INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 1. THE second day of the United States Nationals got under way Wednesday morning with preliminaries of the 400 individual medley, 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke. The evening program will also include the 400 freestyle relay. Here's an event-by-event look at how the prelim session shook out.
Women's 400 Individual Medley
Caitlin Leverenz, the gold medalist at the Pan American Games in the 200 breast, led qualifying in the distance medley by winning the last of 11 heats in 4:43.78. Leverenz was coming off of a second-place showing on the opening night of the competition in the 200 breast. She was followed in qualifying by Julia Smit, who check in at 4:44.74.
Kathleen Hersey, the winner of the 200 butterfly on Tuesday night, was third-quickest in the morning with a mark of 4:44.80. Hersey won the 400 I.M. at the Pan American Games and was followed into tonight's final by Elizabeth Beisel (4:44.87) and Ariana Kukors (4:45.38). Beisel and Kukors were members of the U.S. squad that competed at the World Championships in Melbourne earlier this year. Also reaching the championship final were Kaitlin O'Brien (4:46.10), Hannah Miley (4:46.82) and Leah Gingrich (4:47.01).
Click here to view event results PDF file.
Men's 400 Individual Medley
Despite the fact that Michael Phelps opted to pass on this event, there will be plenty of firepower in tonight's championship final, headlined by Ryan Lochte and Erik Vendt. The men occupied by the top-two positions during the prelims, with Lochte leading the way in 4:17.21. Lochte won the silver medal in the 400 I.M. at the World Champs. As for Vendt, the two-time defending Olympic silver medalist, he touched in 4:19.85.
Clark Burckle (4:21.22) and Tyler Clary (4:21.40) advanced in the No. 3 and No. 4 slots and Eric Shanteau, the silver medalist in the 200 breast from Tuesday, was fifth in 4:23.09. Rounding out the field for the evening session were Brennan Morris (4:23.20), Andrew Callahan (4:23.29) and Dustin McLarty (4:23.42).
Click here to view event results PDF file.
Women's 100 Freestyle
The former American-record holder in the event, Amanda Weir topped qualifying in the two-lap sprint by winning the final heat in an impressive mark of 54.46. Weir was the top seed, thanks to her effort of 53.58 from last year's National Championships. She was followed in her heat by Dana Vollmer, who also cracked the 55-second barrier with a time of 54.91.
Lacey Nymeyer, along with Vollmer a member of the world-record holding 800 free relay, was third in 55.35 and Rachel Komisarz checked in fourth at 55.48. The ageless wonder, Dara Torres, was fifth quickest after winning her heat in 55.51. Now 40, Torres is gunning to make her fifth Olympic squad, joining her nods from 1984, 1988, 1992 and 2000. The field for the final was completed by Christine Magnuson (55.86), Samantha Woodward (56.09) and Katie Riefenstahl (56.14).
Click here to view event results PDF file.
Men's 100 Freestyle
A member of South Africa's gold-medal winning 400 freestyle relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Ryk Neethling led qualifying in the 100 free as the only man to dip under 49 seconds. Neethling won the 13th of 14 heats in 48.98 and will be in Lane Four during a star-studded final. The second position went to Peter Vanderkaay. Better known for his 200 and 400 prowess, Vanderkaay went 49.20.
Another member of that aforementioned South African relay, Roland Schoeman qualified in the third position in 49.22 and Garrett Weber-Gale followed in fourth in 49.23. Also advancing to the championship heat were David Walters (49.30), Nick Brunelli (49.33), Neil Walker (49.40) and Ben Wildman-Tobriner (49.46). Cullen Jones, barring a scratch, just missed the final, qualifying ninth in 49.59.
Click here to view event results PDF file.
Women's 200 Backstroke
Mixing her schedule up this week, Katie Hoff turned in a strong performance during qualifying of the 200 backstroke, grabbing the top seed for the championship final with a time of 2:11.38. One night after clocking a personal-best time en route to the silver medal in the 800 freestyle, Hoff added intrigue to this event. Hoff has talked about expanding her Olympic program and the 200 backstroke could fit.
Posting the second-fastest time was Kristen Heiss, who accomplished the feat swimming in the eighth of the 13 heats. Heiss lopped more than seven seconds off her entry time and touched in 2:11.59, just ahead of the 2:11.97 of World Champs participant, Elizabeth Beisel. The fourth-fastest time was recorded by Katie Riefenstahl (2:12.00). Rounding out the final field were Mary DeScenza (2:12.69), Teresa Crippen (2:13.73), Mary Beck (2:13.87) and Ashley Jones (2:14.21).
Click here to view event results PDF file.
Men's 200 Backstroke
He's the third-fastest man in history in the event, but the 200 backstroke only works its way onto Michael Phelps' schedule on occasion. This meet, it fit his agenda. In second place through 150 meters, Phelps pulled away over the last lap and grabbed the No. 1 qualifying spot with an effort of 1:56.86. Phelps owns a personal best of 1:55.30.
David Cromwell, who has enjoyed a strong summer, qualified in the second position behind his prelim time of 1:58.05. Patrick Schirk, a former YMCA national champ, enters the final in third with a time of 1:58.19 and fourth in the prelims went to Chris DeJong in 1:58.63. Ryan Lochte, the reigning world champ and world-record holder, qualified seventh in 2:00.30, behind David Russell (1:59.06) and Ian Clark (1:59.76). The eighth spot went to Cory Chitwood in 2:00.47.
Click here to view event results PDF file.
