U.S. Nationals: Carson Foster Wins 200 IM; Shaine Casas Second From Lane 1
With his spot on the worlds team already certified, Carson Foster put a final flourish on the U.S. National Championships on Saturday in Indianapolis.
After winning the 200 IM, Foster was able to celebrate with the entire team as it was announced.
“It is really excited. The coolest thing I experienced last year was taking 50 different people from all parts of the country in all different events with different backgrounds, and by the time you leave training camp, you are one team,” Foster said. “It is a really cool culture we have with Team USA and that is what makes me want to be there.”
Trenton Julian led after the butterfly leg. Foster took over the lead after the backstroke at the halfway point of the race. He maintained that lead through the breaststroke and sprinted for home and won in 1:59.19.
“I think I forced the fly a little bit. Backstroke was the only split I was really happy with. Breaststroke needs to get better. A lot of things to nit pick,” Foster said.
Someone else was sprinting for home, too.
Shaine Casas looked strong from Lane 1 and was able to snag the second spot with some outside heat as he out-touched Julian in the final meters in a stellar finish.
Casas had finished third twice already this week and needed this finish to make the worlds team.
This time, he got his hand on the wall second and finished in 1:57.47 after a 28.78 final split.
Julian finished third in 1:57.94, just ahead of Destin Lasco (1:57.94) and Kieran Smith (1:57.99). Will Licon was seventh in 1:59.37. Arsenio Bustos was disqualified.
For Foster, it was another win in an IM event after claiming gold in the 400 IM earlier at U.S. Nationals. He has continued to prove he is one of the world’s best and could make a splash in Tokyo, where he will be looked on as a team leader.
“I am (ready for that),” Foster said. “I see the guys on the team as leaders. Trying to see what they have done to lead the team, and I want to be there for everyone. I tried my best to be that at Texas and to be considered a leader on Team USA feels special.”
