Florida Concludes Competition at 2009 U.S. Nationals/World Trials
Saturday, July 11, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
In an epic 200-meter backstroke swim, former Gator and World Record holder Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) swam to a second-place, silver medal finish in finals of the event (1:54.21) on the final evening of competition at the 2009 U.S. Nationals meet in Indianapolis.
Lochte's rival 200-meter backstroker, Aaron Peirsol, claimed the top spot (1:53.08), staking claim over the World Record that switches between Lochte and Peirsol frequently. Club Wolverine's Tyler Clary finished third, as the top three finishers were all under World Record pace on the final 50 meters of the race.
The Gators close down the 2009 World Trials with two gold medals, a silver and bronze medal from Lochte, a gold medal from Dara Torres and a bronze medal for Caroline Burckle in the 400-meter free, among a plethora of personal best times and record-breaking swims for the Orange and Blue.
2008-09 senior Rex Tullius (Port Orange, Fla.) joined Lochte in the 200-meter backstroke A final Saturday evening, finishing fifth with a 1:57.97, after swimming a stellar 1:57.28 in preliminaries.
Florida's Kirsten Smith (Cary, N.C.) also competed in finals on the last day of competition, swimming the C heat of the 200-meter breaststroke, finishing 22nd overall in the field (2:33.92)
In heats of the women's 800-meter freestyle Friday morning, former Gator Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Ky.) swam to a seventh-place finish (8:38.88), qualifying for the eight-woman championship final. Burckle took to the water in the first event Saturday evening, finishing eighth overall (8:44.86).
In men's distance freestyle action, rising junior Joey Pedraza (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) swam a career-best mark in heats of the men's 1500-meter freestyle Friday, clocking 15:27.94, qualifying as the second alternate for finals Saturday after placing 10th in the field in prelims.
U.S. Nationals/World Trials Day Five Finals Results
FLORIDA WOMEN
Caroline Burckle 800-meter freestyle, 8:44.86, 8th overall
Kirsten Smith 200-meter breaststroke, 2:33.92, 22nd overall
FLORIDA MEN
Ryan Lochte 200-meter backstroke, 1:54.21, 2nd (Silver Medalist)
Rex Tullius 200-meter backstroke, 1:57.97, 5th overall
U.S. Nationals/World Trials Day Five Preliminaries Results
FLORIDA WOMEN
Jamie Bohunicky 100-meter freestle, 56.73, 34th
Liz Kemp 100-meter freestyle, 56.60, 28th
Stephanie Napier 100-meter freestyle, 57.28, 44th
Kirsten Smith 200-meter breaststroke, 2:32.72, 19th (advances to C final)
FLORIDA MEN
Ryan Lochte 200-meter backstroke, 1:55.99, 3rd (advances to A final)
Rex Tullius 200-meter backstroke, 1:57.28, 5th (advances to A final)
-UF-
