Kyle Whitaker Explodes on Breaststroke To Win 200 IM At USA Swimming Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

GREENSBORO – A star-studded championship final field featured two swimmers with ties to the University of Michigan, giving the Wolverines a 1-2 finish in the 200 individual medley at the USA Swimming short course nationals.

Kyle Whitaker, a multiple NCAA finalist in the 200 IM now swimming as a postgrad, led from start to finish and pulled away on breaststroke (29.01 split) to win by a body length with a 1:42.80. Dylan Bosch, now a junior at Michigan, was second in a strong 1:44.27. That’s still 1.5 seconds slower than the automatic qualifying time needed for the NCAA championships, but is the third-fastest among college swimmers so far this season.

Nolan Tesone of Louisville posted a 1:44.95 to lower his lifetime best by four tenths of a second and get in the top five among college swimmers this season. Rounding out the top eight in the championship final were Michigan’s Evan White (1:45.28), Louisville’s Josh Quallen (1:45.48), Princeton’s Teo D’Alessandro (1:45.76), Cardinal’s Carlos Almeida (1:46.05) and Queens University of Charlotte’s Matthew Josa (1:48.07).

The N.C. State Wolfpack went 1-2 in the B final, a heat in which the lead changed hands after every stroke. With a commanding lead after back, it looked like Eric Ress might hold on for the win. But Ohio State’s Tamas Gercsak put together a strong 30.36 split on breaststroke to take over the lead. But N.C. State’s athletes are known for strong freestyles, and Soeren Dahl and Colin Ellington passed Gercsak in the final stroke to take the heat. Dahl won with a 1:46.66 while Ellington was second in 1:46.70. Gercsak held on for third with a 1:46.88.

Ian Finnerty held back until freestyle, which helped him take the C final win with a 1:47.89 ahead of Jeremiah O’Donnell, who settled for second with a 1:47.99. Swimming in lane one, Tristan Sanders snuck in for third in the heat with a 1:48.75.

Twitter Coverage

For up to the minute coverage, follow us on Twitter @SwimmingWorld:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x