 INDIANAPOLIS – It was a historical day at the 2017 Phillips 66 US Swimming Nationals at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the Hoosiers, as three swimmers earned spots on Team USA for the 2017 FINA World Championships next month in Budapest.
The day was highlighted by Lilly King, who won the national championship in the 200 breaststroke. In the men’s 200 freestyle, Blake Pieroni and IU postgrad also earned spots on Team USA in the 4×200 freestyle relay.
King had the best long-course meter performance of her stellar career on Wednesday, posting the second-fastest time in the world this year and crushing her school record with a time of 2:21.83. King’s mark is also the 18th-best time in the event in history, making her the 14th-fastest performer in the event all-time.
The Evansville, Ind. native has now punched her ticket to Budapest and will represent Team USA in the 200 breaststroke. King is also scheduled to swim in the 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM this week. King is the top seed in both the 50 and 100 breast entering the week.
Indiana had a great performance in the men’s 200 freestyle Championship Final, as both Pieroni and Grothe earned spots on Team USA for next month’s FINA World Championships on the 4×200 freestyle relay.
Pieroni posted a personal-best, cruising to an Indiana school record and a second-place finish with a time of 1:46.30. The rising senior’s time is the 10th-fastest in U.S. history, and also earns him an “unofficial†spot for Team USA in the 200 freestyle.
On Tuesday, Pieroni placed sixth in the 100 freestyle to earn consideration for a spot on the 4×100 free relay team.
Grothe also had a tremendous swim, touching the wall third right behind his training partner Pieroni with a mark of 1:46.39. The IU postgrad earned a spot on the 4×200 free relay team for the Americans.
Earlier in the day in prelims, Rachel Matsumura had a great swim in the 200 backstroke, tying for 22nd overall with a time of 2:14.08. Bailey Kovac was 60th in the event with a mark of 2:21.35. Kovac also swam in the 200 breaststroke, coming in 60th with a time of 2:38.86.
On the men’s side, Wilson Beckman took 27th with a time of 2:02.42, while Bob Glover was 34th in 2:03.18.
In the women’s 50 butterfly, Christine Jensen placed 28th with a time of 27.45, while Shelby Koontz was 41st with a mark of 27.86. In the 200 freestyle, Delaney Barnard was 33rd with a time of 2:02.20.
In the men’s 200 freestyle, Max Irwin was 65th with a mark of 1:53.20, while Nick Carlson touched the wall in a time of 1:55.35 to take 78th. Levi Brock was 62nd in the men’s 200 breast with a time of 2:26.39.
Competition at the 2017 Phillips 66 US Swimming Nationals continues on Thursday with the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 50 breaststroke and 50 backsroke at the IU Natatorium. Prelims begin at 9:00 a.m. ET, with finals at 6:00 p.m. ET.
