U.S. Open: Scott Usher Sets Meet Record in 200 Breast

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, July 29. SCOTT Usher opened the first night of swimming at the U.S. Open held in Minneapolis with a meet record in the men's 200 breast.

Usher, swimming for Boilermaker, clocked a time of 2:10.67 to lead a trio of swimmers under Mike Barrowman's 1991 standard of 2:12.87 set for Curl-Burke. Usher led from the get-go with a 1:02.82 at the 100. John Criste of Mission Viejo took second in 2:11.46, while Sean Mahoney of Terrapins finished third in 2:12.57.

"I really wanted to come in here and go a best time," Usher told USA Swimming. "Trials in '04 was the last time I went 2:10.9. I wanted to go under that for once. There isn't as much pressure here as there was at Trials. I feel better here. I'm not sure if that is because of nerves or because it is later in my taper. I think it is probably because of the nerves."

Mary DeScenza barely missed a second meet record with a time of 2:07.26, swimming for Athens Bulldog, in the women's 200 fly. Susie O'Neill's time of 2:07.20 set in 1999 withstood the attempt. Lyndsay De Paul of Aquazot touched second in 2:09.66, while Ava Ohlgren of Auburn placed third in 2:11.32.

"I was a little bummed out after Trials," Descenza told USA Swimming. "But I decided I wanted to step it up and try to redeem myself. There is a little frustration (in swimming a time that would have made the Olympic Team), but I am just happy to keep on improving. You can't go back in time no matter how much you may want to. You have to learn from your mistakes. I learned from mine."

Another meet record withstood an intense run as sectional superstar Bobby Bollier of the Kansas City Blazers missed the men's 200 fly standard by the slimmest of margins. Tom Malchow's 2002 record of 1:55.66 set while swimming for Club Wolverine still stood after Bollier touched in 1:55.67 for the victory. Hidemasa Sano of Trojan Swim Club wound up second in 1:56.41 with Mark Dylla of Athens Bulldog nabbing third in 1:57.66.

Laura Sogar, 17, of Bluefish touched out Keri Hehn of Trojan Swim Club, 2:27.38 to 2:27.60, in the women's 200 breast. Katy Freeman of Gaucho Aquatics rounded out the top three in 2:28.74.

The distance freestyle events also took place this evening. Kelsey Ditto of Athens Bulldog claimed the women's 800 free in 8:35.19. Whitney Sprague of North Carolina Aquatics took second in 8:39.15, while Emily Brunemann of Club Wolverine finished third in 8:40.12.

Chad La Tourette of Mission Viejo, meanwhile, cleared 15 minutes again in the 1500 free. He turned in a time of 14:59.49, just off his personal best of 14:57.50 and the meet record of 14:58.55 set by Glen Housman in 1999. Michael Klueh of Longhorn touched second in 15:14.25, while JP Arnold of Brandon Sports took third in 15:14.27.

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