“I wasn’t feeling quite as good tonight, so I went out after it as hard as I could and tried to hang on,” Margalis said. “It’s pretty cool, though. Before this meet, I’ve had maybe three (national-level titles) in the last 10 years. It’s been pretty fun so far. Hopefully I’ll be able to add one or two more tomorrow.”
In other races, Jacque Fessel of Tennessee Aquatics pulled away from the pack in the last 25 meters of the race to win the women’s 100m backstroke with a time of 1:02.24. Finishing up about a second behind her were Lauren English of Cougar Aquatic Team (1:03.23) and Elizabeth Pelton of North Baltimore Aquatic Club (1:03.33).
“It was a lot better than this morning,” Fessel said. “This morning I was a little more anxious and a little more nervous. Tonight I was confident in my stroke and my race. My coach and I really talked about what I needed to do to make it better. I was a little more relaxed.”
In the men’s 100m back, David Cromwell of Longhorn Aquatics reeled in Adam Mania of the Schroeder YMCA and pulled ahead in the last 15 meters of the race to win with a time of 55.12. Mania was second in 55.74, while Time Liebhold of Wisconsin Aquatics was third in 55.74. The win was Cromwell’s second of the week after taking the 200m backstroke on Wednesday night. “Like I mentioned (Wednesday), I’ve just come back from surgery and joined a new club, and this is a good indication of where I am in my training,” Cromwell said. “I’m very excited about it and feel very honored and proud.”
Also winning her second title of the week was Alyssa Anderson of the Sierra Marlins in the 400m free, turning in a time of 4:14.74. Corrine Showalter of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks actually jumped out to a lead early in the race and led the field by about a half a body length at the 200-meter mark, before Anderson moved up on the pack at 300 meters and hammered her way home. Showalter finished second in 4:16.52, while Teresa Crippen of Germantown Academy was third in 4:16.89. Anderson was crowned champion of the women’s 800m free on Wednesday night. “It’s exciting,” Anderson said. “To win one is enough, to win two is such an honor. I can’t sprint, so it’s hard for me to go out fast, but I usually negative split and come back faster, so that usually makes it a race.”
Michelle McKeehan of Center Grove Aquatic Club came out on top of the women’s 100m breast, finishing with a time of 1:08.93. McKeehan finished about a half second ahead of 2007 Pan American Games team member Keri Hehn, who won the 200m breast on Wednesday. Hehn, of Trojan Swim Club, finished with a time of 1:09.45, while Lindsay Rogers of Southeastern Swim Club was third in 1:11.47. “It felt a lot better than this morning,” McKeehan said. “This morning I had a hard time getting into my stroke. I just wanted to take it out a little faster and bring it home better.”
Cheyne Bloch of Swim Pasadena came out on top of a close race in the men’s 100m breast, out-touching Kevin Swander of Indiana University, 1:03.17 to 1:03.30. Neil Versfeld was third in 1:03.74. “I wanted to be 1:02 low, so I was disappointed in that, but I came back faster in the last 50, so I was happy with that,” Bloch said.
Coming out on top of an even closer race was 2006-07 National Junior Teamer Felicia Lee of North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Lee chased Chesapeake’s Samantha Woodward down the homestretch and touched just two-hundredths of a second ahead, 59.82 to 59.84. Kathleen Hersey of Swim Atlanta, the champion in the 200m fly on Wednesday was third in 1:00.76. Lee won the Spring Championships title in this event in 2006 and was happy about defending her title. “It was amazing,” Lee said. “I’ve trained really hard all year for this. I got a little bit behind (at the beginning of the race), but that last 50 felt really good. I just tried to catch up as much as I could.”
In the final event of the evening, Kyle Bubolz (unattached) cruised to a win in the 100m butterfly in 53.08, holding off Peter Verhoef of Athens Bulldog Swim Club. Verhoef finished second in 53.62, while Christoph Lubenau of Louisiana State was third in 54.39. “I try to use my speed to my advantage,” Verhoef said. “I’m not the best person in that second 50. I just try to get out ahead and hope they don’t catch me.”
The 2007 Spring Championships wraps up Friday with prelims and finals in the men’s and women’s 200m IM and 50m freestyle. Timed finals of the women’s 1500m free, men’s 800m free and 400m medley relay will also be held. For complete results, go to the USA Swimming 2007 Spring Championships section.
About USA Swimming: As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit USA Swimming on-line.
