U.S. Nationals Day 5: Lochte collects 3rd win on final night of Nationals

 

 

 

IRVINE, Calif. – Ryan Lochte won his third event of the week Saturday at the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships, beating out a star-studded field in the men’s 200m backstroke with a time of 1:55.58.

 

 

 

 

 

The race featured five of the top six performers of all time in this event, including world record-holder and 2009 world champion Aaron Peirsol, 2008 Olympic champion Lochte, Tyler Clary, Nick Thoman and Michael Phelps.

 

Lochte wasted no time against such talent, taking control of the race from the first 50 and cruising home for the win. Peirsol was second in 1:56.28, while Tyler Clary was third in 1:56.36 and Phelps was fourth in 1:56.98.

 

Lochte also took first in the 400m IM on the first night of competition and beat Phelps in the 200m IM last night.

 

“I knew I had to go out fast and just hold on for dear life,” Lochte said. “(This week’s) been good, but I know I can go a lot faster, so Pan Pacs should be fun.”

 

Rebecca Soni won her second event of the meet with the fastest time in the world this year, taking the women’s 200m breaststroke in 2:21.60.

 

The race was no contest for the American record-holder and Olympic champion, as she quickly distanced herself from the pack and left the rest of the field fighting for second. That honor went to four-time Olympian  and 2004 Olympic champion in the 200m breast Amanda Beard, who finished nearly five seconds behind in 2:26.50.

 

Soni also won the 100m breast on Thursday, qualifying for the U.S. Pan Pacific Championships team. The Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships will be held Aug. 18-22 here in Irvine.

 

“I was just listening to the crowd, listening to the ‘go, go’ every time I breathed,” Soni said. “That’s all I was thinking about. I was a little nervous, but I already made the team, so this was just a trial run for Pan Pacs in two weeks.”

 

Also turning in the fastest time in the world this year was Chad LaTourette in the men’s 1500m free, winning the race in 14:55.39. Peter Vanderkaay won a tight race for second in 15:03.86, just ahead of Sean Ryan, who touched in 15:04.84.

 

“My focus (in that race) really comes from practice,” LaTourette said. “When you do 10,000 yards in practice, it transfers over really well in the race.”

 

The women’s 800m free shaped up to be a two-way race between Olympians Chloe Sutton and Kate Ziegler. Sutton jumped out to a lead in the first 100 meters and gradually lengthened her lead on Ziegler throughout the race, winning with a time of 8:24.77, a personal best. Ziegler was second in 8:28.14, while Haley Anderson was third in 8:32.80.

 

With her win Saturday, Sutton defended her 2009 national title in this event. In addition to the 800, Sutton also qualified for the U.S. Pan Pacific Championships team in the open water 10K race.

 

“Something my coach and I have been working on is finding that easy speed,” Sutton said. “Our plan going out there was to feel that easy speed at the beginning, then go out and set the pace in the second 100. I haven’t seen my splits yet, but I’m pretty sure I was able to do that tonight.”

 

After a couple of second place finishes earlier in the week in the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle, Dana Vollmer finally got her hand on the wall first, winning the women’s 100m free in 53.94.

 

The final of the women’s 100m free included five Olympians – Vollmer, American record-holder Amanda Weir, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Natalie Coughlin, Kara Lynn Joyce and Katie Hoff. Six of the eight finalists – all except Weir and Jessica Hardy – had qualified for the U.S. Pan Pacific Championships Team in other events earlier in the week.

 

Jessica Hardy led the field at the turn, but Vollmer took over with about 15 meters to go, surging ahead for the win. Hardy was second in 54.14, followed by Coughlin in 54.34 and Joyce in 54.71.

 

“I’ve been touched out twice here, and I kept reminding myself that I didn’t want it to happen again,” Vollmer said. “I just kept telling myself that at the last 15 meters if everyone else faded, that would be my strong point.

 

“It always gives me more confidence to put up a good time and a win. It sets me up for training and puts me in a better place going into Pan Pacs.”

 

After a couple disappointing finishes earlier in the meet in which he finished third in the 100m breast and fourth in the 200m IM, Eric Shanteau finally qualified for the Pan Pacs team with a decisive win in the men’s 200m breaststroke, touching in 2:10.09.

 

Shanteau maintained contact with the field through the first 100 meters of the race, then dropped it as he headed toward the 150-meter mark. Olympian Scott Spann was second in 2:12.26, while Elliot Keefer was third in 2:12.68.

 

“Considering how the rest of the week has gone, I’ll take that one,” Shanteau said. “These qualifying meets are always kind of stressful. I just try not to think about it too much and just swim my own race.”

 

The 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships concluded with Saturday night’s finals. The following special awards were given at the conclusion of the session:

 

Kiphuth High Point Award
Men: Ryan Lochte, 94 points.
Women: Missy Franklin, 80 Points

 

Team Scores (Top 3 Combined)
1.    Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics, 478.5
2.    FAST Swim Team, 416
3.    California Aquatics, 397.5

Click here for full team scores.

 

ConocoPhillips Performance Award: Ryan Lochte, for his swim in the men’s 200m IM

Click here for complete results from the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.