By Phillip Whitten<\/p>\n
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, August 8. JEFF Rouse, at 33 the oldest competitor at the ConocoPhillips US National Championships, was the top qualifier in the men's 100 meter backstroke this morning.<\/p>\n
100m Backstroke<\/b>
\nThe 1992 Olympic gold and silver medalist and '96 double gold medalist demonstrated he is dead serious about his comeback attempt for 2004 when he threw down a 55.66-second challenge. The time was his fastest by almost half a second since he began his comeback a year ago following a six-year layoff.<\/p>\n
University of Wisconsin up-and-comer Adam Mania clocked a PR in qualifying second in 55.78, with Matt Grevers, Swimming World<\/i>'s male "High School Swimmer of the Year" third at 56.03.<\/p>\n
Among the remaining qualifiers: Randall Bal (5th, 56.54) and Neil Walker (6th, 56.78).<\/p>\n
It took 57.08 to make A final, 57.63 to make B.<\/p>\n
Former Ohio State star Susan Woessner, now swimming for Circle C, was the only woman to swim under 1:03 in the prelims of the 100 back. She clocked 1:02.64, half a second ahead of Brielle White (Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation) and 16 year-old Lauren Rogers (Terrapins). <\/p>\n
Beth Botsford, the 1996 olympic champion, qualified seventh. Cut-offs: 1:03.48 for the A final, 1:04.55 for the B.<\/p>\n
400 meter Freestyle<\/b>
\nThe biggest news in the men's 400m free prelims was that Michael Phelps didn't<\/i> qualify first. That honor went to Mission Viejo's Justin Mortimer whose 3:50.98 was 5-hundredths faster than Phelps.<\/p>\n
Those two swimmers appear to be head and shoulders above the rest of the field as third qualifier, Larsen Jensen, was more than five seconds back.<\/p>\n
It took 3:56.03 to make the A final, 3:57.46 to make B.<\/p>\n
Kalyn Keller, who is having a break-out meet, led a talent-laden women's 400 meter freestyle field in the prelims. Keller, who won the 800 in a PR 8:31.54, negative split her 400 this morning to clock a PR 4:12.94 (2:06.96 – 2:05.98).<\/p>\n
Fifteen year-old Canadian sensation, Brittany Reimer, einner of the 200 last night in 2:00.62, was second (4:13.42) followed by Kaitlin Sandeno (4:13.99) and 2000 Olympic champion, Brooke Bennett (4:14.27).<\/p>\n
Sara McLarty was the eighth qualifier at 4:15.68. It took 4:17.94 to make the B final.<\/p>\n
100 meter Breaststroke<\/b>
\nRelative-unknown Scott Usher was the surprise top qualifier in the men's 100m breast in 1:01.82, the morning's only sub-1:02 swim. Ed Moses followed in 1:02.01 with 200 breast winner, Gary Marshall, third in 1:02.66 and Dave Denniston fourth in 1:02.72.<\/p>\n
It took 1:03.03 to make the A final, 1:03.90 to make the B.<\/p>\n
2000 Olympic champion Megan Quann hasn't done much of late, but she made an emphatic statement this morning, qualifying first in the women's 100m breaststroke with the only sub-1:09 performance. <\/p>\n
Megan touched in 1:08.81, well in front of a quality field iuncluding Tara Kirk (1:09.35), Kristy Kowal (1:09.67) and 200m winner Caroline Bruce (5th in 1:09.86).<\/p>\n
It took a 1:10.75 or better to make the A final. Cut-off for the B final was 1:11.99.<\/p>\n
100 meter Butterfly<\/b>
\nSouth African Eugene Botes, a student at Penn State, posted the fastest prelim time in the men's 100 fly – 53.54 – with only one other swimmer, 18 year-old Peter Verhoef (53.79) able to swim under 54 seconds.<\/p>\n
Cut-offs: 54.80 and 55.03.<\/p>\n
Angry at her disappointing showing in the finals of the 200 fly, 2000 Olympic champion Misty Hyman came out with guns ablazing in prelims of the 100 fly, swimming almost a second faster than her nearest pursuer. Misty's 59.67 was faster than her winning time (59.76) at the Spring Nationals in March.<\/p>\n
Misty's former AFOX teammate Jana Krohn, now swimming for Trojan, and 14 year-old Elaine Breeden tied for second at 1:00.40.<\/p>\n
The A final cut-off was 1:00.79; B cut-off was 1:01.52.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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