INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.? University of Kentucky senior swimmer Will Vietti claimed an Olympic qualifying time on his way to taking first in the C-Final and 17th overall in the 200-yard breaststroke at the 2007 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships on the first day of competition at the Indiana University Natatorium.
Vietti tapped in a personal-best time of 2:16.65 on his way to earning an Olympic qualifying time and placing first overall in the C-Final. His finals time eclipsed two swimmers participating in the B-Final, however his preliminary time and place of 17th (2:17.16), positioned him in the C-Final guaranteeing him at least a 17th place finish. He held his spot and improved his time tremendously in the nightcap. Olympic gold-medalist Brendan Hansen secured first place with a 2:09.91 finals time topping the field by almost a full second.
Vietti participated in the event last summer, earning a 21st overall finish in a time of 2:19.63. In a year?s time, the rising senior has knocked off almost a full three seconds of his time. Vietti placed fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke at the SEC Championships and holds both breaststroke records in UK varsity annals.
The Thermopolis, Wyo., native will take to the water in his marquee event the 100-breast on Friday. He is seeded 23rd in the event with a qualifying time of 1:03.84.
Seven other swimmers participated in events at the national meet Wednesday. Rising seniors Jenny and Heather Bradford, juniors Shane Eliason and Warren Grobbelaar, sophomore Eric McGinnis, freshman Tyler Reed and junior Joe Retrum (a Tuesday participant) enjoyed impressive outings in one of the nation?s premier swimming events.
Retrum, a first-time participant, seeded 92nd claimed 88th in the 200-yard butterfly. Retrum entered with a qualifying time in the short-course. The rising junior nabbed a 2:07.68 time in the long-course event Tuesday.
Heather Bradford began her first appearance at the National Championships with a 70th place finish in the 100-meter freestyle. Bradford swam in the fourth heat and took fifth among the eight swimmers with a time of 57.94, a new personal-best clip. Bradford will also participate in the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle where she is seeded 12th and eighth, respectively.
Jenny Bradford touched in almost an identical time as her sister, finishing in 57.96 in the 100-free. Bradford placed 72nd overall, swimming in the sixth heat. A year ago, Bradford earned 51st place with a time of 57.59. She also will appear in the 100-fly and 50-free. Bradford placed 16th in the 50-free and 37th in the 100-fly at the 2006 National Championships.
McGinnis and Grobbelaar both participated in the 100-free, earning Olympic qualifying times on their way to 38th and 49th, place respectively. McGinnis easily earned a personal-best time when he touched in 51.22, placing second in his heat of eight swimmers. Grobbelaar, tapped in 51.46, also a personal-best.
Joining McGinnis and Grobbelaar was incoming freshman Tyler Reed who earned an 89th place finish swimming in 52.32. All three swimmers participated in the national event for the first time and all three will be underclassmen upon their return to Lexington forming a potent sprint group.
Continuing on the day?s success Eliason earned the fourth Olympic qualifying time for the Wildcats, participating in the 200-yard backstroke tapping in a time of 2:04.66 a personal-best mark. Eliason placed 27th overall, just missing the C-Final cut of 2:04.44. The rising junior is appearing in his first ever National Championships.
At least two Wildcat swimmers will be in action in each day of contention throughout the National Championships. Below is a schedule of events for the Blue and White. Complete coverage of the 2007 ConcoPhillips National Championships, including live video coverage of the finals can be found at www.usaswimming.org.
Complete coverage of the Wildcats can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
Wildcats Schedule at the 2007 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships
Tuesday
Event 2- 200 LC Butterfly
Joe Retrum (junior, Noblesville, Ind.)
88th (2:07.68)
Event 4- 200 LC Breaststroke
Will Vietti (senior, Thermopolis, Wyo.)
17th (2:16.65-OLYM)
Wednesday
Event 9- 100 LC Freestyle
Heather Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
70th (57.94-JR-A)
Jenny Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
72nd (57.96-JR-A)
Event 10- 100 LC Freestyle
Warren Grobbelaar (junior, Pretoria, South Africa)
49th (51.46-OLYM)
Eric McGinnis (sophomore, Raleigh, N.C.)
38th (51.22-OLYM)
Tyler Reed (freshman, Morgantown, Ky.)
89th (52.32-SCN)
Event 12- 200 LC Backstroke
Shane Eliason (junior, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.)
27th (2:04.66-OLYM)
Thursday
Event 17- 100 LC Butterfly
Heather Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
Seed: 12th Qualifying Time: 1:00.53
Jenny Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
Seed: 54th Qualifying Time: 1:02.24
Megan Pulskamp (sophomore, Spartanburg, S.C.)
Seed: 65th Qualifying Time: 1:02.60
Event 18- 100 LC Butterfly
Warren Grobbelaar (junior, Pretoria, South Africa)
Seed: 48th Qualifying Time: 55.41
Friday
Event 21- 200 LC Freestyle
Kyle Greene (sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Seed: 102nd Qualifying Time: 1:38.13(Y)
Event 22- 100 LC Breaststroke
Lindsay Myhre (senior, Aurora, Colo.)
Seed: 101st Qualifying Time: 1:03.43(Y)
Event 23- 100 LC Breaststroke
Will Vietti (senior, Thermopolis, Wyo.)
Seed: 23rd Qualifying Time: 1:03.84
Event 25- 100 LC Backstroke
Shane Eliason (junior, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.)
Seed: 42nd Qualifying Time: 58.24
Saturday
Event 30- 50 LC Freestyle
Heather Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
Seed: 8th Qualifying Time: 25.90
Jenny Bradford (senior, Groveport, Ohio)
Seed: 9th Qualifying Time: 25.90
Jenna Newsome (freshman, Kennesaw, Ga.)
Seed: 66th Qualifying Time: 26.64
Event 31- 50 LC Freestyle
Alex Forbes (freshman, Orlando, Fla.)
Seed: 66th Qualifying Time: 23.76
Warren Grobbelaar (junior, Pretoria, South Africa)
Seed: 75th Qualifying Time: 19.93(Y)
Eric McGinnis (sophomore, Raleigh, N.C.)
Seed: 88th Qualifying Time: 20.30(Y)
