ATLANTA, Georgia, December 4. THE first night of finals action provided some quick swims at the USA Swimming Short Course Championships held in Atlanta, Ga.<\/p>\n
Amanda Weir of SwimAtlanta notched several quick times in the women's 50 free as a leadoff and in the championship heat. Meanwhile, Matt Grevers of Tucson Ford joined Ben Wildman-Tobriner under 19 seconds in the men's 50 free.<\/p>\n
Women's 200 freestyle relay<\/b>
\nAmanda Weir of SwimAtlanta turned on the afterburners to post a time of 21.67 as the leadoff leg for her third 21-second time of the day. That led her team of Weir, Allyson Sweeney, Caroline Kenney and Jana Mangimelli to a third-place effort of 1:30.98.<\/p>\n
Florida's foursome of Stephanie Napier, Gemma Spofforth, Shara Stafford and Sarah Bateman won the title in 1:29.61, while Auburn's team of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Melissa Marik, Ava Ohlgren and Caitlin Geary placed second in 1:30.12.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 freestyle relay<\/b>
\nMichigan's squad of Chris Brady, Charlie Houchin, Alon Mandel and Bobby Savulich claimed the sprint relay title in 1:19.13, just edging the 1:19.24 clocked by second-place Georgia Tech's Garrett Robberson, Mauricio Sousa, Sullivan Lynch and Nigel Plummer.<\/p>\n
Auburn's quartet of Karl Krug, Gideon Louw, Kohlton Norys and Steve Scheren placed third in 1:19.31. Louw dropped a strong split of 19.36, the fastest of the finale.<\/p>\n
Women's 500 freestyle<\/b>
\nMary DeScenza of Athens Bulldog demonstrated her veteran experience by smoking the field with a winning effort of 4:35.63.<\/p>\n
Allison Schmitt, who attends the University of Georgia after competing at the 2008 Olympics, placed second in 4:39.55 with a superior back half. Auburn's Maggie Bird completed the podium with a time of 4:40.91.<\/p>\n
Men's 500 freestyle<\/b>
\nMichigan's Matt Patton topped the middle distance event with a swift time of 4:12.80, while teammate Tyler Clary claimed second in 4:14.66. Mark Randall of Alabama wound up third in 4:17.34.<\/p>\n
Women's 200 IM<\/b>
\nDagny Knutson of Minot Swim Club became the fourth-fastest swimmer of all time in the event with a dominant time of 1:54.03 as she's proving she's a rising star in the U.S. women's swimming scene.<\/p>\n
KING's Ariana Kukors pocketed second place in 1:57.17, while Auburn's Ava Ohlgren rounded out the top three in 1:57.23.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 IM<\/b>
\nAfter spending more time at fashion shows than in the water training after the 2008 Beijing Games, Ryan Lochte still threw down a time of 1:40.89 to win the sprint medley. That time came up less than a second short of his American record of 1:40.08.<\/p>\n
Eric Shanteau of the Texas Longhorns, also coming off an Olympic run, took second with a time of 1:42.59, while Hidemasa Sano of Trojan finished third in 1:43.48.<\/p>\n
Women's 50 freestyle<\/b>
\nLara Jackson's 21.37 American record set this morning at the Texas Invite was just too much of a target for SwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir as Weir settled for the national title with a time of 21.82. Wisconsin's Jackie Vavrek placed second in 22.27, while Whitney Campbell of Louisville touched third in 22.42.<\/p>\n
Men's 50 freestyle<\/b>
\nMatt Grevers of Tucson Ford scared Ben Wildman-Tobriner's American record of 18.87 with a blistering time of 18.95 to grab the sprint crown. Grevers now stands as the second-fastest American in the event ever. <\/p>\n
California's William Copeland blazed a time of 19.05, while Yale's Alex Righi placed third in 19.13. Notably, Ryan Lochte took seventh in 19.39.<\/p>\n
Women's 400 medley relay<\/b>
\nFlorida's Gemma Spofforth, Lindsay Rogers, Julianne Lago and Shara Stafford won the race in 3:34.66, while KING's Leona Jennings, Ariana Kukors, Lindsey Marchand and Kim Jasmer placed second in 3:36.25. Auburn's Melissa Marik, Micah Lawrence, Ava Ohlgren and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace completed the top three in 3:39.27.<\/p>\n
Men's 400 medley relay<\/b>
\nOn the strength of a monster leadoff backstroke leg of 45.59 from Matt Grevers, Tucson Ford's squad of Grevers, Bart Steninger, Jeff Dash and Adam Ritter won the medley relay going away with a 3:07.03.<\/p>\n
Auburn's Kohlton Norys, Michael Silva, Jordan Anderson and Gideon Louw finished second in 3:12.30, while Florida's Rexford Tullius, Clark Burckle, Shaune Fraser and Raul Martinez touched third in 3:12.39.<\/p>\n