Day 5: Phillips 66 National Championships
Men’s 200m breaststroke:
Kurt Grote, the 1996 Olympian in this event, blistered the field with a Barrowman-esque time of 2:12.35. Take into account that Grote is a full-time medical student at Stanford, it makes his feat even more remarkable.
Tom Wilkens, the 1997 NCAA Champion in the 400 yard IM, finished 2nd with a 2:15.40 the earn his first trip to the World Championships.
Women’s 400m IM:
Once again, Kristine Quance and Maddy Crippen proved that they were the class of the field in this event, the IM.
Just like the 400m IM earlier in the meet, they went 1-2. Quance’s time of 2:13.55 broke the World Championship Trials record.
Men’s 100m butterfly:
Using the popular submarine start, Neil Walker blasted his way to victory in the 100m butterfly. Walker’s time of 53.06 makes him the 3rd fastest American ever in this event. Only Pablo Morales and Matt Biondi have gone faster…not bad company. Walker has now qualified for the World Championships in his 5th event (3rd individual).
John Hargis, the 1996 Olympic Trials winner in the 100m butterfly, finished 2nd. Hargis will be going to his first World Championships.