{"id":102519,"date":"2014-08-02T09:35:55","date_gmt":"2014-08-02T16:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=102519"},"modified":"2014-08-02T12:23:06","modified_gmt":"2014-08-02T19:23:06","slug":"race-video-townley-haas-sierra-schmidt-claims-2nd-wins-with-400-free-triumphs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/race-video-townley-haas-sierra-schmidt-claims-2nd-wins-with-400-free-triumphs\/","title":{"rendered":"Race Video: Townley Haas, Sierra Schmidt Claim 2nd Wins With 400 Free Triumphs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial coverage for U.S. Junior Nationals proudly sponsored by Q Swimwear<\/a>!<\/i><\/p>\n

IRVINE, California, August 2. STRONG swims from Sierra Schmidt and Townley Haas at the USA Swimming Junior Nationals.<\/p>\n

Women’s 400 free<\/h1>\n

Sierra Schmidt would not be denied her second junior national title of the meet as the\u00a0800 free victor<\/a>\u00a0raced her way to a 4:10.92 in the middle distance event. \u00a0That cut more than two seconds from her best of 4:13.08 set this morning, and was more than enough to beat a pair of 14-year-old prodigies to the top of the podium. \u00a0North Carolina\u2019s Madison Homovich edged NBAC\u2019s Easop Lee for silver, 4:12.30 to 4:12.65. \u00a0The two moved into the top 10 in the U.S. 13-14 age group rankings with Homovich in fourth. \u00a0Sippy Woodhead still holds the record with a stunning 4:07.15 from 1978. Homovich (4:14.97) and Lee (4:13.65) both set lifetime bests this morning.<\/p>\n

IU\u2019s Stephanie Marchuck (4:12.77), NOVA\u2019s Jessie Gvozdas (4:13.27), Marietta Marlins\u2019 Stephanie Peters (4:14.01), Tallahassee\u2019s Cece Williams (4:15.82) and Pleasanton\u2019s Moriah Simonds (4:16.63) also swam in the the finale.<\/p>\n

Lakeside\u2019s Leah Stevens looked in control of the B final throughout the first 325 meters, but La Mirada\u2019s Taylor Ault hit the nitrous to get the afterburners going en route to edging Stevens, 4:12.84 to 4:12.96 for the consolation heat win. \u00a0That\u2019s a huge drop for Ault, coming into today with a 4:14.73 best from the LA Invite. \u00a0Stevens just missed her lifetime best of 4:12.78 from the 2012 American Championships in Austin. \u00a0She\u2019s been chasing that mark for quite some time, and would love to break through the plateau. \u00a0City of Mobile\u2019s Paige Madden took third with a 4:13.39. \u00a0Ault and Stevens would have finished fifth and sixth in the A final.<\/p>\n

Badger\u2019s Anina Lunda came roaring home down the final 100 meters to win the C final with a 4:15.35. That\u2019s a full second off her personal best of 4:16.74 from the Quebec Cup in June. Mission Viejo\u2019s Brooke Lorentzen snared second in 4:16.05, while Saint Andrew\u2019s Megan Moroney picked up third in 4:17.22. Lorentzen was a second fastest last year with a 4:15.06, while Moroney set a 4:16.99 personal best this morning but could not replicate that swim.<\/p>\n

A Final<\/h2>\n