Saturday, July 30, 2022
College Talent Shines on Friday’s Phillips 66 National Championships
The chase for more titles continued on the fourth night of finals at the 2022 Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, Calif.
The evening kicked off with the women’s 400-meter freestyle, where a notably absent Katie Ledecky opened the door for a new champion. Erin Gemmell of Nation’s Capital, who dressed up as Ledecky for Halloween, took the early advantage and held the lead through to the finish, winning with 4:06.17. Cavan Gormsen of Long Island finished second in 4:08.38, just out-touching Alabama’s Kensey McMahon by two tenths.
“I always go out hard in my races and just try and hold on,” said Gemmell.
The men's 400m freestyle was the most loaded event of the night with both the 1500 and 200 national champions as well as three Olympians in the final. Kieran Smith had the early lead, but by the 300 mark, the field evened out and Jake Magahey and Jake Mitchell overtook Smith by the 350. Magahey touched first with a 3:46.46 to Smith’s 3:46.59.
“Honestly I felt really sloppy throughout the whole race, but I got myself through, put my head down and got to the wall,” said Magahey. “It’s been a lot of hard work and long hours. I want to thank my parents and team who are with me the whole way. This is just the beginning for me.”
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Kaitlyn Dobler—who narrowly missed qualifying for the world championship team last April—took the lead and kept it, cinching the national title with 1:06.88. Aquajet’s Olivia Anderson and Jade-Talara Dixon of Australia followed her with 1:07.85 and 1:08.15 respectively.
“It was a lot of fun, we were all having a great time in the ready room,” said Dobler. “I didn’t have a lot to time to think about it so I just went out and raced.”
On the men’s side, it was Indiana’s famous breaststroke prowess that continued to reign as Josh Matheny found victory in 59.44. Caspar Corbeau from Texas was second with 59.91, followed by Wildcat’s Kevin Houseman in 1:00.24.
“There’s something about Bloomington that’s special. The breaststroke group is super close and special and I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” said Matheny.
The women’s 100m backstroke, complete with another stacked field of champions and Olympians, offered a tight race. It was Alabama’s Rhyan White with a 58.91 for the win. Kira Toussaint from The Netherlands and Cal’s Isabelle Stadden were the other two sub-minute finishers with 59.24 and 59.55.
“I knew it was going to be a really close race. My goal was to get out at the 50 and just hold on,” said White.
The evening wrapped up with a tight race in the men’s 100m backstroke, where world’s 50m back champion Justin Ress got it done with a 53.55. Florida’s Adam Chaney and UVA’s Jack Aikins followed Ress in with 53.68 and 53.75, respectively.
“It’s getting out there and racing," Ress said. "I could see the guys on either side of me right next to me so just powering through the wall is all I was focused on – that’s all I thought about.”
The meet continues Saturday with prelims at noon ET and finals at 8 p.m. ET.
The evening kicked off with the women’s 400-meter freestyle, where a notably absent Katie Ledecky opened the door for a new champion. Erin Gemmell of Nation’s Capital, who dressed up as Ledecky for Halloween, took the early advantage and held the lead through to the finish, winning with 4:06.17. Cavan Gormsen of Long Island finished second in 4:08.38, just out-touching Alabama’s Kensey McMahon by two tenths.
“I always go out hard in my races and just try and hold on,” said Gemmell.
The men's 400m freestyle was the most loaded event of the night with both the 1500 and 200 national champions as well as three Olympians in the final. Kieran Smith had the early lead, but by the 300 mark, the field evened out and Jake Magahey and Jake Mitchell overtook Smith by the 350. Magahey touched first with a 3:46.46 to Smith’s 3:46.59.
“Honestly I felt really sloppy throughout the whole race, but I got myself through, put my head down and got to the wall,” said Magahey. “It’s been a lot of hard work and long hours. I want to thank my parents and team who are with me the whole way. This is just the beginning for me.”
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Kaitlyn Dobler—who narrowly missed qualifying for the world championship team last April—took the lead and kept it, cinching the national title with 1:06.88. Aquajet’s Olivia Anderson and Jade-Talara Dixon of Australia followed her with 1:07.85 and 1:08.15 respectively.
“It was a lot of fun, we were all having a great time in the ready room,” said Dobler. “I didn’t have a lot to time to think about it so I just went out and raced.”
On the men’s side, it was Indiana’s famous breaststroke prowess that continued to reign as Josh Matheny found victory in 59.44. Caspar Corbeau from Texas was second with 59.91, followed by Wildcat’s Kevin Houseman in 1:00.24.
“There’s something about Bloomington that’s special. The breaststroke group is super close and special and I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” said Matheny.
The women’s 100m backstroke, complete with another stacked field of champions and Olympians, offered a tight race. It was Alabama’s Rhyan White with a 58.91 for the win. Kira Toussaint from The Netherlands and Cal’s Isabelle Stadden were the other two sub-minute finishers with 59.24 and 59.55.
“I knew it was going to be a really close race. My goal was to get out at the 50 and just hold on,” said White.
The evening wrapped up with a tight race in the men’s 100m backstroke, where world’s 50m back champion Justin Ress got it done with a 53.55. Florida’s Adam Chaney and UVA’s Jack Aikins followed Ress in with 53.68 and 53.75, respectively.
“It’s getting out there and racing," Ress said. "I could see the guys on either side of me right next to me so just powering through the wall is all I was focused on – that’s all I thought about.”
The meet continues Saturday with prelims at noon ET and finals at 8 p.m. ET.