DCST National Results (Day 3)

                Wednesday, the third day of the YMCA National Championships, was DCST’s best day of the meet so far. DCST’s women’s 800 freestyle relay of Emily Launer, Katie Hallenbeck, Casey Jepsen and Emily Waller had a phenomenal preliminary swim which cut 4.55 seconds off their seed time. This time drop earned DCST a 15 ^th place finish and a spot in the final session. In finals, the foursome dropped an additional 0.71 seconds to remain in 15 ^th place. All four swimmers earned National All – American honors. This was the first time in Casey’s career to be named a National All-American, while it was the 2 ^nd time for Katie, 7 ^th time for Emily Waller, and 10 ^th time for Emily Launer.

                Grant Alef also got to swim in finals by setting a new DCST team record in the morning session with a 1.54 second time drop in his 200 yard backstroke. He qualified for the C-final heat with a 24 ^th place finish. In finals, he reset the team record by swimming 0.83 seconds faster and moving up 5 places to finish 19 ^th in the final standings.

Also in the 200 yard Backstroke in prelims, Chad Thompson lowered his career best time by 1.06 seconds.   Valerie Jones had a very strong showing in the 400 yard individual medley with a 1.06 second time improvement. In the 100 yard freestyle, Tara Gidaszewski dropped 1.91 seconds and Jepsen dropped 1.01 seconds. Grant Alef, Chad Thompson, Michael Gordon and David Gordon had a strong race in the men’s 800 freestyle relay by swimming 5.80 seconds under their seed time.

Complete DCST Results for Wednesday’s National Championship Events:

Women’s 400 yard Individual Medley
                Valerie Jones – 4:41.46 (75 ^th)

Men’s 400 yard Individual Medley
                Michael Gordon – 4:17.53 (69 ^th)

Women’s 100 yard Freestyle
                Casey Jepsen – 53.56 (Tied for 47 ^th)
                Emily Waller – 53.87 (69 ^th)

Women’s 200 yard Backstroke
                Emily Launer – 2:07.69 (47 ^th)
                Tara Gidaszewski – 2:11.22 (88 ^th)

Men’s 200 yard Backstroke
                Grant Alef
                                Prelims – 1:54.95 (24 ^th) – DCST Team Record
                                Finals – 1:54.13 (19 ^th) – DCST Team Record
                Chad Thompson – 1:58.85 (64 ^th)

Women’s 800 yard Freestyle Relay
                Emily Launer, Katie Hallenbeck, Casey Jepsen, Emily Waller
                                Prelims – 7:44.77 (15 ^th)
                                Finals – 7:44.06 (15 ^th) – All Four Swimmers earned National All-American Honors

Men’s 800 yard Freestyle Relay
                Grant Alef, Chad Thompson, Michael Gordon, David Gordon – 7:05.49 (Tied for 31 ^st)

Time Trials

                Women’s 100 yard Freestyle
                                Tara Gidaszewski – 58.04