Anton McKee Breaks Iceland National Record to Finish Richard Quick Invitational

Alabama sophomore-to-be Anton McKee just missed breaking the Icelandic National Record on Friday at the 2014 Richard Quick Invitational in Auburn, Alabama in the 100 breaststroke.

On Sunday, in the meet’s final session, McKee got one to go his way, and he just snuck under the National Record in the 200 meter breaststroke, swimming a 2:12.38. That broke the record set by Jakob Sveinsson back in 2009 at 2:12.39 – by a mere .01 seconds.

McKee has now gone a couple of lifetime bests in the 200 meter race this year, with a 2:14.6 and a 2:13.0 in prelims and finals in Charlotte.

The overall difference since coming to the U.S. to train has been improvements in his back-half – and big improvements at that. In Auburn, though, he added back in the front-half speed that he’s always had, and like magic – it was a lifetime best and a new National Record.

In the women’s 200 breaststroke, it was another Alabama runaway, with Kaylin Burchell topping the field in 2:31.09; San Diego State’s Laura Day took 2nd in 2:36.79. For Burchell, that’s the second-fastest time of her career, and easily the fastest that she’s swum in season in the event.

The women’s 100 free saw an identical podium to the 50 free on Saturday: Amanda Weir with a 56.06 for the win, Allyx Purcell taking 2nd in 57.65; and Bailey Scott finishing 3rd in 57.84.

Adam Brown won the men’s 100 free in 49.84, and was joined by his training partner Marcelo Chierighini under the 50 second barrier (49.96). Bruno Fratus, winner of the 50 free, didn’t swim this 100.

Brown showed good consistency, after a 49.7 in prelims, to repeat the time in finals. While he could have easily coasted through the morning heats here, Brown knows from her experience at the 2010 Commonwealth Games that while the meet isn’t overly deep in many events, the 100 free does require good times in the semi-finals to advance.

Other Winners:

• Alexandra Buscher from the Dad’s Club in Houston won the girls’ 200 backstroke in 2:20.60, which is a new personal best by two seconds. She’s primarily a middle-distance to distance freestyler who will have an opportunity to place herself on the Junior National Team in the 200 this summer.
• Sam McHugh of the Baylor Swim Club won the men’s 200 backstroke in 2:04.47. That’s his 4th win of the weekend, and on Sunday he also placed 2nd in the 100 fly (55.81) behind Texas’ Will Glass (54.55).
• Haley McInerny from SwimAtlanta took the girls’ 100 fly title in 1:02.24, beating out Justine Panian’s 1:02.71.

Full meet results available on Meet Mobile.