The women’s 400 Medley relay representing Tucson Ford took the top spot with a combined 4:12.16, out touching the Athens Bulldogs’ 4:12.26 effort. Japan’s relay posted a 4:13.46 to garner 3rd place.
The men’s title went to Team Australia in 3:42.88. Japan came in second with a 3:43.89 while Crimson Tide Aquatics took 3rd in 3:47.25.
Erik Vendt went after Larsen Jensen’s 2004 1500 Free American Record and just missed it by a little over a second with a 14:46.78 that established a new meet and US Open record. Longhorn’s Michael Klueh notched second in 15:05.85 and Club Wolverine’s Matt Patton turned in a 15:21.69 swim for the bronze.
2008 Aussie Olympic Team member Kylie Palmer held off Kate Ziegler to score the women’s 800 Free title. Kylie registered a 8:27.05 and Kate a 8:28.31. The Club Wolverine twosome of Kaitlin Sandeno (8:34.35) and Katie Carroll (8:36.65) finished 3-4.
The men’s 100 back final featured what could be the most competitive race of the night. Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol, and Matt Grevers made it a good one as all 3 made it to the wall under the old meet record standard set last year.
Michael secured the win with a 54.03. Aaron grabbed runner-up honors in 54.36, just ahead of Matt’s 54.41 finish.
Elizabeth Beisel’s 2:11.01 in the women’s 200 Back final was enough to give her an easy win and a meet record. In her second event of the night, Mary Descenza posted a solid 2:13.66 to claim second ahead of Madison White (2:14.40).
Michael Phelps won his second event of the evening with a comfortable 1:58.13 in the 200 IM final. Australia’s Leith Brodie picked up the silver with an 2:00.87 effort, followed by another Club Wolverine member, Alex Vanderkaay (2:03.32) who edged Robert Margalis (2:03.47) for the final spot on the podium.
King Aquatic’s Svetlana Karpeeva captured the women’s 200 IM gold, making it to the wall in 2:14.13. After challenging for the win, Auburn’s Ava Ohlgren touched second in 2:14.29. Stanford’s Julia Smit rounded out the top 3 with a 2:14.97 swim.
Amanda Beard won the ‘B’ final with a time of 2:14.46 that would have given her the bronze had she raced in the Championship final.
Club Wolverine’s Kaitlin Sandeno posted a 2:15.43 in the prelims, but scratched the final to concentrate on her 800 Free.
In a loaded 100 Free field, Michael Phelps came out atop the ‘A’ final standings after a 49.15 showing. South African Lyndon Ferns, who broke the meet record in prelims, touched the wall second in 49.33. Peter Vanderkaay closed out the podium spots with a 49.59.
Elsewhere in the ‘A’ final American Record Holder Jason Lezak (50.08) placed 7th and Matt Grevers (50.10) 8th.
In the ‘C’ final, the Club Wolverine duo of Davis Tarwater and Chris DeJong raced and went 3-4 with times of 50.90 and 51.00, respectively.
The 2008 Santa Clara women’s sprint title goes to Australia’s Cate Campbell after posting a second spectacular sprint freestyle performance this weekend. Cate finished the 50 Free with a blazing 21.13 that garnered her the meet and US Open record. Kara Lynn Joyce and Natalie Coughlin dueled for the silver. At the wall Kara Lynn’s 24.83 was just ahead of Natalie’s 24.92.
Nearly a second back was Brooke Bishop (25.81) in 4th. But the most impressive finish for this race was 13 year old up-and-comer Lia Neal in 5th (tied with Kate Dwelley) after a scorching 25.94 that took down Amanda Weir’s 8 year old National Age Group (NAG) record.
Brendan Hansen improved upon his 2006 200 Breast meet record with a 2:10.62 performance that gives him the sweep of the breaststroke events. Aussie Craig Calder turned in a second place swim of 2:13.03, followed by Japan’s Ryo Tateishi in 2:14.22.
