U.S. Nationals

The Jenny And Lenny Show

Schubert Winningest Coach In History, Wins 65th Team Title

 

Nick J. Thierry


The five-day US Nationals competition was the final preparation for Pan Pacs at the end of August. The bulk of the team members competing in Syndey, Australia, were chosen a year ago, and were either swimming through the meet or not even in attendance. The Jenny and Lenny show again performed up to expectations.

Top performance was Lenny Krayzelburg's American record in the 200 backstroke with 1:56.68, earning him the Phillips Performance award for the third consecutive summer nationals. It was his fifth record swim since 1997. The world record of 1:56.57 has to be next.


Fifth American record in three years for Lenny Krayzelburg
Click image for larger photo. Photo © Marco Chiesa


"I think I can take the world record down at Pan Pacs," the Odessa-born (UKR) swimmer said. "I'm a tenth off. I think it's going down."

Krayzelburg, representing Trojan SC, won the 100 backstroke in a personal best of 54.00.

The other big star of the five-day competition was Jenny Thompson, 26, Stanford Swimming, winning the 100 free in 54.66, the 200 free in 2:00.19 and the 100 fly in a personal best of 58.15. Both 100s were the fastest to date in the world for 1999.

"I feel so good right now that I'm a little worried I might be too tapered," Thompson said.

"It's a real confidence booster to do that fly time now. I usually take a few tenths off just by shaving. I'll get the record. I feel really good about the way things are going to go at Pan Pacs."

This competition was also another step in the return of Chad Carvin, Laguna Hills, CA, to the big time. He won the 400 free in 3:49.68, for his 14th title, and the 1500 free in 15:22.85. Carvin has been battling health problems, and the 400 win earned him a trip to the Pan Pacs in Sydney.

"I'm looking forward to getting in there with the Aussies, learning from them and finding what I have to do to get ready for next year," Carvin said.

Because the championships got underway on August 6, while the Pan Ams ended on the August 7, Ed Moses, Burke, VA, missed out on one of his events.

Moses swam to gold at the Pan Ams with a 1:00.99 in the 100 breaststroke, the fastest time this year. He won the 100 breaststroke in Minneapolis with 1:01.21. Unfortunately, the 200 breaststroke was held while he was still at Pan Ams. He posted a 2:13.41 in a time-trial, considerably faster then the 2:16.07 championships winning time. Obviously one of the top American breaststrokers in 1999, he was not elegible for Pan Pacs, after winning the Pan Ams.

Gary Hall, 24, Phoenix, won the 50 free in 22.13, his personal best. It was an eloquent comeback and earned him a trip to Pan Pacs.

Overlooked by the media, South African Roland Schoeman, 19, Hillebrand, won the B final with 22.04, the fastest time in the world in 1999.

Jason Lezak, 23, Irvine, successfully defended his 100 free title with 49.34, faster than his 1998 time of 49.93. Bryan Jones, 20, Texas Aquatics, in second with 49.43 and winner of the 100 fly with 53.05 (52.90 prelims), earned a trip to Pan Pacs.

Ugur Taner, 25, Hillenbrand, won the 200 free in 1:49.19 and 200 fly in 1:58.82 as Tom Malchow, the defending fly title holder, did not swim, preparing instead for the Pan Pacs.


Tom Wilkens won 200 IM, second in 200 breast
Click image for larger photo. Photo © Marco Chiesa


Tom Wilkens, 23, Santa Clara, claimed his 10th national title with a win in the men's 200 IM in 2:02.03, added a second in the 200 breast in 2:16.80, and a fourth in the 400 IM, even though he was swimming through the meet in preparation for the Pan Pacs.

Amy Van Dyken, 26, unattached Colorado, after missing much of the last year with a shoulder injury that required surgery, swam a 25.13 to win the 50 free. She made Pan Pac consideration time, but decided not to attend the meet so she can continue to rehab her shoulder.


Chronic shoulder problems did not prevent Amy Van Dyken from winning the 50 free
Click image for larger photo. Photo © Marco Chiesa


"I've been having a lot of problems with my shoulder," Van Dyken said. "I need to get back into training-I can't be running all around the world racing again. I want to swim pain-free again so I can hopefully make another Olympic team."

Pan Pac additions for the women were Samantha Arsenault, Megan Quann, and Kari Haag-Woodall.

Quann, 15, Payallup Aquatics, won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.70 and defending champion Kristy Kowal gave the meet a pass, getting ready for Pan Pacs. Haag-Woodall, 25, North Carlina AC, finished second in the 50 free with 25.90, and fourth in the 100 free with 56.35. Arsenault, 17, Greenwood, was third in the 200 free with 2:01.60.


Lindsay Benko's win in the 400 free and 200 back sparked Trojan Swim Club to team title
Click image for larger photo. Photo © Marco Chiesa


Lindsay Benko, 22, Trojan Swim Club, won the 400 free in 4:11.31 and the 200 back in 2:12.26.

Brooke Bennett, 19, Brandon Bluewave, was second in the 400 free in 4:14.49 and skipped the 800 free, winning the 1500 free in 16:14.77.

Women's high scorer Kristine Quance-Julian won her 10th national title and third Nationals Kiphuth Award, taking the top spot in the 200 individual medley (2:16.06), with seconds in the 200 fly (2:12.75) and 400 IM (4:45.39).

Rookie of the meet honours went to Matt Macedo, 19, of Almaden, third in the 50 free with 22.67 and to Kim Vandenberg, 15, of Orinda Aquatics, who was 12th in the 100 fly with 1:02.56.

Trojan Swim Club won the women's and combined team titles, while Texas Aquatics won the men's title.

Trojan coach Mark Schubert, head men's coach of the 1999 Pan Pac team and 2000 Olympic team, has now coached club teams to 65 national titles, making him the winningest coach in U.S. Nationals history.


Rating Summary of Top US National Performances
1) 1013 1:56.68 200 back M F Lenny Krayzelburg, 75
2) 1009 58.15 100 fly W F Jenny Thompson, 73
3) 1001 22.04 50 free M B Roland Schoeman, 80,RSA
4) 997 1:01.21 100 breast M F Glenn Ed Moses, 80
5) 995 22.13 50 free M F Gary Hall, 74
6) 991 52.90 100 fly M H Bryan Jones, 78
7) 990 3:17.65 4x100 free M F Texas Aquatics A
8) 987 25.13 50 free W F Amy Van Dyken, 73
9) 985 59.15 100 fly W B Limin Liu, 76,CHN
10) 984 49.34 100 free M F Jason Lezak, 75
11) 982 1:59.21 200 back M F Tate Blahnik, 76
982 1:08.70 100 breast W F Megan Quann, 84
13) 981 22.35 50 free M F Bill Pilczuk, 71
14) 980 22.37 50 free M B Ricardo Busquets, 75,PUR
15) 976 59.49 100 fly W H Misty Hyman, 79
976 1:48.78 200 free M H Chad Carvin, 74
17) 975 2:02.03 200 im M F Tom Wilkens, 75
18) 974 1:02.22 100 breast M F Jarrod Marrs, 75
974 49.71 100 free M R Scott Tucker, 75
20) 971 1:49.19 200 free M F Ugur Taner, 74
971 49.80 100 free M H Neil Walker, 76