On the final night of 2017 Long Course YMCA Nationals two more National Records fell. After a close score all week, there was ultimately a women’s team champion.
Brendan Burns destroyed the YMCA National record in the 200 butterfly. The Upper Main Line 16 year old touched in 2:01.44, well under the 2015 mark of 2:02.33. Hickory’s Ross Dant (2:05.44) was runner up. Erik Ryan of Wilton was third (2:07.34).
The women’s 50 backstroke National record was one of the oldest on the books, a 29.32 set by Lauren English in 2004. Edwardsville’s Bailey Grinter took down that mark tonight, sprinting to a 29.09. Three other swimmers joined her under 30: Greater Flint’s Alaina Skellett (29.79) and Blue Ash’s Emma Shuppert (29.86).
Butler teammates were first and second in the women’s 100 freestyle. Camryn Forbes got her hand to the wall first in 56.79. Following her for silver was Taylor Petrak in 57.52. Just behind her in 57.67 was Fanwood Scotch Plains’ Marlise Moesch (57.67).
Countryside’s Shannon Jelley won a competitive women’s 200 butterfly with a 2:15.93. Western North Carolina’s Mary O Soule was runner up in 2:16.66, just edging Megan Glass of Blue Ash with a 2:16.78.
Sixteen year old Henry Schutte was first into the wall in the men’s 100 freestyle with a 51.46. Red Bank’s Max Walther out touched Powel Crosley’s Carson Burt 52.81 to 52.83 for runner up honors. Burt’s teammate Charles Leibson (53.00) was fourth.
Leibson returned to the blocks just a short while later to win the 200 IM. He stopped the clock in 2:07.39. Andover’s Spencer Krueger (2:09.56) and York’s Alec Peckmann (2:09.57) were second and third. Peckmann came home in a 29.98, but it wasn’t quite enough to over take Krueger’s final 50 meters at 30.43.
Sarah Hardy of MetuchenED grabbed 200 IM gold in 2:19.66. Leah Braswell, in the York swimmer’s second swim of the night, earned silver with a 2:20.23. Cheshire 14 year old Alexandra Tyler couldn’t quite match her prelims speed (2:21.65) but still touched in 2:22.07, good for third.
Chambersburg’s Avery Barley won the men’s 50 backstroke in 26.40. Touching second was Justin Fleagle (26.58) from Auglaize Mercer. Somerset Hills’ 14 year old Jack Alexy finished third with a 26.70.
North Shore’s Nicole Welch topped the women’s 800 with her 9:01.30. In second with a 9:04.84 was Wilton’s Brenna McLaughlin. Third went to Sophia Cherkez (9:07.69).
Chambersburg’s Jacob Greenwood had a 16 second drop to win the men’s 800 from lane two in 8:21.40. With an 8:25.35 Somerset Valley’s Riley Pestorius was second, ahead of his 14 year old teammate Matt Fallon in 8:26.89.
After boasting the top two 100 freestylers, the Butler women won the 400 freestyle relay. Forbes and Petrak combined with Brooke Zukowski, and Mallory Marzolf to touch in 3:52.76. Fanwood Scotch Plains picked up second with a 3:54.41 with the team of DeeDee Maizes, Darlene Fung, Rachel Maizes, and Moesch. Countryside led a quartet of 3:56s for third place. Jelley, Rollie Grinder, Leah Luckett, and Megan Sichterman finished third in 3:56.35.
Burns, Oliver Brown, Owen Neuman, and Kevin Ryle combined to win the mens’ 400 freestyle relay for Upper Main Line with a 3:31.74. Powel Crosley’s Burt, Dan Cashell, Will McCullough, and Leibson (3:33.15) were second while Rapid Area was third in 3:34.19 with the team of Mason Hooker, Matt Wilson, Ben Puglessi, and Schutte.
The York women suffered a disappointing relay DQ in prelims. Ultimately, even had their relay finished legally with their prelims time, it still would not have been enough to alter the final team place finish. With 331 points Cheshire claimed the women’s team title. York finished the week with 297 points, in second place. Rounding out the top three was Fanwood Scotch Plains with a total of 297 points.
The men’s meet was far more clearcut on the points side of things. Powel Crosley Jr walked away with a national title with 387 points. Somerset Valley finished second with 311 while Wilton followed them for third with 286.5.
Full results available here. Also available on Meet Mobile: 2017 LCY Nationals.
Congratulations
The boys final top three teams are not correct. Wilton was the third place boys team.
Hi Coach Alex, thanks for catching that! Must have been looking at incomplete results–it has been updated!!