DCST National Results (Day 2)

 

On Wednesday, day 2 of the 2008 YMCA National Championships, the Kishwaukee YMCA / DeKalb County Swim Team (DCST) continued its unprecedented run of success.  DCST had 11 lifetime best performances in the preliminary session out of 15 swims bringing the two day meet total to 21 of 29 swims.  DCST had two swims in finals which were both faster than their times in the preliminary session.  DCST has now swum faster in all 5 of their swims in the final session.  DCST also set 8 new team records to bring the two day total to 13.

DCST’s distance swimmers led the way on Wednesday.  Grant Alef finished 4th in 1500 meter Freestyle with his 34 seconds time drop; while David Gordon dropped 15 seconds to finish 10th. Alef and Gordon both earned National All-American honors and both were below DCST’s previous team record.  Furthermore, both swimmers broke DCST’s team record in the 800 meter Freestyle with their lead off splits.  Both of these swimmers will be competing in the 800 meter Freestyle on Friday.

On the women’s side, two DCST distance swimmers also placed in the top 16 and earned National All-American honors in the 800 meter Freestyle.  Emily Launer swam a personal best by 8 seconds which earned her a 9th place finish and a new team record.  Teammate Valerie Jones dropped 11 seconds to finish 16th.  This was the first time Valerie has been named a National All-American in her career.

The other big highlight of the day was DCST’s first top 16 finish in a relay event at this meet.  Launer, Grace Waller, Kate Taylor and Emily Waller finished 14th in the preliminary session after their 6.5 second time drop.  In finals, the relay went an additional 1.5 seconds faster to move up two places to 12th.  All four swimmers earned National All-American honors for their efforts.  Emily Launer’s lead off split in the relay was a new team record in 100 meter Freestyle. 

Grace Waller earned her second National All-American honor of the day for her performance in the Women’s 200 meter Breaststroke.  In prelims, Grace finished 13th, but in finals she dropped 2.5 seconds to finish up one spot to 12th place.  Her time in finals was a new DCST team record.  Kate Taylor had a very busy day on Wednesday.  In addition to swimming the relay twice, she also set a new team record in her 200 meter Freestyle individual swim, and she just missed being name a National All-American in 800 meter Freestyle by 0.39 seconds in the 800 meter Freestyle with her 17th place finish.

                In team scoring after two days, DCST’s is 15th in the combined scoring, tied for 16th in the Men’s Division, and 20th in the Women’s Division.  The National Competition continues for another two days.

 

Complete DCST Results from the second day of competition (Wednesday, July 30th)

Women’s 100 meter Butterfly

                Katie Hallenbeck – 1:08.07 (35th)

                Olivia Martin – 1:11.32 (80th)

 

Men’s 100 meter Butterfly

                Zach Jones – 1:00.53 (31st)

               

Women’s 200 meter Breaststroke

                Grace Waller

                                Prelims – 2:46.92 (13th)

                                Finals – 2:44.56 (12th) NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN, NEW DCST TEAM RECORD

               

Men’s 200 meter Breaststroke

                Michael Gordon – 2:38.96 (41st)

                               

Women’s 200 meter Freestyle

                Kate Taylor – 2:12.38 (23rd) NEW DCST TEAM RECORD

                Emily Waller – 2:12.93 (28th)

 

Men’s 200 meter Freestyle

                David Gordon – 2:02.69 (47th)

               

Women’s 400 meter Freestyle Relay

                Emily Launer, Grace Waller, Kate Taylor, Emily Waller

                                Prelims – 4:07.35 (14th)

                                Finals – 4:05.76 (12th) – Emily Launer’s 100 meter Freestyle lead off time was a NEW DCST TEAM RECORD

 

Men’s 400 meter Freestyle Relay

                Grant Alef, Zach Jones, David Gordon, Michael Gordon – 4:49.07 (27th)

 

Women’s 800 meter Freestyle

                Emily Launer – 9:28.59 (9th) – NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN, NEW DCST TEAM RECORD

                Valerie Jones – 9:33.57 (16th) – NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN

                Kate Taylor – 9:33.96 (17th)

 

Men’s 1500 meter Freestyle

                Grant Alef – 16:45.07 (4th) – NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN, NEW DCST TEAM RECORD, Lead off split in the 800 meter Freestyle was also a NEW DCST TEAM RECORD

                David Gordon – 16:52.82 (10th) – NATIONAL ALL-AMERICAN, NEW DCST TEAM RECORD, Lead off split in the 800 meter Freestyle was also a NEW DCST TEAM RECORD