Phelps, Komisarz, Clements, Sandeno Lead the Way in Qualifying on Day 3 of US Nationals
by Phillip Whitten
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, August 7. ANOTHER day, different events, same results.
Michael Phelps and Kaitlin Sandeno, both winners last night, qualified first in their events this morning on the third day of prelims at the ConocoPhillips US National Championships in College Park, Maryland.
Phelps cruised to a 1:49.46 time in the men's 200 free, a quarter of a second ahead of Chad Carvin. Scott Goldblatt was third in 1:50.43. It took 1:50.98 to make A finals, 1:52.61 to make B finals.
Kaitlin Sandeno, winner of the 200 fly last night, turned in the best time of the morning with her 4:45.34 in the 400 IM. Only one other swimmer, Sandeno's former USC teammate Michala Kwasny, now swimming for Nova, swam under 4:50 (4:49.98)
Qualifying was very tight with cut-offs of 4:53.68 and 4:55.51 needed to make A and B finals, respectively.
Kevin Clements turned in a fine 4:21.31 to lead the men's 400 IM qualifying. Canada's Brian Johns, short course WR-holder in this event, clocked 4:23.07 for second. Cut-offs were 4:27.79 and 4:29.84.
The fastest qualifier in the women's 200 free was veteran Rcahel Komisarz, 27, at 2:01.78, 15-hundredths ahead of former UT star, Tanica Jamison. Diana Munz made it into the big final as did 800 free winner, Kalyn Keller, who squeaked into the 8th spot by .01 in 2:03.02. It took 2:03.55 to make B final, with Brooke Bennett qualifying 12th in 2:03.17.