2016 U.S. Winter Nationals: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2016 U.S. WINTER NATIONALS

• Live Results
• Wed. Nov 30 – Sat. Dec 3, 2016
• Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
• 25 yard course
• Live Stream
• Day 2 prelims heat sheets

WOMEN’S 500 FREE — PRELIMS

1. Erica Sullivan, Sandpipers of Nevada, 4:39.66
2. Lindsey Clary, OSU, 4:40.46
3. Stephanie Marchuk, Indiana, 4:44.60
4. Cassy Jernberg, Indiana, 4:45.47
5. Brooke Zeiger, Minnesota, 4:45.86
6. Erin Emery, Minnesota, 4:46.12
7. Miranda Heckman, Pleasanton Seahawks, 4:47.61
8. Amanda Richey, Pitt, 4:47.85

Erica Sullivan, just 16 years old, was the quickest competitor in the women’s 500 free this morning. She was out under 1:50 at the 200, and held off a charging Lindsey Clary to the wall at the finish. Sullivan, who swims for the Sandpipers of Nevada, dropped over three seconds from her lifetime best, and now ranks #13 all-time in the 15-16 age group. She’s coming off of a strong summer, where she competed at the 2016 Jr. Pan Pac Champs and earned a bronze medal in the 1500 free.

Following Sullivan was a pack of Big Ten swimmers, led by Buckeye Clary at 4:40.46. The IU duo of Stephanie Marchuk (4:44.60) and freshman Cassy Jernberg (4:45.47) followed for third and fourth, while Minnesota’s pair of Brooke Zeiger (4:45.86) and Erin Emery (4:46.12) touched 5th and 6th this morning, respectively. Only Clary, though, came close to catching Sullivan, as the rest of the top 8 was more than four seconds back of Clary.

MEN’S 500 FREE — PRELIMS

1. Max Irwin, Indiana, 4:19.40
2. Jackson Miller, Indiana, 4:19.50
3. Marwan El Kamash, Indiana, 4:20.20
4. Sam Pomajevich, NCAP, 4:21.24
5. Jordan Merrilees, UNC, 4:21.67
6. Ben Lawless, Florida, 4:21.71
7. Sean Grieshop, Nitro, 4:21.98
8. Adam Destrampe, Indiana, 4:22.84

The Indiana men made their presence felt, posting the top two times of the morning in the men’s 500 free. Taking top spot was Max Irwin, posting a 4:19.40. 2nd went to Jackson Miller, just a touch behind Irwin at 4:19.50; these men were the only sub-4:20 swims of the morning. An IU transfer from South Carolina, Marwan El Kamash took control early in heat 2 (of 6), swimming a crisp 4:20.20 for the third-fastest time today. Indiana also snuck in for 8th with Adam Destrampe‘s 4:22.84.

Two high schoolers made their marks this morning, with NCAP’s Sam Pomajevich and Nitro’s Sean Grieshop both making the top 8. Pomajevich swam a 4:21.24 for 4th behind the IU trio, while Grieshop was not far behind in 4:21.98 for 7th. UNC’s Jordan Merrilees (4:21.67) and Florida’s Ben Lawless (4:21.71) made up the rest of the top 8, which is very crowded going into tonight’s finals.

WOMEN’S 200 IM — PRELIMS

1. Melanie Margalis, St. Petersburg Aquatics, 1:56.07
2. Miranda Tucker, Club Wolverine, 1:57.95
3. Nikol Popov, Canyons Aquatic, 1:58.30
4. Meg Bailey, OSU, 1:58.91
5. Vanessa Pearl, Metroplex Aquatics, 1:58.96
6. Hannah Moore, NC State, 1:58.98
7. Danielle Herrmann, Clovis Swim Club, 1:58.99
8. Kristen Romano, Long Island Aquatic Club, 1:59.03

Not a swimmer that we usually see in short course, Melanie Margalis took to the small pool for her first event of the meet. In fact, according to USA Swimming’s SWIMS database, this is Margalis’ first official race in SCY since December of 2014. She seemed to shake off two years of SCY rust with ease, cruising to a strong time of 1:56.07 wearing a pink & green practice suit. Assuming she suits up tonight, we could be treated to a scary fast performance from someone who rarely trades meters for yards.

Miranda Tucker, who transferred from Indiana to Michigan (though she has to sit this season out for transferring within the Big Ten), posted the #2 time of the morning with a 1:57.95. High schoolers Nikol Popov (1:58.30), Vanessa Pearl (1:58.96), and Kristen Romano (1:59.03) all finished in the top 8, led by Popov at #3. Notably, Hannah Moore of NC State took the 6th best time of the morning with a 1:58.98. We’re used to seeing Moore compete in the distance freestyle events, but she was a very strong IM’er as a high schooler.

MEN’S 200 IM — PRELIMS

1. Vini Lanza, Indiana, 1:43.76
2. Juan Sequera, Unattached, 1:45.92
3. Nate Carr, Unattached, 1:46.15
4. Michael Meyer, UNC, 1:47.01
5. Omar Pinzon, FAST Swim Team, 1:47.31
6. Maxime Rooney, Florida, 1:47.53 (TIED)
7. Bob Glover, Indiana, 1:47.53 (TIED)
8. Sean Lee, Swim Pasadena, 1:48.03

No Caeleb Dressel, but Vini Lanza took the top time of the morning with a 1:43.76. That was a big time for the Indiana sophomore, and he was over two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Bob Glover got into the A final as well, continuing to Indiana’s success thus far in the meet on the men’s side. Juan Sequera and Nate Carr, both unattached, touched 2nd (1:45.92) and 3rd (1:46.15), respectively, the only other two men to finish under 1:47.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE — PRELIMS

1. Amanda Weir, SwimAtlanta, 22.17
2. Isabella Arcila, Canyons Aquatic, 22.44
3. Racheal Bukowski, Michigan State, 22.50 (TIED)
4. Caroline Baldwin, UNC, 22.50 (TIED)
5. Maddie Locus, SwimAtlanta, 22.56
6. Danielle Nack, Minnesota, 22.68
7. Sarah Hitchens, UNC, 22.73 (TIED)
8. Brooke Bauer, UNC, 22.73 (TIED)

Olympian Amanda Weir got the wall fastest in the 50 free, and by a long shot, touching at 22.17. The next-best swimmer was Colombian Olympian Isabella Arcila of Canyons, touching at 22.44. UNC showed up in numbers this morning, getting three into the A final for tonight. Caroline Baldwin posted a 22.50 to tie for 3rd with Michigan State’s Racheal Bukowski. Meanwhile, Sarah Hitchens and Brooke Bauer, both Tar Heel sprinters, tied for 7th in 22.73.

MEN’S 50 FREE — PRELIMS

1. Tom Shields, California Aquatics, 19.31
2. Bowen Becker, Minnesota, 19.60
3. Jacob Molacek, Greater Omaha Area Aquatics, 19.69
4. Sam Lorentz, Indiana, 19.72
5. Oliver Patrouch, Indiana, 19.92
6. Jack Dolan, Rockwood Swim Club, 20.01
7. Paul Fair, Minnesota, 20.05
8. Josh Romany, Indiana, 20.10

Olympic butterflier Tom Shields showed off some sprint free speed, flashing a 19.31 for the top time of the morning. The most intriguing swim, however, came from 15-year-old Jack Dolan. A young sprinter for Rockwood Swim Club, Dolan was previously ranked 72nd in the 15-16 age group with a 20.53. He destroyed his old best, taking more than five tenths off of it, and made tonight’s A final with a 20.01. That time moves him up to #7 all-time in the 15-16 age group, .01 ahead of Ryan Murphy. We could see Dolan feasibly jump as high as #3, which would unseat Caeleb Dressel‘s 19.82 from 2012.

Rising Minnesota sprinter Bowen Becker dropped a 19.60 to touch 2nd this morning, followed by Jacob Molacek. Molacek, who left Auburn and will transfer to NC State, posted a 19.69 for 3rd. He touched just ahead of Indiana’s Sam Lorentz (19.72) and Oliver Patrouch (19.92).