fly, his underwater technique is amazing