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Men’s 100 Fly (Maxime Rooney)
The first two days of Nationals produced a pair of superb performances from Maxime Rooney, as he popped a personal-best performance of 47.61 in the 100 freestyle and 1:46.78 in the 200 freestyle. Neither of those efforts, though, delivered a national title. That scenario changed on Friday night when Rooney came out on top in the 100 butterfly.
After becoming the fourth-fastest American in the history of the 100 fly during prelims, Rooney got to the wall ahead of the field in the finals with a time of 51.09. Although the swim was off the 50.68 he managed in the morning, good for second in the world for 2019, it was enough to hold off Jack Conger (51.70) and Jack Saunderson (51.78). Rooney is clearly benefiting from his transfer from the University of Florida to the University of Texas and will head into the Olympic year as a Tokyo hopeful in several events.
The winner of the 100 freestyle on the opening night of action, Ryan Held was the fourth-place finisher in the 100 fly in 52.15, placing just ahead of the 52.19 of John Shebat. Danny Kovac was next in 52.22.
Giles Smith came in seventh with a time of 52.25, and in eighth was Luca Urlando with a time of 52.31.
2019 World Rankings:
- 49.50, Caeleb Dressel, USA
- 50.68, Maxime Rooney, USA
- 50.83, Andrei Minakov, RUS
- 50.85, Mehdy Metella, FRA
- 50.95, Kristof Milak, HUN
- 51.16, Chad Le Clos, RSA
- 51.21, Jack Conger, USA
- 51.34, Andrew Seliskar, USA
- 51.34, Szebasztian Szabo, HUN
- 51.35, Marius Kusch, GER
