U.S. World Champs Trials, Day 3 Finals: Lezak and Brunelli Are Quickest in One-Lap Sprint

By John Lohn
Photos by Peter Bick

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 3. A flip-flop from the morning preliminaries was the only thing that changed at the top of the men's 50 freestyle. In Montreal, the U.S. will be represented by the firm of Lezak & Brunelli.

After qualfying second, Jason Lezak prevailed in the championship final by touching the wall in 22.29. Nicholas Brunelli, meanwhile, clocked in at 22.33, quick enough to hold off Ben Wildman-Tobriner (22.39), Stanford's sprint ace.

Lezak, of course, is a familiar face on the international scene, having competed in the last two Olympiads. As for Brunelli, he has gradually enhanced his stock in recent months and could find enough improvement by July to challenge for a medal at the World Championships.

Wildman-Tobriner, who helped Stanford to second in the team race at the NCAA Championships, touched ahead of Garrett Weber-Gale (22.44), the top sprinter at the University of Texas. Fifth place went to Cullen Jones (22.60) and sixth was claimed by Neil Walker (22.72).

Event 16 Men 50 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 21.64 6/16/2000 Alexander Popov, RUS
American: A 21.76 8/15/2000 Gary Hall Jr., Phoenix
U.S. Open: O 21.76 8/15/2000 Gary Hall Jr., Phoenix
Oly Trials08: T 23.49
Meet Cut: 23.79
Name Age Team Prelims Finals FINA
==================================================================
=== A – Final ===

1 Lezak, Jason 29 Irvine Novaquati 22.31 22.29T 946
r:+0.67
2 Brunelli, Nicho 23 Sun Devil Aquati 22.28 22.33T 941
r:+0.65
3 Wildman-Tobrine 20 Stanford Univ. 22.51 22.39T 933
r:+0.73
4 Weber-Gale, Gar 19 U. of Texas 22.66 22.44T 927
r:+0.69
5 Jones, Cullen 21 NC State Aquatic 22.94 22.60T 907
r:+0.64
6 Walker, Neil 28 Longhorn Aquatic 22.80 22.72T 893
r:+0.76
7 Patrick, Tim 21 Wildcat Aquatics 22.93 22.80T 884
r:+0.73
8 Bogart, Robert 25 DU Hilltoppers 23.07 23.15T 844
r:+0.64

=== B – Final ===

9 Hollinger, Came 20 Lancaster Aquati 23.12 23.05T 855
r:+0.61
10 Ransom, Kyle 20 Stanford Univ. 23.39 23.17T 842
r:+0.67
11 Goodrich, Scott 18 Auburn Aquatics 23.42 23.18T 841
r:+0.63
12 Lane, Evan 22 California Aquat 23.43 23.31T 827
r:+0.67
13 Rogers, Dale 22 Wisconsin Aquati 23.40 23.34T 824
r:+0.68
14 Sussex, Sean 20 U of S. Californ 23.60 23.40T 818
r:+0.69
15 Marshall, Matth 22 Wisconsin Aquati 23.47 23.46T 811
r:+0.69
16 Whittington, Jo 18 Bakersfield Swim 23.52 23.76 781
r:+0.80

=== C – Final ===

17 Adrian, Nathan 16 Tacoma Swim Club 23.77 23.43T 814
r:+0.66
18 #Crowder, Richa 19 Arizona State 23.90 23.50 807
r:+0.63
19 Payne, Michael 23 Seymour Swimming 23.73 23.51 806
r:+0.68
19 Doyle, Joseph 19 Ohio State Unive 23.69 23.51 806
r:+0.74
21 Smutz, Joseph 20 Unattached 23.78 23.53 804
r:+0.75
22 Ranstead, Peter 22 NC State Aquatic 23.81 23.68 789
r:+0.63
23 Crowe, Matthew 20 Stanford Univ. 23.93 23.72 785
r:+0.65
24 Washington, Dar 21 U of Pittsburgh 23.76 23.78 779
r:+0.73

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