US Junior National Team Makes Waves Down Under

BRISBANE, Qld., Australia, January 4. AUSTRALIA'S experienced Olympians took all of the top spots in the open events on the first day of the 2004 Queensland Open and Age Championships in Brisbane, but a visiting US Junior National Team made its presence known.

The American juniors, ranging in age from 14 to 17, earned three silver medals and a bronze in six senior events.

The women's 400m free fell to Petria Thomas in 4:14.31, but 14 year-old Kate Ziegler was second in 4:16.07. Two other Americans, Blake Hayter, 15, and Kelsey Ditto, 14, swam well in prelims but did not contest the final. Hayter clocked 4:23.57 to place sixth in prelims, while Ditto's 4:23.83 was seventh.

Seventeen year-old Matt Lowe gave Aussie Regan Harrison all he could handle in the 100m breast before the Aussie prevailed 1:03.48 to 1:03.83. Billy Jamerson was tenth in prelims in 1:06.23.

Former WR-holder Geoff Huegill won the 50m fly in 23.95 but a pair of American 17 year-olds placed second and third. Mujahid El-Amin clocked 24.69 (24.50p) for the silver, while Dan Rohleder took bronze in 25.13.

In other events:
Men's 400m free: Mike Klueh, 16, was sixth in prelims in 3:59.80. John Koehler, 17, was eighth in prelims in 4:03.54, Gil Stovall , 17, was ninth in 4:03.58.

Women's 100m breast: Aussie Leisel Jones set a Queensland All-comers mark of 1:07.42, with Tarnee White second in 1:08.65. Katy Hall, 15, took fifth in 1:13.56 (1:13.17p) while 16 year-old Katy Houston was ninth (1:14.53).

Women's 50m fly: Petria Thomas breezed in 26.99 to take her second gold. Fourteen year-old Amanda Sims was fifth in 28.09 (28.06p).

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