Michael Phelps and Kaitlin Sandeno Earn Pair of Wins at Eric Namesnik Grand Prix

By Erin Greene

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 18. ACTION at the Eric Namesnik Grand Prix continued today with the finals session contested this morning. Veterans Michael Phelps and Kaitlin Sandeno twice emerged victorious as the first cycle of the non-traditional meet format is complete.

Women's 400 freestyle
Similar to yesterday evening's placing in the 400-meter freestyle, Club Wolverine again captured the Top 2 places, but this time veteran Kaitlin Sandeno emerged with the win. Using the hometown pool to her advantage, she dropped a three-second decision to the competition to finish in 4:17.77. Teammate Emily Brunemann hit the wall next in 4:20.44. Fourteen-year old Elizabeth Beisel improved her preliminary standing of sixth to round out the podium positions in 4:20.96.

Claire Maust of Athens Bulldog Swim Club posted the fourth-fastest time of 4:21.02, while UCLA Swimming's Kim Vandenberg took fifth in 4:21.40. Caroline Burckle, swimming unattached for Florida, moved from seventh into sixth with 4:21.87.

Monica Drake (4:22.77) and Emily Hanson (4:24.50) also competed in the championship final, finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.

Men's 400 freestyle
While the qualifying finals heat was on Phelps' fins last night, he made sure to remind them who the world champion was by leading the race with a full body-length advantage the whole way. Shaving three seconds off his preliminary time, he touched in first at 3:55.56. Robert Margalis jumped up one place when he hit the wall in 3:56.56 to beat out the hometown favorite, Peter Vanderkaay, whose time was 3:57.70.

Daniel Madwed, 18, of North Baltimore Aquatic Club – Phelps' former team – just missed the medal range when he finished fourth in 3:58.11. Wolverine swimmers occupied the next three places, with Matt Patton leading the pack. Patton recorded a time of 4:00.94 for fifth, followed by Charlie Houchin with 4:01.64. Davis Tarwater took home seventh in 4:02.47. Matthew Owen of Athens Bulldog Swim Club completed the Top 8 with 4:02.48.

Women's 200 IM
While youngsters clenched six of the eight available spots in the championship final heat of the 200 IM, it was veteran Katilin Sandeno who came up with her second win of the day. Swimming shortly after her victory in the 400 freestyle, she lowered her preliminary time to 2:17.72 to emerge with the gold.

Teammate Margaret Kelly was not far behind, finishing as the runner-up in 2:17.86. North Baltimore's Felicia Lee, 14, rounded out the Top 3 in 2:18.82. Jemma Lowe of Nofio Cymru filled the fourth-place position in 2:20.35. All four women posted Olympic Trials qualifying times.

The favorite heading into the race, Elizabeth Beisel, fell to fifth place in 2:22.63. Ava Ohlgren finished in sixth with 2:22.97. Karie Haglund and Paite Schultz completed the heat with the respective times of 2:23.52 and 2:24.18.

Men's 200 IM
Not surprisingly, the reigning world champion in the 200 IM added another gold to his collection. Improving upon his preliminary time by four seconds, Phelps turned in a time of 2:02.46. Keith Beavers of Waterloo Swim Club remained in his second-place position with a time of 2:05.30. Robert Margalis made it onto the podium for the second time when he earned the bronze in 2:06.58.

Ryan Lochte, who normally rivals Phelps in the event, swam to fourth place in 2:07.67. Tyler Harris touched in next at 2:08.41. Pat Mellors posted the sixth-fastest time of 2:09.64.

Just 15 years old, Kyle Whitaker (2:10.01) occupied seventh place, while Bogdan Knezevic (2:10.94) finished eighth.

Women's 50 freestyle
Competing for Team Puerto Rico, Vanessa Garcia swam the only sub-26 second to capture the sprint title in 25.93. Kara Denby of Auburn earned the silver in 26.16. Katie Hoff, who chose to forgo her more traditional 200 IM in favor of the sprint, completed the medal positions with 26.18.

Margaret Kelly swam the fourth-fastest time of 26.47 in front of a home crowd, while Emily Wong finished fifth with 26.56. Kim Vandenberg swam in her second freestyle event of the day, placing sixth in 26.96.

The final two places went to Megan Romano (27.00) and Kim Jasmer (27.16).

Men's 50 freesytle
Derrick Roe completed a clean sweep of the men's individual events for Club Wolverine when he garnered the victory with a leading time of 23.52. Bennett Clark reported the second fastest time of 23.74, while Bryan Lundquist was responsible for third with 23.79.

Kyle Smerdon (23.99) filled fourth place, followed by Joseph Smutz (24.19). Joe Bartoch (24.34) filled the sixth-place position. Meanwhile, Peter Verhoef (24.50) and Rhodi Herbert (24.58) placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

Kaitlin Sandeno wins 200 IM at 2007 Namesnik G.P.

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