MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Four West Virginia University swimmers competed in three events on the first day of the 2015 AT&T USA Swimming Winter National Championships in Federal Way, Washington, on Thursday.
Junior Nate Carr led WVU with a 32nd-place finish in the 200 meter individual medley, while seniors Jaimee Gillmore, Ross Glegg and Andrew Marsh raced in the 50 freestyle at the national event organized by USA Swimming.
“We had a very solid morning,” WVU coach Vic Riggs said. “Nate’s 200 IM was his fastest in the prelims, but just short of getting a second swim in the finals. Jaimee’s 50 was her lifetime best and she continues to inch closer to her trial cut. Andrew and Ross had solid 50 free swims as well. James Koval swam a good 400 free time trial to end our day. We have a strong day tomorrow and need to make sure we don’t leave anything in the pool when we get done with our swims to get those second swims at night.”
Carr opened the prelims for the Mountaineers with a 2:05.74 in the 200 individual medley. He finished 32nd overall, 1.25 seconds shy of earning a spot in tonight’s finals.
In the women’s 50 freestyle, Gillmore notched a personal-best time of 26.74. She finished 67th overall, beating out two swimmers who finished 0.01 seconds behind her.
In the men’s 50 freestyle, Marsh swam a 23.73 to tie for 74th. Glegg swam a 24.18 and tied for 94th.
Koval concluded the day for the Mountaineers by swimming in the 400 freestyle time trial. The sophomore finished in 4:07.76.
Carr, Gillmore, Glegg, Koval and Marsh are joined by seniors Jay Hickey and Max Spencer at the USA Winter Nationals. The three day meet continues tomorrow, with prelims at noon, ET, and finals at 9 p.m. ET.
On Friday, Carr races in the 400 individual medley, while Marsh, Glegg and Carr compete in the 200 freestyle. Spencer will race in the 100 breaststroke before the day concludes with Marsh and Carr in the 100 backstroke. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the final day of competition, Hickey joins Carr in the 200 backstroke, Marsh and Glegg race in the 100 freestyle and Spencer and Carr compete in the 200 breaststroke before Koval races in the 1,500 freestyle.
The competition is raced in long course meters at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Winter National Championships Schedule:
Thursday, December 3, 2015
400 Freestyle
200 Individual Medley – Carr
50 Freestyle – Gillmore, Marsh, Glegg
Friday, December 4, 2015
400 Individual Medley – Carr
100 Butterfly – Marsh
200 Freestyle – Marsh, Glegg, Carr
100 Breaststroke – Spencer
100 Backstroke – Marsh, Carr
Saturday, December 5, 2015
200 Backstroke – Hickey, Carr
100 Freestyle – Marsh, Glegg
200 Breaststroke – Spencer, Carr
200 Butterfly
800 Freestyle
1,500 Freestyle – Koval
