Aquajets, Nation’s Capital Continued Relay Dominance On Day 3 Of NCSA Junior Nationals

Aquajets relay team at 2015 NCSA nationals

Photo Courtesy: Swimming World

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ORLANDO – Nation’s Capital was on track to sweep the 15-18 national age group relay records at the NCSA junior nationals, but couldn’t quite reach the tough 400 free relay record this afternoon. After starting the meet with a national mark in the 200 free relay and then taking down the 200 medley relay record about 25 minutes later on Tuesday, NCAP went after the 2:56.15 posted in 2013 by SwimMAC Carolina.

Andrew Seliskar, John Shebat, Grant Goddard and James Jones posted a 2:56.98 to get within a hair of the record. It’s still one of the fastest times ever put together by four high school swimmers, with the 2:54.43 from Bolles in 2012 remaining the benchmark.

Comparative splits:
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The ladies from the Aquajets continued to dominate the relays on the women’s side, and notched their third relay victory with a 3:18.91 in the 400 free relay. Rachel Wittmer (50.54), Carly Quast (49.67), Kaia Grobe (50.22) and Zoe Avestruz (48.48) led from start to finish to win by two seconds in the timed final event this afternoon over the 3:21.27 by Ozaukee Aquatics.

Seliskar will return to tonight’s long course finals as the top seed in two events. Already the owner of the 400 IM 17-18 national age group record in short course yards with a 3:37.52, Seliksar cruised through prelims and posted a 3:43.44 for the win. Seliskar will be looking to eclipse his long course lifetime best of 4:16.05 from last summer’s junior Pan Pacific championships, and see how close he can get to Michael Phelps’ national age group record of 4:09.09.

Seliskar was back in the pool for the 50 butterfly, and blazed to a 20.69 as the fastest seed. The time drew gasps from the crowd, and Seliskar put on a clinic in the event, kicking to 15 meters on the start and turn and breathing only on the turn.

Carsten Vissering of Nation’s Capital put together a strong swim in the 50 breaststroke to lead qualifying with a 25.04 as the top 13 all broke 26 seconds. Vissering won the 100 breast last night with a scorching 1:01.00 to get into the top eight in the world rankings.

In the men’s 200 free, Knox Auerbach of Dynamo Swim Clubled five swimmers under 1:38 with a top time of 1:37.00, just off his lifetime best of 1:36.82. Grant House (1:37.47), Justin Ress (1:37.64), Ryan Baker (1:37.64) and Thomas Cope (1:37.72) all will be in a close battle in tonight’s final.

Katie Drabot, Stanzi Moseley and Megan Moroney set up what could be a close race in tonight’s 200 freestyle with times in the 1:45 range to lead the field by a full second. Drabot of Ozaukee Aquatics took the lead time with a 1:45.70, with Moseley of Roadrunner Aquatics (the 100 free winner) right behind with a 1:45.81. Moroney, representing Saint Andrew’s, was third with a 1:45.86.

Drabot will be swimming in the 400 IM championship final as well, posting the third-fastest time with a 4:13.75. Emily Barksdale was first with a 4:12.86, a lifetime best by six seconds. Maggie Aroesty of Long Island Aquatics, last night’s runner-up in the 100 breast, qualified second in the 400 IM with a 4:13.59.

Ingrid Wall of New Trier Swim Club nearly broke 28 seconds in the 50 breast heats with a 28.03, which makes her the top seed for tonight’s finals. Alexis Wenger of Grosse Pointe Gators, who broke her 100 breast national age group record yesterday, qualified second with a 28.28. In the 50 butterfly, Alexandra Preiss of Aquajets topped qualifying with a 24.46, with the top eight qualifiers all posting times within four tenths of each other to set up an exciting final.

2015 NCSA Junior Nationals, Day 3 Prelims – Results

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