Photo by Griffin Scott
Editorial coverage for U.S. Senior Nationals proudly sponsored by Master Spas!
IRVINE, California, August 8.
NBAC’s Matt McLean held close to teammate Conor Dwyer through the first 100 meters before McLean turned on the jets down the stretch to race his way to a national title with a time of 1:46.93 in the finale. That’s just off his 14th-ranked season best of 1:46.90 set during prelims, but he’ll take it as he’s now locked down another national team as the Pan Pacific Championship 200 free representative.
Dwyer grabbed second in the finale with a time of 1:47.35, which is slower than his 19th-ranked 1:47.18 from prelims. Those two, however, should push each other in Australia as Team USA heads to Pan Pacs.
Also headed to Australia as part of the 800 freestyle relay is Reed Malone (1:47.41) and Wisconsin’s Michael Weiss (1:47.87). That’s a huge swim for Malone, who entered today with a personal best in the 1:50 range, but earned his spot on the national squad with a pair of 1:47s. Weiss is a World University Games gold medalist and is now headed to yet another national team berth.
Longhorn’s Clay Youngquist (1:48.08), Club Wolverine’s Michael Klueh (1:48.30), Club Wolverine’s Michael Wynalda (1:48.66) and Stanford’s Drew Cosgarea (1:48.73) also swam in the A final.
NBAC’s Frank Dyer clipped Club Wolverine’s Connor Jaeger for the B final win, 1:48.38 to 1:48.41. That’s a best for Dyer, down from his 1:48.64 previous record, while Jaeger had been in the 1:47 range in his career. Metroplex’s John Lewis, who had lead through 150 meters, wound up third in 1:48.72 to edge his lifetime best of 1:48.95.
NOVA of Virginia’s Townley Haas, the king of junior nationals with four titles last week, topped the C final tonight in 1:48.75. That matched his lifetime best set last week. Indiana’s Blake Pieroni took second in the bonus heat with a 1:49.26, while NCAP’s Andrew Seliskar finished third in 1:50.22.
A final
B final
C final