U.S. Nationals: Zoie Hartman and Shaine Casas Pace Prelims of 200 Individual Medley
A bunched field will challenge for the title in the women’s 200-meter individual medley during the final night of the United States National Championships. Four women registered prelims times in the 2:13 range, led by Zoie Hartman of the Athens Bulldogs, whose 2:13.32 performance was good for the top seed.
Justina Kozan followed Hartman with a morning swim of 2:13.59 and was just ahead of veteran Leah Smith, who was the runnerup earlier in the week in the 400 individual medley. Smith came through in 2:13.65 and based on her form throughout the week, she’ll be the favorite in the final. Also getting under 2:14 was Beata Nelson, the former University of Wisconsin standout. Nelson won the last prelims heat, going 2:13.91.
Already the national champion in the 400 freestyle and the second-place finisher in the 200 freestyle, Erin Gemmell advanced to the final in the No. 6 position.
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On the men’s side, top-seeded Shaine Casas put down an impressive morning performance, as his 1:57.50 outing was easily the fastest swim of the session and one of only two athletes to break the two-minute mark. Casas was followed by Grant House, who delivered a strong swim of 1:59.17. Taking the third spot was Kevin Vargas, who earlier in the week won the 400 individual medley. Vargas touched the wall in 2:00.10.
In the final, Casas has the potential to post a time that was fast enough to earn a place on the podium at last month’s World Championships. In Budapest, Japan’s Daiya Seto was the bronze medalist, behind a swim of 1:56.22. Casas contested only the 200 backstroke at Worlds, earning the bronze medal behind Ryan Murphy and Luke Greenbank.
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