FOUR AMERICANS WIN TITLES ON FINAL DAY OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN

             

8/3/2013

IRVINE, Calif. – Four Americans won 2013 U.S. Open titles on the final night of competition at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine, Calif. Highlighting the American victories were Zane Grothe (Boulder City, Nev.) winning his second title of the meet and Justine Mueller (Monroe, Mich.) setting a new U.S. Open meet record.

In the men’s 800-meter freestyle, Grothe who won the 1500m free on Wednesday night, picked up his second U.S. Open meet title, stopping the clock in 7:56.16. Eric Hedlin of Canada finished second in 7:59.68 and Kevin Litherland (Atlanta, Ga.) came in third in 8:01.17. 

“This feels very good,” Grothe said. “[Winning the other night] gave me the confidence to come out and do what I did tonight. I’m looking forward to taking some time off, and then hitting it hard again knowing what I’ve done so far is because of the hard work I’ve been putting in.”

Mueller, who won the 200m and 400m IM at the 2009 U.S. Open, set a new U.S. Open meet record in the women’s 200m IM, stopping the clock in 2:11.06. Celina Li (Pleasanton, Calif.) clocked a 2:12.72 to finish second, and Kathleen Baker (Winston-Salem, N.C.) rounded out the top-three in 2:13.35.

“It’s nice to be back to where I was four years ago,” Mueller said. “It’s been a long four years and it feels good to go to a meet and do what I know I’m capable of.”

In the women’s 50m free, Ivy Martin (Madison, Wis.) clocked a 25.11 to take the top podium spot. Madeline Schaefer (Palo Alto, Calif.) recorded a personal-best, finishing in second-place in 25.27. Madison Kennedy (Avon, Conn.) finished third with a 25.34.

In the men’s 50m free, Karl Krug (Yucaipa, Calif.) stopped the clock first with a 22.15. Seth Stubblefield (Plano, Texas) finished second in 22.19 while Tyler McGill (Champaign, Ill.) placed third in 22.25.

In the men’s 200m IM, Sebastian Rousseau picked up another U.S. Open meet title, winning in 1:59.58. Stephen Schmuhl (Broomfield, Colo.) finished second in 1:59.90, out-touching Austin Surhoff (Cockeysville, Md.) who finished third with a time of 1:59.92.

In the women’s 1500m free, Australia’s Laura Crockart clocked a 16:08.36 for first-place. American Gillian Ryan (Kutztown, Pa.) charged home for second place in a time of 16:15.65. Alicia Mathieu (Gainesville, Fla.) finished third in 16:16.75.

Today marked the final day of competition at the 2013 U.S. Open. The Speedo Junior National Championships will continue at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center next week from Aug 5-9. Next week’s meet can be watched live on www.usaswimming.org or through Deck Pass Plus, the official mobile application of USA Swimming.