Simone Manuel, Townley Haas Claim 200 Freestyle Titles on Third Night of NCSA

ORLANDO, Florida, March 20. THE second night of finals at the NCSA Junior National Championships started with two incredibly talented racing field in the women’s and men’s 200 freestyle.

Women’s 200 freestyle:

Three individual event winners graced the women’s 200 freestyle A final: Dynamo’s Kylie Stewart (200 back), Nations Capital’s Janet Hu (200 butterfly) and top qualifier Simone Manuel of First Colony (100 freestyle). Hu and Manuel both claimed NAGs on the first night of finals in their individual event victory events.

Stanford-bound Manuel took over the race early, splitting a 24.09 at the first 50 and a 49.94 at the 100. At the 150, Manuel was well over a body length ahead of the field. She touched the wall at a 1:43.00 for the win, ahead of second-place Stewart (1:43.66) and Ozaukee Aquatics’ Katherine Drabot’s 1:45.52. Despite posting a best time by over a second, Manuel wishes she could have cracked the 1:43 mark.

“I think all swimmers hate seeing [the double o],” she told Swimming World on the awards stand.

Men’s 200 freestyle:

Towney Haas claimed his third win of the meet in the 200 freestyle, sparking talk of a freestyle sweep. Haas claimed the 1000 title on the first night, and the 500 last night. He still has the 100 freestyle and mile to go before he calls the meet completed.

Haas split a 22.0 at the first 50 and was a fast 46.05 to the feet at the 100. He was pursued by 200 backstroke champion Tristan Sanders, of the Palm Harbor YMCA through the 150 mark, but broke away at the finish for a winning 1:35.26 time. Sanders posted a 1:36.32 for second and Crimson’s Liam Eagen was a 1:36.79 for third.

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