Photo by: Shanda Crowe\/ProSwimVisuals.com<\/p>\n
GREENSBORO – With two swimmers under 19 seconds, there was no way the postgrads from SwimMAC Carolina could be beat in the men\u2019s 200 free relay at the USA Swimming short course nationals. Or could they?<\/p>\n
Mark Weber (19.48), Eric Knight (18.99), Cullen Jones (18.85) and Tim Phillips (20.10) posted a 1:17.42 in the fastest of the timed-final heats, nearly breaking the meet record of 1:17.06 that SwimMAC set last year. Many would have thought that would hold up through the last heat, which was the slowest-seeded heat, but the squad from Club Wolverine stepped up to give SwimMAC\u2019s time a chase.<\/p>\n
Zach Hayden (19.79), Junya Koga (19.57), Geoffrey Cheah (18.78) and Hassaan Abdel Khalik (19.55) nearly beat SwimMAC with a 1:17.69. It should be noted that Hayden sported a full-on mustache, most likely left over from Movember, and that might have made the difference.<\/p>\n
Placing third overall in the event was a very strong 1:19.04 from Ohio State, just beating out the 1:19.24 by Louisville.<\/p>\n
On the women\u2019s side, Michigan showed off their sprint speed to break away from the three-way race with UCLA and SwimMAC Carolina. A 21.89 from Ali DeLoof on the third leg might have been the decider, as Maddy Frost (22.83), Zoe Mattingly (22.70) and Clara Smiddy (22.42) celebrated the win with a 1:29.84 that is just four tenths shy of the NCA automatic qualifying time. It is third-fastest in the collegiate rankings at this point in the season.<\/p>\n
UCLA hung on for third after a 22.14 leadoff from new star Linnea Mack to post a 1:30.45. SwimMAC was third with a 1:30.77.<\/p>\n
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