First Time’s the Charm at US National Championships

By M. Duncan Scott

PALO ALTO, Calif., August 4. EIGHT events. Eight new champions crowned at the 2004 ConocoPhillips US National Championships.

Remember these names: Tanica Jamison. Garrett Weber-Gale. Haley McGregory. Trent Staley. Kim Vandenberg. Gil Stovall. Lindsay Ertter. Julien Nicolardot .

Remember some because you may well be hearing them on future national or Olympic teams. Remember others because this is farewell.

The cycle of life comes to swimming. A post-Trials nationals always has a different, sometimes bittersweet flavor to it with the top guns out of the picture. It is an opportunity for a confidence breakthrough that will make it easier to compete with those top guns the next time around. For some, a win here may make the difference in whether to retire or keep plugging away for the an opportunity at the next international travel squad. Others want one last taper to savor.

100 Freestyle
Women
Jamison has been a stalwart for Texas ever since her arrival in Austin. Consistent big heat points in IM, butterfly, freestyle, relays. But never the top spot. Never until now. Jamison won at 55.96, .06 ahead of her Trials semifinal effort. She had both the fastest first 50 (27.16) and the fastest second 50 (28.80).

Kate Dwelley, Terrapins, only 15, was in the final of the 200 freestyle at the Trials and didn’t even swim the 100 distance there. Three weeks later she is the silver medalist at nationals in the shorter event. We said then she is a name to watch for in Bejing, and this placement does not change our minds.

1 Jamison, Tanica 22 Longhorn Aquatic 57.17 55.96 20
27.16 55.96 (28.80)
2 Dwelley, Kate 15 Terrapins-PC 57.29 56.63 17
27.48 56.63 (29.15)
3 Townsend, Danielle 20 Aggie Swim Club- 56.49 56.65 16
27.22 56.65 (29.43)
4 Denby, Kara 18 Conejo Simi-CA 56.69 56.75 15
27.40 56.75 (29.35)
5 Ripple Johnston, Shel 23 Elmwood Sharks-L 57.14 57.02 14
27.45 57.02 (29.57)
6 Hentschel, Susan 19 Wash. Twp. Wave- 57.23 57.17 13
27.45 57.17 (29.72)
7 Georoff, Andrea 21 Athens Bulldog-G 57.32 57.20 12
27.44 57.20 (29.76)
8 *Balmy, Coralie 17 France 57.44 57.33 11
28.41 57.33 (28.92)

Men
Garrett Weber-Gale is one of those names for the future. He was the only teenager to make the finals in the 100 freestyle at the Trials, one of only two finalists under age 25. He missed the Athens trip by only one place. Now he is the national champion.

Tucker, a 1996 and 2000 Olympian with a lifetime best of 48.95 from the 2000 Trials, fell just short of the 50 second barrier again, just as he had at Trials.

1 Weber-Gale, Garrett 18 Longhorn Aquatic 50.76 49.91 20
23.73 49.91 (26.18)
2 Tucker, Scott 29 Irvine Novaquatics 50.33 50.14 17
23.93 50.14 (26.21)
3 *Bodet, Sebastien 19 France 50.67 50.50 16
24.43 50.50 (26.07)
4 *Galavtine, Antoine 19 France 50.90 50.54 14.5
24.33 50.54 (26.21)
4 Verlatti, Ryan 17 Tacoma Swim Club 50.99 50.54 14.5
24.40 50.54 (26.14)
6 Silkaitis, Terrence 20 Minnesota-MN/WSO 51.25 50.79 13
24.93 50.79 (25.86)
7 Grant, Andrew 19 San Ramon-PC 51.44 51.21 12
25.08 51.21 (26.13)
8 Ransom, Kyle 19 Stanford Swimming 51.42 51.81 11
24.52 51.81 (27.29)

200 Breaststroke
Women
Lindsey Ertter of the Athens Bulldogs is another swimmer like Jamison. She’s been in more championship heats at big meets including the NCAAs, US Nationals and Grand Prix meets than you can shake a stick at but never on the top of the awards podium…until now. She trailed young Rebecca Soni by a small margin at the 100 and 150, but had the fastest last 50 of the field to claim the title.

1 Ertter, Lindsey 21 Athens Bulldog-G 2:31.95 2:30.64 20
34.46 1:12.63 (38.17)
1:51.63 (39.00) 2:30.64 (39.01)
2 Soni, Rebecca 17 Scarlet Aquatic- 2:32.26 2:31.58 17
34.69 1:12.50 (37.81)
1:51.53 (39.03) 2:31.58 (40.05)
3 Spann, Alexandra 17 Longhorn Aquatic 2:32.79 2:31.69 16
34.73 1:13.10 (38.37)
1:51.93 (38.83) 2:31.69 (39.76)
4 Botzum, Jessica 18 YMCA of the Tria 2:33.75 2:32.16 15
34.91 1:13.31 (38.40)
1:52.32 (39.01) 2:32.16 (39.84)
5 Hehn, Keri 23 Minnesota-MN 2:34.14 2:33.68 14
35.25 1:14.59 (39.34)
1:54.22 (39.63) 2:33.68 (39.46)
6 Bell, Katherine 19 Dynamo Swim Club 2:35.51 2:33.90 13
35.11 1:14.47 (39.36)
1:54.20 (39.73) 2:33.90 (39.70)
7 Pangilinan, Jaclyn 18 White Plains Ywc 2:35.46 2:34.16 12
35.06 1:14.40 (39.34)
1:54.20 (39.80) 2:34.16 (39.96)
8 Degolia, Hailey 17 Pleasanton Sea H 2:35.26 2:35.70 11
35.21 1:14.56 (39.35)
1:54.72 (40.16) 2:35.70 (40.98)

Men
France goes 1-2 in the 200 breaststroke led by a PR 2:14.52 from Julien Nicolardot, who had the fastest last 50 meters both morning and night and was followed to the wall 1.73 later by Christophe Richard.

It could be that we saw America’s future in this event in the bottom three place. Sean Mahoney, 15, Terrapins swam 2:16.63 at an age group meet after being 13th at Trials. Paul Kornfeld, 17, Blue Tide, this spring broke a longstanding 200 yd breaststroke national age group record by Olympian and world record-holder John Moffet. And don’t forget Scott Spann, 16, Longhorn, who’s clearly got the best genes in the crowd. With an American record-setting dad and national finalist sister, he will only get better.

1 *Nicolardot, Julien 23 France 2:16.69 2:14.52 20
30.75 1:05.32 (34.57)
1:39.89 (34.57) 2:14.52 (34.63)
2 *Richard, Christophe 21 France 2:18.20 2:16.25 17
31.07 1:06.26 (35.19)
1:41.17 (34.91) 2:16.25 (35.08)
3 Swander, Kevin 20 Indiana Swim Tea 2:18.05 2:16.32 16
30.96 1:06.12 (35.16)
1:40.51 (34.39) 2:16.32 (35.81)
4 Schurr, Christian 19 Longhorn Aquatic 2:19.10 2:16.74 15
31.05 1:05.34 (34.29)
1:40.28 (34.94) 2:16.74 (36.46)
5 Bassett, Ethan 23 Curl-Burke-PV 2:16.92 2:17.18 14
31.24 1:06.07 (34.83)
1:41.55 (35.48) 2:17.18 (35.63)
6 Mahoney, Sean 15 Terrapins-PC 2:18.17 2:17.33 13
31.52 1:06.21 (34.69)
1:41.81 (35.60) 2:17.33 (35.52)
7 Kornfeld, Paul 17 Blue Tide Aquati 2:17.97 2:17.71 12
31.66 1:07.61 (35.95)
1:42.94 (35.33) 2:17.71 (34.77)
8 Spann, Scott 16 Longhorn Aquatic 2:17.68 2:18.30 11
31.46 1:06.89 (35.43)
1:42.66 (35.77) 2:18.30 (35.64)

200 Backstroke
Women

Haley McGregory showed that her doublet of third place finishes at the Trials in backstroke events was not a fluke. She won in a solid 2:13.59, taking a lead of over a second on the first 50 meters and controlling the race from there.

1 McGregory, Hayley 18 Longhorn Aquatic 2:16.18 2:13.59 20
30.92 1:04.78 (33.86)
1:39.48 (34.70) 2:13.59 (34.11)
2 Chura, Haley 19 Southern Marlins 2:15.78 2:14.49 17
32.11 1:05.76 (33.65)
1:40.19 (34.43) 2:14.49 (34.30)
3 Axtell, Andrea 17 Longhorn Aquatic 2:14.99 2:14.69 16
32.03 1:06.34 (34.31)
1:41.04 (34.70) 2:14.69 (33.65)
4 Smit, Julia 16 Three Village-MR 2:15.33 2:15.70 15
32.88 1:06.75 (33.87)
1:41.74 (34.99) 2:15.70 (33.96)
5 Smith, Kelsy 17 Marlins of Ralei 2:18.84 2:16.82 14
33.62 1:07.80 (34.18)
1:42.49 (34.69) 2:16.82 (34.33)
6 Thompson, Kathryn 17 Roseburg Swim Te 2:18.13 2:17.66 13
33.51 1:07.96 (34.45)
1:42.87 (34.91) 2:17.66 (34.79)
7 #Crippen, Teresa 14 Germantown-MA 2:17.35 2:18.79 12
33.07 1:08.00 (34.93)
1:43.95 (35.95) 2:18.79 (34.84)
8 Viveros, Renee 17 Canyons Aquatic- 2:18.36 2:21.90 11
33.17 1:08.89 (35.72)
1:45.41 (36.52) 2:21.90 (36.49)

Men
“I actually retired at Trials and made a come-back in the last three weeks,” Staley said. “I was hoping this would be the result.” He won at 2:02.02.

So why the come-back?

“I realized I had a chance at winning,” he said. “I wish I had a more noble reason, but that’s it for now."
1 Staley, Trent 22 Trojan Swim Club 2:04.61 2:02.02 20
29.12 1:00.03 (30.91)
1:31.15 (31.12) 2:02.02 (30.87)
2 Russell, David 17 New England Barr 2:02.63 2:02.65 17
28.85 1:00.14 (31.29)
1:31.35 (31.21) 2:02.65 (31.30)
3 Vayo, Louis 18 Fast Swim Team-C 2:05.25 2:03.06 16
29.20 1:00.25 (31.05)
1:31.66 (31.41) 2:03.06 (31.40)
4 Scanlan, Matthew 17 AC Bakersfield-C 2:05.32 2:05.09 15
29.86 1:01.39 (31.53)
1:33.17 (31.78) 2:05.09 (31.92)
5 *Maire, Romain 19 France 2:06.06 2:06.55 14
29.32 1:00.87 (31.55)
1:33.46 (32.59) 2:06.55 (33.09)
6 Rehrmann, Stephen 21 De Anza Cupertin 2:06.61 2:06.73 13
29.33 1:01.03 (31.70)
1:34.05 (33.02) 2:06.73 (32.68)
7 Paul, Alister 21 Boilermaker Aqua 2:05.97 2:07.46 12
29.44 1:01.56 (32.12)
1:34.37 (32.81) 2:07.46 (33.09)
8 Hopkins, Michael 17 Delaware Swim Te 2:06.33 2:07.59 11
29.41 1:01.24 (31.83)
1:34.41 (33.17) 2:07.59 (33.18)

200 Butterfly
Women
Kim Vandenberg notched another fine swim for the victory, dropping another .16 seconds from her 5th place Trials swim. Courtney Eads had a breakout performance, dropping her personal best nearly two seconds to 2:11.73.

1 Vandenberg, Kimberly 20 Ucla Swimming-CA 2:13.23 2:11.08 20
29.82 1:03.05 (33.23)
1:36.99 (33.94) 2:11.08 (34.09)
2 Eads, Courtney 17 The Claremont Cl 2:13.64 2:11.73 17
29.67 1:03.18 (33.51)
1:37.56 (34.38) 2:11.73 (34.17)
3 Hastrup, Kristen 18 Clovis Swim Club 2:15.92 2:13.95 16
30.56 1:04.27 (33.71)
1:38.37 (34.10) 2:13.95 (35.58)
4 Sims, Amanda 15 Santa Rosa Neptu 2:15.46 2:16.20 15
30.83 1:05.53 (34.70)
1:40.27 (34.74) 2:16.20 (35.93)
5 Morris, Kailey 16 Big Cat Aquatics 2:16.45 2:16.76 14
30.74 1:05.12 (34.38)
1:41.10 (35.98) 2:16.76 (35.66)
6 Schuknecht, Alisa 21 Longhorn Aquatic 2:16.75 2:16.97 13
31.58 1:06.10 (34.52)
1:41.70 (35.60) 2:16.97 (35.27)
7 Bugden, Sarah 20 Indiana Swim Tea 2:15.65 2:17.31 12
30.53 1:04.82 (34.29)
1:41.08 (36.26) 2:17.31 (36.23)
8 Rys, Rachel 16 Santa Barbara-CA 2:16.56 2:17.62 11
30.66 1:05.07 (34.41)
1:40.95 (35.88) 2:17.62 (36.67)

Men
William Stoval1, 18, Memphis Tigers, did a personal best both in prelims and then in the semifinal of this event at Trials where he finished ninth. His future looks bright as the only teenager to make the final was some fellow named Phelps.

His real breakthrough, though, came after Trials at the SPEEDO Champions Series meet in Auburn, Alabama. He won the 200 butterfly in that meet at 1:59.24. He neared that time in prelims but was not able to repeat it in the final. He still was able to do enough for gold.

John Abercrombie, Longhorn, was 1:58.82 for fifth at the Trials but was unable to repeat that performance here.

1 Stovall, William 18 Memphis Tiger-SE 1:59.26 2:00.03 20
26.61 57.01 (30.40)
1:28.41 (31.40) 2:00.03 (31.62)
2 Abercrombie, John 22 Longhorn Aquatic 2:02.37 2:00.66 17
26.52 56.90 (30.38)
1:28.60 (31.70) 2:00.66 (32.06)
3 Klueh, Michael 17 Longhorn Aquatic 2:01.18 2:00.67 16
26.88 57.57 (30.69)
1:29.26 (31.69) 2:00.67 (31.41)
4 Kelley, Wade 20 Longhorn Aquatic 2:01.62 2:01.26 15
27.12 57.74 (30.62)
1:29.52 (31.78) 2:01.26 (31.74)
5 Valdivieso, Juan 23 Curl-Burke-PV 2:02.85 2:02.61 14
27.82 58.34 (30.52)
1:30.17 (31.83) 2:02.61 (32.44)
6 Cantwell, Christian 24 Fort Lauderdale- 2:02.99 2:03.25 13
27.09 58.25 (31.16)
1:30.57 (32.32) 2:03.25 (32.68)
7 Jones, John 20 Crimson Tide-SE/ 2:02.74 2:03.26 12
27.62 58.55 (30.93)
1:30.18 (31.63) 2:03.26 (33.08)
8 Stephens, Mark 20 Dynamo Swim Club 2:03.26 2:04.10 11
27.30 59.39 (32.09)
1:31.92 (32.53) 2:04.10 (32.18)

Garrett Weber-Gale - Head Shot

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