American Summer Nationals

[selkie]

Some quick times so far.

Amanda Weir- 54.47 to win the 100M free
Roland Schoeman- 48.38 to win the 100M free (since it's not a selection meet, swimmers of other passports cheerfully welcomed)
Rebecca Soni- 2:26.27 in the 200 breast, which would have been quick enough to get bronze in Montreal if she'd made the US team in April
Matthew Lowe- 2:14.30 200M breast
Leah Retrum- 2:11.00 in the 200 back- big breakthrough for her, and a bright sign for US swimming since there hasn't been much depth in the event here in recent years (people were getting on National A teams with 2:13s)
Chris DeJong- 1:58.25 for the 200 back- he got his start at my old club- West Michigan Swimmers. First time they've had a swimmer who went on to win a national championship
Elaine Breeden (2:09.85) and Emily Mason (2:09.93) in the 200 fly- the 16 year old Breeden has worn the tag of 'swimmer with great potential' for a couple years now. Nice to see her making good progress here.
Michael Phelps- 1:55.26 in the 200M fly with no one else within three seconds of him to push him. There had been some speculation about Phelps' fitness level, but from that time, he seems pretty fit to me.

[selkie]

Day 3- 200 frees and 400 IMs:

Men's 200M free- Michael Phelps (1:46.40) wins over a rejuvinated Klete Keller (1:46.87) So much for Keller quietly retiring after Athens.
Women's 200M free- another good swim from Canadian Brittany Reimer, who nipped Caroline Burckle 1:59.74 to 1:59.75
Men's 400IM- Robert Margalis wins in 4:18.66
Women's 400IM- America's second best 16 year old IMer, Ariana Kukors, turns in an impressive 4:43.32 for the win over Julia Smit (4:44.79)
Mens 800 free relay- usually the relays aren't too interesting, but three of the four men who swam the final relay in Montreal were competing for Club Wolverine at this meet. And the team of Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, Chris DeJong and Klete Keller turned in a 7:12.35, good for not only a championship record, but a US Open record as well
Women's 800 free relay- California Aquatics wins in an 8:13

[GettingFaster]

Just to stir things up a bit, how would 2:11 for Ladies' 200 back have done with the GB qualifying times recently?

[Steve]

Just to stir things up a bit, how would 2:11 for Ladies' 200 back have done with the GB qualifying times recently?
Would have been selected - Katy Sexton made it in with 2:11.49

[selkie]

Day 4 finals:

Men's 400M free- the Klete Keller 'guess I'm not retiring after all' tour continues with a win here in a quick 3:46.20. Not bad for a guy who took five months off after Athens.
Women's 400M free- Brittany Reimer (4:10.13) just nips Kate Ziegler (4:10.41) If these two teenagers stay healthy, they could have one heckava friendly rivalry by the time Beijing rolls around, and it's always fun when the long races are consistently close.
Men's 100 fly- no Crocker or Phelps here, and Roland Schoeman wins in a wide open event in 53.08, just ahead of Montreal 200 fly finalist Davis Tarwater (53.25)
Women's 100 fly- Elaine Breeden continues to impress, winning in 59.20. She isn't the type to make sudden huge time drops, but has consistently made progress in the last couple of years. Hopefully that progress will continue since we really need someone other than Coughlin who is capable of 58 low/57 high in order to keep up with the Australians.
Men's 100 back- Randall Bal wins in a frustrating 54.07, yet again coming so close to going a 53 in the event.
Women's 100 back- goes to Natalie Coughlin's club teammate Helen Silver in 1:02.64
Men's 100 breast- Matt Lowe sweeps the breast events with a 1:01.64 here, throwing his name into the mix for the title of second best male breaststroker in America.
Women's 100 breast- a tired Jessica Hardy still turns in a respectable 1:07.45 for the win. Megan (Quann) Jendrick is second in 1:08.05. Nice to see Jendrick snap what seemed to be a long string of third place finishes.