Saturday, July 28, 2018
2018 Phillips 66 National Championships Day Three Finals Recap
Complete Day Three Results
Women’s 400m Individual Medley
1. Ally McHugh (Philadelphia, Pa./Unattached), 4:34.80
2. Brooke Forde (Louisville, Ky./Stanford Swimming), 4:35.09
3. Melanie Margalis (Clearwater, Fla./Saint Petersburg Aquatics), 4:35.50
Race Notes
• McHugh clocked a lifetime best by nearly 5 seconds to win her first national title and earn her first trip to the Pan Pacific Championships.
• McHugh’s 4:34.80 effort ranks No. 3 in the world for 2018, and Forde’s runner-up 4:35.09 sits fifth.
Quotes
Ally McHugh (On what she was thinking at the 300 mark): “I was just focusing on my last 100. I usually bring it home pretty strong and I had that confidence in the back of my mind, so I just put my head down and kicked really hard.”
McHugh (On winning the national title): “I saw so many people on the last 50, I had no idea. I just breathed to the other side and put my head down. I was shocked, I was so excited I couldn’t believe it.”
Men’s 400m Individual Medley
1. Chase Kalisz (Bel Air, Md./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 4:08.25
2. Jay Litherland (Alpharetta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 4:10.21
3. Sean Grieshop (Austin, Texas/California Aquatics), 4:12.72
Race Notes
• Kalisz pulled away on the breaststroke leg and earned his fifth career 400m IM national title (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and his fourth straight.
• Kalisz’s time of 4:08.25 ranks as the top swim in the world this year, while Litherland’s 4:10.21 stands No. 3.
• Teammates Kalisz and Litherland have finished 1-2 in the 400m IM at the last two Phillips 66 National Championships and 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Quotes
Chase Kalisz (On today’s race and Pan Pacs): “I think I’ll be better in Tokyo and I did what I needed to here. I’m looking forward to the next meet.”
Kalisz (On the race today): “I knew my front half wasn’t going to be there, so I knew I needed to be good for breaststroke. I was patient and just waited for breaststroke.”
Women's 100m Butterfly
1. Kelsi Dahlia (Westampton, N.J./Cardinal Aquatics), 56.83
2. Katie McLaughlin (Dana Point, Calif./California Aquatics), 57.61
3. Kendyl Stewart (San Diego, Calif./Team Elite), 57.70
Race Notes
• Dahlia won her third straight 100m fly title (2016, 2017, 2018) and qualifies for her first Pan Pacific Championships roster.
• Dahlia, who also won the 50m fly championship on Thursday, posted the fourth-fastest time in the world this year – 56.83.
• McLaughlin’s 57.51 swim ranks No. 10 in the world in 2018.
Quotes
Kelsi Dahlia (On what it means to win a second straight national title): “I’m really pleased with that, a lot better than I was a year ago … Just happy to be on the [Pan Pacs] team with my teammates Mallory [Comerford] and Zach [Harting].”
Men’s 100m Butterfly
1. Caeleb Dressel (Green Cove Springs, Fla./Bolles School Sharks), 50.50
2. Jack Conger (Rockville, Md./Nation’s Capital Swim Club), 51.11
3. Michael Andrew (Lawrence, Kan./Race Pace Club), 51.68
Race Notes
• Dressel won his fourth career long-course national title and second straight in the 100m fly.
• Dressel’s 50.50 effort is the world’s top time for 2018, and he qualifies for his first Pan Pacs roster.
• Conger owns the second-fastest time in the world this year from March 2018.
• Andrew was third in the first of his three races on the night.
Quotes
Caeleb Dressel (On his race): “I did what I needed to do and I’m on the Pan Pacs team. That’s what this meet is for."
Dressel (On pressure): “I do enjoy the pressure. I understand it comes with the sport and it makes it fun and exciting. We’ll worry about Pan Pacs when we get there, but there’s a lot left in the tank for me. It’s exciting.”
Women’s 50m Breaststroke
1. Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana University), 29.82
2. Molly Hannis (Santa Rosa, Calif./Tennessee Aquatics), 30.07
3. Katie Meili (Colleyville, Texas/New York Athletic Club), 30.72
Race Notes
• King, the world record holder in the event, won her seventh career national title and second straight in the 50m breast.
Quotes
Lilly King (On today’s swim): “Yesterday was obviously really disappointing. I did not swim the way I wanted to, but it’s nothing to mope about. I still had a 100 and 50 left, so I’m pretty pleased with that swim. I’m happy with it and am just glad to get the win and get over the hump of that 200 yesterday.”
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
1. Michael Andrew (Lawrence, Kan./Race Pace Club), 26.84 (U.S. Open Record)
2. Devon Nowicki (Lake Orion, Mich./Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics), 27.12
3. Ian Finnerty (Bloomington, Ind./Indiana University), 27.19
Race Notes
• With a time of 26.84, Andrew set the U.S. Open record for the second time today. He went 26.86 in the prelims.
• Andrew won his second national title of the meet after winning the 50m fly on Thursday.
• This race was the second of three on the night for Andrew.
Quotes
Michael Andrew (On his triple tonight): “Ultimately this is what I’ve trained for. I’ve done triples before and I’m capable of it. Going into finals obviously I knew the 100 fly was the most important with trying to get a spot on the Pan Pacs team. It was a good night of racing, a good night of training and the next two days are going to feel very easy compared to this.”
Women’s 50m Backstroke
1. Olivia Smoliga (Glenview, Ill./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 27.70
2. Ali Deloof (Grosse Point, Mich./Club Wolverine), 27.88
3. Elise Haan (Grand Rapids, Mich./NC State University), 27.90
Race Notes
• The American record holder in the event, Smoliga won her second career national title and first in the 50m back
Quotes
Olivia Smoliga (on her win tonight): “I’m glad I got the morning swim out of the way and kinda focused more on controlling myself in finals. It was fun tonight.”
Men’s 50m Backstroke
1. Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Fla./California Aquatics), 24.24 (American Record)
2. Justin Ress (Cary, N.C./NC State University), 24.31
3. Ryan Held (Springfield, Ill./NC State University), 24.60
Race Notes
• Murphy broke a nearly 10-year-old American record with a time of 24.24 tonight. The previous mark of 24.33 was set by Randall Bal in 2008.
• Murphy won the 200m back title on Thursday and will swim the 100m back on Saturday.
• In his third race of the night, Michael Andrew was fourth in 24.62.
Quotes
Ryan Murphy (On the American Record): “It’s good. I can’t remember the last time I really went after a 50 back. We thought that it made sense to spin the wheels a little bit tonight and tomorrow be good for the 100.”
#Phillips66Nats
Women’s 400m Individual Medley
1. Ally McHugh (Philadelphia, Pa./Unattached), 4:34.80
2. Brooke Forde (Louisville, Ky./Stanford Swimming), 4:35.09
3. Melanie Margalis (Clearwater, Fla./Saint Petersburg Aquatics), 4:35.50
Race Notes
• McHugh clocked a lifetime best by nearly 5 seconds to win her first national title and earn her first trip to the Pan Pacific Championships.
• McHugh’s 4:34.80 effort ranks No. 3 in the world for 2018, and Forde’s runner-up 4:35.09 sits fifth.
Quotes
Ally McHugh (On what she was thinking at the 300 mark): “I was just focusing on my last 100. I usually bring it home pretty strong and I had that confidence in the back of my mind, so I just put my head down and kicked really hard.”
McHugh (On winning the national title): “I saw so many people on the last 50, I had no idea. I just breathed to the other side and put my head down. I was shocked, I was so excited I couldn’t believe it.”
Men’s 400m Individual Medley
1. Chase Kalisz (Bel Air, Md./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 4:08.25
2. Jay Litherland (Alpharetta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 4:10.21
3. Sean Grieshop (Austin, Texas/California Aquatics), 4:12.72
Race Notes
• Kalisz pulled away on the breaststroke leg and earned his fifth career 400m IM national title (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and his fourth straight.
• Kalisz’s time of 4:08.25 ranks as the top swim in the world this year, while Litherland’s 4:10.21 stands No. 3.
• Teammates Kalisz and Litherland have finished 1-2 in the 400m IM at the last two Phillips 66 National Championships and 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Quotes
Chase Kalisz (On today’s race and Pan Pacs): “I think I’ll be better in Tokyo and I did what I needed to here. I’m looking forward to the next meet.”
Kalisz (On the race today): “I knew my front half wasn’t going to be there, so I knew I needed to be good for breaststroke. I was patient and just waited for breaststroke.”
Women's 100m Butterfly
1. Kelsi Dahlia (Westampton, N.J./Cardinal Aquatics), 56.83
2. Katie McLaughlin (Dana Point, Calif./California Aquatics), 57.61
3. Kendyl Stewart (San Diego, Calif./Team Elite), 57.70
Race Notes
• Dahlia won her third straight 100m fly title (2016, 2017, 2018) and qualifies for her first Pan Pacific Championships roster.
• Dahlia, who also won the 50m fly championship on Thursday, posted the fourth-fastest time in the world this year – 56.83.
• McLaughlin’s 57.51 swim ranks No. 10 in the world in 2018.
Quotes
Kelsi Dahlia (On what it means to win a second straight national title): “I’m really pleased with that, a lot better than I was a year ago … Just happy to be on the [Pan Pacs] team with my teammates Mallory [Comerford] and Zach [Harting].”
Men’s 100m Butterfly
1. Caeleb Dressel (Green Cove Springs, Fla./Bolles School Sharks), 50.50
2. Jack Conger (Rockville, Md./Nation’s Capital Swim Club), 51.11
3. Michael Andrew (Lawrence, Kan./Race Pace Club), 51.68
Race Notes
• Dressel won his fourth career long-course national title and second straight in the 100m fly.
• Dressel’s 50.50 effort is the world’s top time for 2018, and he qualifies for his first Pan Pacs roster.
• Conger owns the second-fastest time in the world this year from March 2018.
• Andrew was third in the first of his three races on the night.
Quotes
Caeleb Dressel (On his race): “I did what I needed to do and I’m on the Pan Pacs team. That’s what this meet is for."
Dressel (On pressure): “I do enjoy the pressure. I understand it comes with the sport and it makes it fun and exciting. We’ll worry about Pan Pacs when we get there, but there’s a lot left in the tank for me. It’s exciting.”
Women’s 50m Breaststroke
1. Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana University), 29.82
2. Molly Hannis (Santa Rosa, Calif./Tennessee Aquatics), 30.07
3. Katie Meili (Colleyville, Texas/New York Athletic Club), 30.72
Race Notes
• King, the world record holder in the event, won her seventh career national title and second straight in the 50m breast.
Quotes
Lilly King (On today’s swim): “Yesterday was obviously really disappointing. I did not swim the way I wanted to, but it’s nothing to mope about. I still had a 100 and 50 left, so I’m pretty pleased with that swim. I’m happy with it and am just glad to get the win and get over the hump of that 200 yesterday.”
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
1. Michael Andrew (Lawrence, Kan./Race Pace Club), 26.84 (U.S. Open Record)
2. Devon Nowicki (Lake Orion, Mich./Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics), 27.12
3. Ian Finnerty (Bloomington, Ind./Indiana University), 27.19
Race Notes
• With a time of 26.84, Andrew set the U.S. Open record for the second time today. He went 26.86 in the prelims.
• Andrew won his second national title of the meet after winning the 50m fly on Thursday.
• This race was the second of three on the night for Andrew.
Quotes
Michael Andrew (On his triple tonight): “Ultimately this is what I’ve trained for. I’ve done triples before and I’m capable of it. Going into finals obviously I knew the 100 fly was the most important with trying to get a spot on the Pan Pacs team. It was a good night of racing, a good night of training and the next two days are going to feel very easy compared to this.”
Women’s 50m Backstroke
1. Olivia Smoliga (Glenview, Ill./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 27.70
2. Ali Deloof (Grosse Point, Mich./Club Wolverine), 27.88
3. Elise Haan (Grand Rapids, Mich./NC State University), 27.90
Race Notes
• The American record holder in the event, Smoliga won her second career national title and first in the 50m back
Quotes
Olivia Smoliga (on her win tonight): “I’m glad I got the morning swim out of the way and kinda focused more on controlling myself in finals. It was fun tonight.”
Men’s 50m Backstroke
1. Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Fla./California Aquatics), 24.24 (American Record)
2. Justin Ress (Cary, N.C./NC State University), 24.31
3. Ryan Held (Springfield, Ill./NC State University), 24.60
Race Notes
• Murphy broke a nearly 10-year-old American record with a time of 24.24 tonight. The previous mark of 24.33 was set by Randall Bal in 2008.
• Murphy won the 200m back title on Thursday and will swim the 100m back on Saturday.
• In his third race of the night, Michael Andrew was fourth in 24.62.
Quotes
Ryan Murphy (On the American Record): “It’s good. I can’t remember the last time I really went after a 50 back. We thought that it made sense to spin the wheels a little bit tonight and tomorrow be good for the 100.”
#Phillips66Nats