U.S. Nationals: Nic Fink Continues to Rule Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Nic Fink quietly continued to dominate American breaststroke races.
After winning the 50 breaststroke earlier at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis, Fink used an early move to get some distance from the field in the 100 breaststroke, engineering another victory. He kept that distance for a somewhat comfortable win, earning another spot on the world championship team.
“It feels pretty good. That was the goal coming in. I wanted to get the job done in the 50 and 100 and see what happened in the 200. The kids were ready to step up in the 200, and I am not upset about that,” Fink said. “I just tried to stay on top of the water as much as I could the first 50, hoping the energy and the crowd would push me through, and it did. I saw at the turn that I was ahead, and I just had to bring it home. Best time by 0.01.”
Speaking of bringing it home, his wife Melanie Margalis presented him his gold medal.
“It was a special moment for both of us,” Fink said.
Fink brining it home will take on a new meaning when the couple moves to Dallas. Margalis got a job there and Fink will train with SMU. Fink works for a utility engineering company.
“We are excited about the move to Dallas,” Nic Fink said. “My job is really flexible and that has been great. A lot of stuff they are letting me be more remote for, so I don’t have to fly back to work from Japan. It has been a good balance.”
Fink won the race in 58.36, to hold off Josh Matheny (59.20).
“To go from zero to two events, I am super excited to double up and represent the U.S. in two events,” Matheny said. “To achieve that is a dream come true.”
Noah Nichols was third in 59.40, followed by Cody Miller (59.85), Mitch Mason (59.87), Charlie Swanson (59.89), Matt Fallon (1:00.18) and Jake Foster (1:00.31).
Michael Andrew, the American record-holder at 58.14 did not make the final at U.S. Nationals.
Tommy Cope of Club Wolverine won the B final in 1:00.46.
