Stepping fourth: Meyer comes up big again at USAs
July 10, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Maggie Meyer made the biggest step yet in making a name for herself on the national stage Friday at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.
Thanks to an outstanding performance during the morning preliminaries, the University of Wisconsin sophomore had the opportunity to swim for a spot on the U.S. national team for the upcoming FINA World Championships during Friday's finals session.
2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships
Live Timing | Results | Live Webcast | Psych Sheet
Meyer wasn't far off from punching a ticket to Rome, as she scored a fourth-place finish in the women's 200-meter backstroke at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. The North Oaks, Minn., native found a way to drop her career-best time in the event even further in the finals, clocking in at 2 minutes, 10.08 seconds.
That finals time, a sizable improvement from the 2:11.80 she recorded to earn the fourth-fastest mark in the prelims, placed Meyer 1.28 seconds back of champion Elizabeth Beisel, who clocked in at 2:08.80.
It was the second time in three days that Meyer had clocked a top-10 performance at the championships, coming on the heels of her 11th-place finish in the 100 back on Wednesday, when she actually was 10th-fastest overall.
Meyer entered the meet ranked 24th in the 200 back, making her performance all the more impressive.
Also in the 200 back, junior Sara Goff clocked in at No. 61 overall in the prelims at 2:20.71 to finish just ahead of teammate Candice Peak. The junior was 62nd in the prelims with a time of 2:20.75.
The Badgers also had three athletes competing in the 800-meter freestyle, with junior Gabby Maddalena leading the way in 24th place at 8:52.99. Freshman Danielle Beckwith also competed and finished 46th in the prelims at 9:01.79, while freshman Kelly Winckler was 60th in 9:08.23.
On the men's side, UW alumnus Dale Rogers finished sixth in the `B' final of the 100-meter freestyle, clocking in at 49.27. Junior Phil Davies also swam the 100 free, finishing 42nd in the prelims with a time of 51.15.
Nathan Adrian won the event in 48.00.
In the men's 200-meter individual medley, junior Derrick O 'Donnell finished 51st in the prelims with a time of 2:07.95. Incoming UW freshman Sam Rowan was just faster at 2:07.61, finishing 49th.
The championships conclude Saturday, with UW athletes set to compete in three events. That includes freshman Ashley Wanland in the women's 200-meter breaststroke. Wanland finished sixth in the 100 breast on Thursday.
NBC will carry tape-delayed coverage of the event both Saturday (noon) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
