FEDERAL WAY, Washington, August 5. FOR the second year in a row, Nick Thoman threw down an epic performance at the U.S. Open.<\/p>\n
Thoman blazed the men's 200 back with a 1:54.59 for the triumph. Thoman became the fifth-fastest swimmer of all time, behind Aaron Peirsol (1:51.92), Ryosuke Irie (1:52.51), Ryan Lochte (1:53.82) and Tyler Clary (1:54.53). Thoman smashed his meet record of 1:56.15 set last year. Suburban's Ian Clark touched out France's Eric Ress, 1:57.53 to 1:57.59, for second place.<\/p>\n
Last year, Thoman nearly set a world record in the 100 back while swimming last year with a 52.91 and 52.92 in following nights.<\/p>\n
Tucson Ford's Jack Brown crushed the meet record in the men's 400 IM with a swift time of 4:12.58. The performance wiped out the 4:15.61 set by Ous Mellouli back in 2006. Athens Bulldog's Robert Margalis claimed second in 4;13.34, while Minnesota's Alex Wold completed the top three in 4:16.75.<\/p>\n
Swim Florida's Erika Erndl lowered her preliminary meet record in the women's 100 free with a 54.59. That performance clipped her 54.86 set during prelims. Trojan's Jessica Hardy, still on the comeback trail from her doping ban, placed second in 55.07 after turning first with a 26.20 at the 50. Stanford's Samantha Woodward wound up third in 55.37.<\/p>\n
Sun Devil's Nicholas Brunelli clipped his meet record in the men's 100 free with a 48.52. The swim cleared his 48.56 set during prelims. Longhorn went 2-3 in the event with James Feigen (49.25) and Matthew Lowe (49.38) placing second and third.<\/p>\n
SwimMAC-Carolina's Justin Mueller cruised in the women's 400 IM finale with a 4:40.61 for the win. Palo Alto Stanford's Jasmine Tosky placed second in 4:42.11 with Longhorn's Amber McDermott finishing third in 4:43.04.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin's Maggie Meyer swam to the win in the women's 200 back with a 2:09.53. She held off a late charge by Spain's Escarlata Bernard, who finished second in 2:10.68 after closing with a 33.16 in the final 50. KING's Margaret Hoelzer completed the top three in 2:11.17.<\/p>\n
In relay action, Tucson Ford's Leone Vorster, Lara Jackson, Whitney Myers and Genevieve Konicke claimed the women's 400 free relay in 3:43.88. Minnesota's Michael Richards, Curt Carlson, Stephen Miller and Wold captured the men's 400 free relay title in 3:20.64.<\/p>\n