American Long Course Championships: Longhorn Aquatics, SwimAtlanta Kick Off Meet With Two Wins Apiece

AUSTIN, Texas, August 2. THE American Long Course Championships kicked off tonight at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin. Longhorn Aquatics and SwimAtlanta each picked up two wins in the first eight events.

The meet got off to an exciting start with an extremely tight race in the first event, the women's 200m free. Four swimmers battled it out down the stretch, eventually finishing within .13 of each other. Aggie Swim Club's Maureen McLaine got to the wall first in 2:02.88, with Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team's Patricia Forrester only .02 back in 2:02.90. Athens Bulldog's Madeline Locus came in third at 2:02.93, with Nitro's Quinn Carrozza in fourth (2:03.01). The men's race did not turn out nearly as close, as Longhorn Aquatics' Dax Hill, an NCAA All-American in the 200-yard free, crushed the field in 1:49.50. Bolles School's Colin Hamilton finished more than two seconds behind in 1:51.62, while Aggie Swim Club's Nikita Denisyako wound up third (1:52.43).

The women's 100m breast featured a half-second victory by SwimAtlanta's Julianna Kurke, as she hit the wall in 1:11.55. Kansas City Blazers' Bryce Hinde came in second with a 1:12.06. Kurke's teammate, Olivia Boggs, earned third place honors with a time of 1:12.59. Ben Anderson kept Longhorn's streak going in the men's events with a winning time of 1:04.55 in the men's 100m breast. Nashville Aquatic Club's Alex Goss touched in 1:05.79 for second, while SwimAtlanta's Ricky Lehner rounded out the top three in 1:06.03.

Athens Bulldog's Madeline Locus earned her second trip to the podium in as many tries with a victory in the women's 100m fly. She finished in 1:01.66 to narrowly defeat SwimAtlanta's Aja Malone (1:01.80). Georgia Coastal's Patricia Forrester, who earlier took second in the 200m free, placed third in 1:02.61. The men's race featured a tight race between rising talents Maclin Davis out of Nashville Aquatic Club and Patrick Murphy, swimming unattached. The two swimmers separated themselves from the rest of the heat before Davis pulled ahead to win in 54.10. Murphy posted a 54.51 for second. Chatham Dobbs, also out of Nashville Aquatic Club, rounded out the top three in 56.17.

In the final event of the evening, Lakeside's Leah Stevens outlasted the competition in the women's 400m IM, bringing home the title in 4:51.59. Georgia Coastal's Caty Hulsey dropped eight seconds off her prelim time to take second in 4:53.96. Longhorn's Kelsey Leneave placed third in 4:56.48. SwimAtlanta swept the top two spots in the men's race, with Cody Bekemeyer (4:37.21) and Tom Peribonio (4:37.24) nearly tying for the win. Kansas City Blazers' Louis Behnen came in third with a time of 4:39.03.

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