ATLANTA, Georgia, December 6. THE third day of finals came to a close with Mary DeScenza winning a pair of titles at the USA Swimming Short Course Nationals held in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Women's 1650 freestyle<\/b>
\nFlorida's Laurabeth Guenthner used a strong backhalf of the race to cruise to a winning time of 16:07.80. Indiana's Amanda Smith also backhalfed the race to grab second place with a time of 16:11.33, while Maggie Bird of Auburn, the early leader throughout most of the race, took third in 16:13.63.<\/p>\n
Men's 1650 freestyle<\/b>
\nMichigan's Matt Patton cruised throughout the entire swim with a winning effort of 14:50.34. Alabama's Mark Randall finished second in 15:00.83 from heat two, while Brandon Sport's Jason Taylor rounded out the top three with a 15:07.05 out of heat five.<\/p>\n
Women's 200 backstroke<\/b>
\nAthens Bulldog Mary DeScenza backhalfed the event to victory in 1:51.58, while Auburn's Julianne McLane finished second in 1:53.52. The time made DeScenza the fourth-fastest ever in the event, and gave her a fourth gold medal for the meet. Florida's Teresa Crippen claimed the third spot with a 1:55.55.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 backstroke<\/b>
\nDaytona Beach's Ryan Lochte raced to a blazing time of 1:38.49 for his fourth win of the meet, not far off his American record of 1:36.81. Tyler Clary snagged second in 1:40.85 for Michigan, while Florida State's Andrew Hodgson placed third in 1:41.99.<\/p>\n
Women's 100 freestyle<\/b>
\nSwimAtlanta's Amanda Weir scared the American record of 46.85 set by Natalie Coughlin with a blazing fast time of 47.15. Minot's Dagny Knutson claimed second in a swift 47.80, while Longhorn Tanica Jamison finished third in 49.03. Notably, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace won the B final in 47.90.<\/p>\n
Men's 100 freestyle<\/b>
\nCalifornia's William Copeland just missed the American record with a lightning fast time of 41.75, while Tucson Ford's Matt Grevers touched just behind in 41.85. Auburn's Matt Targett finished third in 41.93, while Ryan Lochte also cleared 42 with a fourth-place 41.99.<\/p>\n
Women's 200 breaststroke<\/b>
\nKING's Ariana Kukors pocketed the title in a time of 2:08.33, while Brophy's Christine Olson took second in 2:10.02. George Mason's Ashley Danner touched just behind for a third-place 2:10.06.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 breaststroke<\/b>
\nUnder American-record pace at the 50, Mike Alexandrov just missed Brendan Hansen's record of 1:51.74 with a first-place time of 1:51.96. Longhorn Eric Shanteau ripped off a second-place time of 1:52.27, while Tucson Ford's Bart Steninger finished third in 1:55.38.<\/p>\n
Women's 200 butterfly<\/b>
\nAthens Bulldog Mary DeScenza clinched her fifth title with a time of 1:52.48, while Auburn's Ava Ohlgren finished second in 1:56.01. Palo Alto's Yumi So picked up third in 1:56.63.<\/p>\n
Men's 200 butterfly<\/b>
\nTrojan's Hidemasa Sano snatched the title in 1:41.07, while Ian Powell posted a second-place time of 1:44.29. Michigan's Dan Madwed rounded out the top three in 1:44.59.<\/p>\n
Women's 400 freestyle relay<\/b>
\nAuburn's Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Melissa Marik, Emile Ewing and Ava Ohlgren clinched the crown in 3:15.29, while Florida's Stephanie Napier, Shara Stafford, Gemma Spofforth and Lily Ramirez finished second in 3:17.84. KING's Kim Jasmer, Leona Jennings, Lindsey Marchand and Ariana Kukors wound up third in 3:19.97.<\/p>\n
Men's 400 freestyle relay<\/b>
\nAuburn's Gideon Louw, Tyler McGill, Steve Scheren and Matt Targett pocketed the relay title in 2:51.19, while Tucson Ford's Adam Ritter, Matt Grevers, Bart Steninger and Jeff Dash took second in 2:52.18. Michigan's Charlie Houchin, Tyler Clary, Evan Ryser and Bobby Savulich claimed third in 2:53.06.<\/p>\n