Wanland takes sixth at USA Championships
July 09, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Ashley Wanland had no problems carrying the momentum from her successful first season of collegiate swimming into national competition on Thursday.
The University of Wisconsin freshman scored the best finish yet by a Badger at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, taking sixth place in the women 's 100-meter breaststroke at IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships
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Wanland, a native of Long Grove, Ill., clocked in at 1:07.60 to earn the finish. That was an improvement over the 1:08.13 she logged during the morning preliminaries session to finish sixth-fastest overall.
At 19, Wanland was the second-youngest competitor in the championship final, with only runner-up Kasey Carlson younger, at 17 years old.
Rebecca Soni won the national title in 1:05.34, touching 2.26 seconds ahead of Wanland, who was a three-time All-American and the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year in her first season with the Badgers.
Junior Libby Brooks competed in the 100 breast, as well, finishing 43rd overall in the prelims with her time of 1:13.35. Brooks then returned to the pool to finish 45th in the 400-meter individual medley in a time of 4:55.99.
UW alumna and volunteer assistant coach Jackie Vavrek also enjoyed a strong performance Thursday, as she finished second in the consolation final of the 50-meter freestyle. Vavrek, a nine-time All-American for the Badgers from 2005 to 2008, was 10th overall in the event with a time of 25.45.
Vavrek was second at the national short-course championships in the 50-yard freestyle back in December.
Also in the 50-meter free, sophomore Maggie Meyer touched first in the event's `C' final, clocking in at 25.33. That impressive time was ninth-fastest overall among the 24 finalists and would have placed Meyer eighth in the championship final.
She was only 23rd-fastest during the morning prelims at 26.02, narrowly qualifying for the `C' final.
Sophomore Kelsey Gergen also swam in the 50 free and was 27th in the prelims at 26.16, while freshman Beckie Thompson finished 34th at 26.28.
Dara Torres won the 50 free title in 24.43.
Also Thursday at the Canadian World Championships Trials, UW freshman Monika Stitski finished fifth in the 400-meter IM, clocking in at 4:53.24.
Back in Indianapolis, former Badger Adam Mania took fifth place in the `C' final of the men's 100-meter butterfly by clocking a time of 54.24. Michael Phelps won the championship in a world-record time of 50.22.
A pair of swimmers with UW ties also swam in the men's 50-meter freestyle, led by Dale Rogers' 26th-place effort of 23.00, while junior Phil Davies was 49th overall in 23.76.
The USA championships continue Friday, with UW athletes competing in four events. Prelims get underway at 8 a.m., with the finals session set for 5 p.m. Live coverage of both sessions can be found at Swimnetwork.com .
