Elizabeth Nelson, Luke Kaliszak Take 50 Backstroke Titles at NCSA Junior Nationals
ORLANDO, Florida, March 22. THE final night of the NCSA Junior National Championships started off with a bang in the women and men’s 50 backstroke.
Women’s 50 Backstroke:
Nation’s Capital’s Janet Hu was the top seed going into the finals thanks to a fast 24.79 prelim swim. But once in the water, it was apparent that Elizabeth Nelson was to take the final win, after pushing her underwaters dangerously close to the 15 meter mark off the start. Nelson’s 24.02 winning time marked her first individual win of the meet. She placed second to Hu in the 100 butterfly on the fourth night of finals. 200 backstroke winner Kylie Stewart took second in the sprint with a 24.41 and 200, 100 butterfly champion Hu dropped to third with a 24.46.
Men’s 50 Backstroke:
Nation’s Capital’s Andrew Seliskar was the top seed going into the finals after posting a 22.06 this morning. Even though Seliskar cut three tenths from his prelim time, it wasn’t enough to hold off 100 backstroke winner Luke Kaliszak. Kaliszak hit the wall first in the sprint with a 21.43, three tenths ahead of Seliskar’s 21.73 second-place time. Seliskar and Kaliszak were the only two finalists to break the 22 second mark, as third went to Justin Plaschka with a 22.18.