U.S. National Junior Team Finishes Strong at Victorian Championships

MELBOURNE, Australia, January 7. THE U.S. National Junior Team added an explanation point to a stellar performance at the Victorian State Championships, capturing 10 medals on the final night of competition, including six gold, three silver and a bronze. During the course of the five-day meet, Team USA hauled in 39 medals: 15 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze.

The Americans were especially successful at the 50-meter races on Saturday, capturing three individual golds at that distance. Kristen Shickora (Tamaqua, Pa. / Atlantis Aquatic Club) swam to gold in the 50 backstroke (29.44), while teammate Karlee Bispo (Modesto, Calif. / Pirate Aquatics) placed first in the 50 freestyle (26.32). Dillon Connolly (Marietta, Ga. / Marietta Marlins) took home gold in the 50 breaststroke (29.34) to complete the true sweep of all three breaststroke races.

Leading a stacked American field in the men’s 200 butterfly, David Mosko (Cincinnati, Ohio / Cincinnati Marlins) edged teammate David Seiler (Auburn, Calif. / Sierra Marlins) for the gold. Mosko’s time of 2:00.95 was seven-tenths faster than Seiler, who was the silver medalist with a time of 2:01.68. Four other Americans rounded out the top 10.

Team USA also went 1-2 in the men’s 1500 free as Chad LaTourette (Mission Viejo, Calif. / Mission Viejo Nadadores) collected his second individual distance freestyle gold, posting a 15:39.19. Logan Storie (Corvallis, Ore. / Corvallis Aquatic Team) clocked in at 16:00.40 to secure the silver medal. The U.S. women won their second relay gold of the meet, adding another title in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Megan Romano, Samantha Woodward, Kirsten Smith and Karlee Bispo registered a 3:49.23 to take top honors. Romano also took silver in the 200 free with a stellar swim of 2:01.32.

Here’s how the rest of Team USA fared in the Top 10 in each event:

Women’s 50m Back FINAL:
Kristen Shickora (Tamaqua, Pa.), 29.44, Gold
Megan Romano (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 30.56, 7th

Men’s 100m Free FINAL:
Eugene Godsoe (Greensboro, N.C.), 52.29, 7th

Women’s 100m Fly FINAL:
Samantha Woodward (Edmond, Okla.), 1:01.29, Bronze
Kathleen Hersey (Atlanta, Ga.), 1:01.74, 4th
Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.), 1:03.10, 7th
Tanya Krisman (Wildomar, Calif.), 1:05.52, 10th

Women’s 50m Free FINAL:
Karlee Bispo (Modesto, Calif.), 26.32, Gold
Samantha Woodward (Edmond, Okla.), 26.47, 4th
Megan Romano (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 26.52, 5th
Kristen Shickora (Tamaqua, Pa.), 26.92, 8th

Men’s 50m Breast FINAL:
Dillon Connolly (Marietta, Ga.), 29.34, Gold
Troy Nissen (Sacramento, Calif.), 30.54, 8th
Clark Burckle (Louisville, Ky.), 30.73, 9th

Men’s 200m Back FINAL:
Josh Hafkin (Rockville, Md.), 2:05.50, 6th
Eugene Godsoe (Greensboro, N.C.), 2:13.06, 10th

Women’s 200m Breast FINAL:
Michelle McKeehan (Greenwood, Ind.), 2:33.84, 4th
Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.), 2:34.85, 5th
Stephanie Gabert (Newport Beach, Calif.), 2:37.45, 7th
Kirsten Smith (Cary, N.C.), 2:42.67, 10th

Men’s 200m Fly FINAL:
David Mosko (Cincinnati, Ohio), 2:00.95, Gold
David Seiler (Auburn, Calif.), 2:01.68, Silver
Mark Dylla (Littleton, Colo.), 2:02.37, 4th
Daniel McMahon (Atlanta, Ga.), 2:03.02, 5th
Phillip Hinrichsen (Darnestown, Md.), 2:03.49, 6th
Clark Burckle (Louisville, Ky.), 2:06.29, 10th

Women’s 200m Free FINAL:
Megan Romano (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 2:01.32, Silver
Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.), 2:05.08, 7th
Leah Gingrich (Enola, Pa.), 2:06.28, 9th

Women’s 400m Free Relay FINAL:
USA ‘A’ Gold 3:49.23
(Megan Romano, Samantha Woodward, Kirsten Smith and Karlee Bispo)
USA ‘B’ 6th 3:57.42
(Kristen Shickora, Michelle McKeehan, Kathleen Hersey, Monica Drake)

Men’s 1500m Free FINAL:
Chad LaTourette (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 15:36.19, Gold
Logan Storie (Corvallis, Ore.), 16:00.40, Silver

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