IRVINE, Calif. –
Bobby Finke would not be denied in the 800-meter freestyle, as the Clearwater, Florida native added a national title to an 800-meter freestyle resume that includes an Olympic and FINA Gold medal.
Finke clocked a 7:51.21 to finish over two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The Gators finish the week with six national titles, three from Volunteer Coach
Katie Ledecky and one apiece from
Kevin Vargas, Natalie Hinds, and Finke's tonight.
Vargas, coming off a win in the 400-meter individual medley a couple nights ago, tallied a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter individual medley.
Adam Chaney represented Florida in the 50-meter freestyle final, finishing fifth.
Outside of Finke, five other Gators competed in the men's 800-meter freestyle.
Tyler Watson finished ninth at 8:01.77, just ahead of
Kieran Smith who came in 11th at 8:02.63.
Jack VanDeusen finished 27th with a time of 8:14.24,
Brennan Gravley swam an 8:15.28 for a 29th place finish, and
Wesley Hyde was in 30th at 8:16.33.
Elise Bauer,
Anna Auld,
Leah DeGeorge, and
Tylor Mathieu all competed in the women's 1500-meter freestyle. Bauer, who competed in the final heat, finished 13th with a time of 16:43.10. Auld finished 17th at 16:45.99, one spot ahead of DeGeorge at 16:53.42 in 17th while Mathieu was in 20th after a swim of 16:57.59.
In the consolation finals,
Kathleen Golding tallied a fifth-place finish in the women's 200-meter individual medley B final at 2:15.96.
Dillon Hillis finished third in the men's 200-meter individual medley C final at 2:02.77, while
Chance Tirheimer finished the 50-meter free D final in fourth at 23.38.
Prelims:
Women's 200m IM
Kathleen Golding came in 13th during the morning session, using a time of 2:15.99 to advance to the B final.
Men's 200 IM
Kevin Vargas finished third overall in the prelims at 2:00.10 to advance to the A final.
Dillon Hillis came in 18th at 2:02.93 to advance to the C final.
Julian Smith finished 34th with a time of 2:04.43, while
Mason Laur's 2:05.66 put him in 45th.
Women's 50m free
Talia Bates concluded her week with a 25th place finish at 25.85 while
Katie Mack clocked a 26.23 for 47th.
Men's 50m free
Adam Chaney recorded the second-fastest time of the morning, swimming a 22.12.
Julian Smith swam a 23.18 for 48th in his second event of the session, while
Chance Tirheimer touched the wall in 23.30 for a 58th place finish and a qualification in the D final.
