USA Swimming National Championships: Hayley McGregory Breaks Through With 100 Back Victory – SwimmingWorld.TV Interview Included
LIVE Universal Sports Webcast of Meet
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 8. THE past few years, any meet with Trials in it proved to be unlucky for Longhorn's Hayley McGregory. The four-time third-place finisher in the past two U.S. Olympic Trials, McGregory broke through with a swift time for the women's 100 back triumph.
McGregory clocked a time of 1:00.07, and was out under world-record pace with a 28.64 first 50. While not on pace for her top effort of 59.11, breaking through to a spot in the World Championships proved to be all that mattered to McGregory. McGregory has also had a nomadic year, spending time training in both Florida and Maryland before returning to Longhorn recently.
"The time doesn't matter as long as you touch the wall where you need to," McGregory said. "I've had a long year, and I'm just happy to be swimming. I like to race, and I like to race the best in the world."
The wunderkind of the meet thus far has proven to be North Baltimore's Elizabeth Pelton, 15. Pelton, who finished second in the 200 IM last night, placed second again with a 1:00.66 tonight. The time smashed her previous top time of 1:01.11.
"It sunk in last night when I couldn't fall asleep for an hour," Pelton said. "I was just really excited to swim at the meet, and this is just the cherry on top."
2008 Olympians Margaret Hoelzer (1:00.78) and Elizabeth Beisel (1:00.91) wound up taking third and fourth.
SwimmingWorld.TV Interviews