Ziegler Tunes Up at US Spring Championships
2006-03-30
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - As Kate Ziegler dove in the water for the finals of the women's 800m freestyle Wednesday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - As Kate Ziegler dove in the water for the finals of the women's 800m freestyle Wednesday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, the question wasn't really whether the reigning world champion would win that event, but by how much.

The answer: A lot.

Ziegler, 17, of The Fish, turned in a time of 8:34.56, nearly eight seconds faster than the next-closest competitor, Kirsten Groome of Germantown Academy. Groome finished in 8:42.40, while Japanese Olympian Sachiko Yamada, representing Mission Viejo, was third in 8:43.13.

In typical fashion, Ziegler jumped out in front at the start of the race and then steadily put distance between her and the rest of the field with each lap. Ziegler will be representing the United States at the Short Course World Championships next week in Shanghai, and is using this meet as a warm-up for that competition.

"I need to continue to improve on my speed in the front half," Ziegler said, "and I'm going into the walls a little weak and not getting the momentum coming off that I would like. Hopefully as I continue to taper (for Short Course Worlds), that will come."

The men's distance race – the 1500m free – was a little bit closer, with the four swimmers in the middle of the pool holding pace for most of the way. With 200 meters to go, Justin Mortimer of Mission Viejo separated himself from the rest of the pack and hammered his way home.

His final time of 15:23.27 was about two seconds ahead of Fernando Costa of Indian River Community College (15:25.36) and Chip Peterson of Carteret Current (15:25.87).

"My race plan was to stay as relaxed and comfortable as possible and then finish hard the last 200," Mortimer said. "After prelims, I knew we'd all be pretty close in finals. Whoever could come back the fastest would win, I figured, so I knew I'd have to sprint the last 200 and come home strong."

Olympian and three-time world champion Katie Hoff of North Baltimore Aquatic Club came into tonight's finals seeded first in two events. She ended up winning the 100m free with a time of 55.41, but finished second in the 200m butterfly behind teammate North Baltimore Courtney Kalisz.

In the 100m free, Olympic sprinter Rhi Jeffrey of USC took the lead at the 50-meter mark, only to have Hoff reel her in and pass her down the homestretch. Jeffrey finished second in 55.68, while Candace Blackman of Southern Methodist University was third in 56.64.

"I saw Rhi in the other lane, and I knew it was going to be a good race," Hoff said. "I think (the competition) helped us both go really fast."

In the 200m fly, Hoff and Kalisz were 1-2 through the 150-meter mark, when Kalisz pulled ahead and held on for the win. Her final time was 2:09.77, while Hoff finished at 2:10.67. Kathleen Hersey of Swim Atlanta was third in 2:12.11.

"It was a good experience, a good race between me and Katie," Kalisz said. "I thought that was the best part. We train together every day, and it was good to share that experience with someone I respect so much."

Another Olympic star, Megan Jendrick of King Aquatics, struck gold in the women's 200m breast. Jendrick took control from the beginning of the race and cruised to the win, holding off Caitlin Leverenz of El Dorado Aquatics through the finish.

Jendrick finished with a time of 2:29.06, while Leverenz was second in 2:30.94. Elizabeth Smith of Parkway Swim Club was third in 2:32.62.

"After resting for other meets this year and not swimming long course at all, it's hard to come into a long course meet like this with any expectations," Jendrick said. "I'm happy with my swim tonight, and after some long course training this summer, I'll be ready to go faster at Summer Nationals."

Dale Rogers of Longhorn Aquatics came out on top of a close race in the men's 100m free, out-touching 2005-06 National Junior Teamer David Walters of Typhoon Aquatics 50.38 to 50.44. Another 2005-06 National Junior Teamer, Nathan Adrian of nearby Tacoma Swim Club, was third in 50.54.

"I saw the splits from this morning, and I knew (Walters) would come back fast," Rogers said. "I always go out hard, so I knew I needed some distance on him. I knew I had to push that last 15 meters. I saw him coming after me. It was a good race. Really fun."

Also winning against a tight heat was Matt Coenen of LSU in the men's 200m breast.  Coenen was in third place after the last 50 meters, but pulled the rest of the field in and surged ahead towards the finish. Coenen's final time was 2:19.98.

Jake Salaz of Mt. Hood Swim Team was second in 2:20.30, while Robert Yeager of Team Charlotte was third in 2:20.73.

"I wasn't really using my arms until the last 75," said Coenen, who added that it was special to represent the state of Lousiana this year, especially after some of the struggles the state experienced in the wake of last summer's hurricanes. "I just wanted to use whatever I had left at the end and go as fast as I could."

In other races, Julia Smit of Three Village Swim Club came out on top of the women's 200m back with a time of 2:12.68, ahead of Germantown Academy's Teresa Crippen (2:13.99) and King Aquatics' Ariana Kukors (2:14.70).

"I've been really close to a (national title) for a while," Smit said. "I'm really happy about it."

Omar Pinzon of Bolles School was the winner of the men's 200m back with a time of 2:01.68. Scott Clary of Fast Swim Team was second in 2:02.01, and Cory Chitwood of the Northern Kentucky Clippers was third in 2:02.01.

In the final race of the evening, 2004-05 National Junior Teamer Dan Madwed of the Shark Swim Team flipped on the jets in the final 50 of the men's 200m fly to separate himself from the rest of the field. He finished first with a time of 1:57.56, with Vitko Bodrogi right behind in 1:59.82. Tom Zaferes was third in 2:00.18.

"I've been working on the back half a lot in practice," Madwed said. "It was a great surprise to see I could accomplish exactly what I've been working for."