400 IM Sweep is Highlight at NCSA Jr. International Championships

BEAVERTON, Ore, December 13. AFTER facing some excellent competition from Germany and France for most of the first day of finals at the Jr. International Championships, the NCSA Jr. National All-Stars had their first breakthrough with a 1-2-3 sweep in the women’s 400 meter (sc) IM.

Jessica Rodriquez, (13, Mission Aurora, CO) swam a 4:49.05, to lead the NCSA—US Team to its first gold medal performance. Jessica’s time is presently the 24th best time in the world for 18 and under women. The silver medal went to Jenni Stratton, (18, David Douglas, OR) 4:50.32 and the bronze to Kristen Groome, (13, City of Mobile, AL) 4:51.90.

Other US medalists on the first night of the meet included: Katherine Raatz, (14, AFOX, AZ) 3nd in the 200 butterfly, 2:16.83; Mark Dylla, (15, Aces, CO), 2nd in the 200 fly butterfly, 2:03.14; Megan Wheeler, (16, Yakima, WA), 2nd in the 100 backstroke, 1:03.21; Ashley McLaughlin, (17, Wolverine, MI) 2nd in the 50 breaststroke, 33.05; and Jessica Embick, (16, Portland, OR) 3rd in the 50 breaststroke, 33.40. Taking the silver in the 800 freestyle relay was the NCSA team of Whitney Spence, (15, Pacific, CA) Katherine Raatz, Jessica Rodriquez, and Jenni Stratton, in a time of 8:16.05. In the men’s 800 freestyle relay, the NCSA All-Star Team of Zackery Brown, (17, Harris, TX), Micah Belew, (17, Blue Tide, TX). Jace Hooper, (16, Desert Storm, NV), and Logan Madson (17—Bend, OR) finished second with a time of 7:42.64.

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