Third Day of U.S. Open Concludes, Meet to be Replaced by the Short Course Championship in USA Swimming’s Plans

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, December 2. The third night of the U.S. Open, held in West Lafayette, Ind., in the Boilermaker Aquatics Center on the campus of Purdue University witnessed what might be the last fling of any U.S. Open. While USA Swimming plans to resurrect its Short Course Championships to take the place of the U.S. Open in its plans, one can never say never when it comes to the U.S. Open making a return.

In fact, many thought the time of the Short Course Championship was well past, but it will make a comeback next year after an 18-year hiatus. So, instead of saying good bye to the U.S. Open, one might want to just say "See you later."

Now, on to the final night of the 2006 U.S. Open.

Women's 800 Freestyle
Katie Hoff continued her stellar meet with a triumph in the 800 free. She closed out the event in 8:33.35 to edge second-place finisher, Hayley Peirsol's 8:33.67. Hoff trailed Peirsol until making her move at the 550-meter mark. After that, Hoff took a .02 second lead at the 600-meter mark and kept Peirsol in her hip pocket the rest of the way. Flavia Rigamonti snared bronze in 8:36.38.

Women's 100 Freestyle
Mary Descenza came from behind at the halfway mark to win the 100 free by .2 seconds with a 56.19 clocking. Petra Klosova, the 50-meter leader at 27.33, finished second in 56.39, while Teresa Wilson claimed bronze in 56.96.

Men's 100 Freestyle
Michael Phelps went sub-50 in what amounts to a tune-up meet for him to win in 49.16. This year's breakout sensation Cullen Jones garnered silver in 50.15, while Simon Burnett pocketed bronze in 50.21. Phelps went out fast and never looked back after clocking a leading 50-meter time of 24.11.

Women's 200 Breaststroke
Caitlin Leverenz held off a pair of veterans in the 200 breast to win in 2:29.53 by more than half a second. After trailing second-place finisher Tara Kirk (2:30.04) at the first 50, 34.07-34.47, Leverenz turned on the steam to win going away. Megan Jendrick wound up with bronze in 2:30.84.

Men's 200 Breaststroke
Eric Shanteau put together a strong back half to win the 200 breast in 2:13.46. Scott Usher finished second in 2:14.53, even though he led at the 100-meter mark with a 1:05.15 split. Andrew Bree cruised in for third place in 2:16.79.

Women's 200 Butterfly
Kaitlin Sandeno turned on the jets in the final 50 meters to steal victory away from Kim Vandenberg. Sandeno touched in 2:10.10, while Vandenberg garnered silver in 2:10.45 after leading by .27 seconds at the 150-meter mark. Mary Descenza earned her second medal of the day with a bronze-winning 2:11.07.

Men's 200 Butterfly
Michael Phelps grabbed another gold medal with a 1:55.77 as he squashed the competition in the 200 fly. Juan Veloz finished second in 1:59.39 holding off third-place finisher Davis Tarwater (1:59.99).

Men's 1500 Freestyle
Robert Margalis took out the distance freestyle fast and held off a hard-charging Chip Peterson to win the 1500 free. Margalis finished the event in 15:21.17, while Peterson hit the wall in 15:25.92. Ukrainian Sergiy Fesenko, a student coach at Indiana University, grabbed bronze in 15:29.12.

Women's 400 Freestyle Relay
Auburn's foursome of Ava Ohlgren, Julie Stupp, Melissa Marik and Emily Kukors took the title in 3:50.02 when Kukors threw down a 56.17 anchor leg to come from behind to touch first. North Baltimore's team of Katie Hoff, Felicia Lee, Kristen Groome and Laura Harris finished second in 3:51.68. The Bolles School quartet of Anna Vanderpool-Wallace, Katie Casey, Aubrey Peacock and Caitlin Geary rounded out the top three in 3:53.37.

Men's 400 Freestyle Relay
The Scotland team of Andrew Hunter, Craig Houston, Scott Houston and Robbie Renwick turned out the lights on the U.S. Open for what might be the last time with a 3:26.40 to win going away.

Tucson Ford's contingent of Masayuki Kishida, Tyler Deberry, Juan Veloz and Simon Barnett took silver in 3:27.19, while the Auburn's squad of Tyler McGill, Scott Goodrich, Pascal Wollach and Bryan Lundquist claimed bronze in 3:30.63.

Results: 2006 U S Open – (11-30-2006 – 12-02-2006)

2006 US Swimming Long Course Championships

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