American Short Course Championships: Olympians Earn Victories on First Night

By David Rieder

AUSTIN, Texas, March 3. THE American Short Course Championships began today at the Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center on the campus of the University of Texas. Four U.S. Olympians earned victories during the first evening of short course yards competition, which is also serving as a last-chance qualification meet for the men's NCAA Division I championships, to be held March 24-26 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Longhorn's Garrett Weber-Gale won the men's 500 free in 4:20.02. Weber-Gale, an Olympian in the 50 and 100 free, announced today on his blog that he made a bet with SwimAtlanta head coach Chris Davis as to his potential in a 500 free. Davis believed Weber-Gale could not swim under 4:20, and Weber-Gale accepted that as a challenge. In the end, he fell just two one-hundredths short of that mark. In the race, BCH Heatwave's Robert Hommel took second, posting a 4:22.33, while SwimAtlanta's Cody Reul checked in at 4:27.21 for third. Notably, Olympic gold medalist Dave Walters swam 4:24.60 in prelims before scratching the finale.

SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir dominated the women's 50 free. Weir, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, blazed to a 22.01, defeating teammate Taylor Schick, who took second in 22.78. Longhorn's Jackie Vavrek grabbed third in 22.87. Longhorn's Walters broke 20 seconds for the win in the men's 50 free, clocking 19.79. Teammate Matt Lowe took second in 20.16, and Texas' Madison Wenzler third in 20.32.

Amber McDermott cruised in the 500 free in 4:41.37, while SwimAtlanta's Sommers Creed and Rachael Dudley took 2-3 in respective times of 4:47.93 and 4:48.52. Kathleen Hersey took the win in the women's 200 IM, posting a speedy 1:55.11. Brea's Gretchen Jaques took second in 1:59.64, while Schick ended up third in 2:00.38. Texas' Conor Swanson clocked 1:46.22 for a victory in the men's 200 IM. Trinity Prep's Kyle Comier finished second in 1:47.74 and Heat's Austin Ringquis third in 1:49.71.

Miami Aquatics swept the two 200 free relays. Laine Morgan, Jessica Tandlich, Alexa Kalandiak, and Daniela Johnson won the women's race in 1:38.07, while their teammates Nick Aramburu, Eric Hicks, Inigo Hernandesasi, and Brandon Selts took the men's in 1:26.36. Ironically, BCH Heatwave pulled off the same feat in the 400 medley relays. Carlee Oswald, Mallory Harris, Megan Purdy, and Cori Molisee took the women's in 3:52.27. Teammates Drew Peterson, Hommel, Jacob Luna, and Gunner Braden earned the men's medley relay win in 3:26.73.

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