CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 16. THE third day of long course meter action at the Charlotte UltraSwim featured a meet record in the men's 50 free. George Bovell provided the first 21-second performance in meet history. Bovell posted a time of 21.88 to beat the 2008 mark (22.33) of Cullen Jones.
Meanwhile, Eric Shanteau of Longhorn wiped out the men's 200 breast meet standard with a time of 2:11.73. That effort knocked nearly two seconds off the previous record of 2:13.65 set by Luca DeMatteis in 2008.
The UltraSwim is part of the USA Swimming Grand Prix series.
Mary DeScenza of Athens Bulldog just kept on trucking towards a likely overall Grand Prix series title with a top-seeded time of 2:10.09 in the women's 200 fly. North Baltimore's Felicia Lee qualified second in 2:11.86, while Express' Adrienne Bicek finished third in 2:12.61.
Swim Wales' Jemma Lowe (2:14.65), Bluefish's Alex Forrester (2:14.71), Minot's Dagny Knutson (2:15.89), SoNoCo's Addi Koelle (2:16.83) and Club Wolverine's Caitlin Dauw (2:16.84) completed the rest of the A final field.
With world record holder Michael Phelps focusing on a more sprint-centered program this weekend, former Club Wolverine teammate Dan Madwed cruised in prelims with a top time of 2:00.90. Tennessee's Davis Tarwater qualified second in 2:02.81 with Team Ontario's Curtis Samuel touching third in 2:03.38.
Brazil's Thiago Pereira (2:03.42), Gator's Omar Pinzon (2:03.64), Club Wolverine's Alon Mandel (2:03.76) and Tyler Clary (2:03.92) and Gator's Balazs Gercsak (2:04.02) also earned spots in the finale.
The always exciting sprint 50s took place next. Swim Atlanta's Amanda Weir checked in with the top time in the women's heats with a 25.66. Tennessee's Michelle King placed second in 25.73 with Julia Smit joining them under 26 seconds with a third-place 25.86.
Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (26.03), Club Natation's Victoria Poon (26.11), North Baltimore's Christie Raleigh (26.17), Caitlin Geary (26.32) and Athens Bulldog Kara Lynn Joyce (26.35) grabbed the other championship heat spots.
Phelps, swimming for North Baltimore, gave himself a shot at the men's splash-and-dash title as he squeaked into finals with an eighth-place 23.24. Bovell (21.88) and SwimMAC's Cullen Jones (22.22) provided the morning fireworks as both bested Jones' 2008 meet mark of 22.33.
Fred Bousquet (22.37), Bryan Lundquist (22.90), H2Okie Kaan Tayla (23.03), SwimMAC's Jared White (23.04) and Sun Devil's Nick Brunelli (23.12) also will vie for the sprint crown this evening. Phelps later scratched to focus on the 100 back.
Elizabeth Beisel of Bluefish led the way in the women's 100 back with a 1:02.23, while DeScenza posted a 1:02 as well with a second-place 1:02.58. Minnesota's Roxane Akradi (1:03.22) and North Baltimore's Elizabeth Pelton (1:03.28) will bracket the top two in finals.
Alana Dillette (1:03.73), Emile Ewing (1:03.93), FLA Aquatics' Lauren Driscoll (1:04.08) and Betsy Webb (1:04.26) also made finals.
Phelps was back at it in the men's 100 back with a second-place time of 55.61. He qualified behind Longhorn's Aaron Peirsol, who clocked a 55.56 for the top seed.
Max Murphy (55.84), North Baltimore's Nick Thoman (55.97), Daytona Beach's Ryan Lochte (55.98), Green Mountain's Patrick Murphy (55.98), Indiana's Ben Hesen (56.40) and SwimMAC's Jared White (56.46) each made the finale as well.
Suburban's Corrie Clark led the way in the women's 200 breast with a 2:33.92, while Bluefish's Laura Sogar qualified second in 2:34.65. Tennessee's Martina Moravcikova (2:34.95) and Team Ontario's Hilary Bell (2:35.26) took third and fourth behind them.
Oakville's Julie Calvert (2:35.36), Abby Macgregor (2:35.49), Magnus' Laura Moriarty (2:36.03) and Virginia's Kat McDonnell (2:36.80) also picked up final slots.
In the men's 200 breast, Shanteau demolished the meet record with a 2:11.73. That swim beat the 2:13.65 set by Luca DeMatteis in 2008. Local hero Mark Gangloff of SwimMAC qualified way behind in second with a 2:19.58. Pittsburgh's Warren Barnes finished third in 2:19.88.
Team Ontario's Marco Monaco (2:20.27), Swim Wales' Robert Holderness (2:20.75), Davie Nadadores' Leo Martins (2:21.77), Samak's Simon Dupuis (2:21.77) and Rob Yeager (2:21.90) also made finals.
In what is becoming at least a budding friendly rivalry, North Baltimore's Katie Hoff and Knutson went 1-2 in qualifying for the women's 400 free. Hoff posted the top-seeded time with a 4:14.88, while Knutson qualified second in 4:15.85.
The top two shouldn't rest on their laurels in finals as the rest of the championship field is stocked. Smit (4:17.76), Maggie Bird (4:18.50), Club Wolverine's Emily Brunemann (4:18.92), Kate Dwelley (4:19.82), FLA Aquatics' Lauren Driscoll (4:19.92) and North Baltimore's Camryne Morris (4:19.94) will all give chase in the finale.
Club Wolverine had a field day in the men's 400 free. Peter Vanderkaay (3:56.11), Tyler Clary (3:56.77), Charlie Houchin (3:57.44), Matt Patton (3:58.48) and Adam DeJong (3:58.64) qualified 1-2-3-5-6 to make up the bulk of the final field in the middle distance event.
Badger's Ryan Feeley (3:57.75), Brandon BlueWave's Vincent Donnell (3:59.70) and Gator's Alex Gomez (4:00.59) comprise the rest of that field.
