YMCA Long Course Nationals: James Wells, Upper Main Line Set YMCA Marks to Close Meet

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, July 30. THE last night of action at the YMCA Long Course Nationals featured two more Y records taking a tumble.

Bath Area's James Wells shot down a YMCA record in the men's 50 back with a swift time of 25.90 in the men's 50 back. That effort blasted the previous record of 26.29 set by Jayme Cramer of M.E. Lyons back in 2001. Wells' swim also wasn't too terribly far off the 25th world ranked time of 25.61 clocked by Spain's Alvaro Vega in April. Countryside's Steven Zimmerman touched second in 26.58, while Middle Tyger's Jay Warner captured third in 27.45.

Upper Main Line's Nic Graesser, Louis Seefeld, Matthew Salig and Thomas Mershon downed the YMCA record in the men's 400 medley relay to close the show. The foursome clocked a 3:55.98 to beat Upper Main Line's 2009 record-setting performance of 3:56.31.

Countryside's Emily Slabe, 14, touched out West Monmouth's Emily O'Neill, 30.13 to 30.15, for the women's 50 back title. Greensburg's Anna Gibas placed third in 30.20. South Family's Ty Perkins won the men's 800 free in 8:35.62, while Hickory's Graham Williams took second in 8:37.94. Wilton's Spencer Scarth finished third in 8:41.18.

Anne Arundel's Kendall Farnham topped the women's 200 fly in 2:21.97, while Greater Flint's Courtney Weaver, 14, touched second in 2:22.14. Ridgewood's Sarah D'Antoni placed third in 2:22.92. Salig won the men's 200 fly in 2:05.48. West North Carolina's Nathan Hart took second in 2:07.81, just beating Pottstown's Billy Draves (2:07.90).

Wilton's Emily Weir snatched the women's 100 breast in 1:12.09, while Montclair's Stephanie Ferrell took second in 1:13.84. Rappahannock's Kayla Brumbaum, 15, wound up third in 1:14.57. Somerset Valley's Sean Johnson hit the wall in 1:05.78 to win the men's 100 breast. Glens Falls' Andrew Guinther earned second in 1:06.04, while Middle Tyger's Jared Kauffman placed third in 1:06.29.

Relay action also took center stage with four titles being won. Stevens Point's Becca Weiland, Racheal Weiland, Janna Check and Natalie Neuwirth captured the women's 200 free relay in 1:49.57. Upper Main Line's Matthew Salig, Thomas Mershon, Jimmy Ryan and Nathan Reed claimed the men's 200 free relay in 1:37.13. Wilton's Shelby Fortin, Weir, Jazzi Cooper and Katy Luchansky grabbed the women's 400 medley relay in 4:24.14.

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