Simone Manuel Leads Team USA on Night One of Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool
Swimming Australia, December 12, 2015: Team USA owns a 74-48 lead heading into final day of competition. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas) set a short-course meters American record in the women’s 100-meter freestyle and anchored the U.S. to a world record in the women’s 400m medley relay to lead Team USA to a 74-48 lead over Europe on the opening night of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool at the Indiana University Natatorium on Friday. The two-day dual meet concludes at 2 p.m. Eastern Saturday.
On the night, U.S. swimmers posted seven short-course meters American record swims, one world record and won nine of the 14 events contested. Compete results from the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool can be found here.
Manuel came from behind at the 50-meter mark to win the women’s 100m free in an American record 51.69, surpassing Natalie Coughlin’s six-year-old mark. Her Stanford teammate Lia Neal (Brooklyn, N.Y.) took second in 52.08.
“I think a lot of the people in the field were going to take it out fast, so I tried to stay patient and really bring it home at the end of the race,” Manuel said.
On the women’s 400m medley relay, Manuel hit the water even with the European squad and pulled away down the stretch to touch in 3:45.20 to eclipse Team USA’s four-year-old world record. Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.), Katie Meili (Colleyville, Texas) and Kelsi Worrell (Mt. Holly, N.J.) swam the first three legs of the American- and world-record-setting relay.
The men’s 400m medley relay of Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill.), Kevin Cordes (Naperville, Ill.), Tom Shields (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Nathan Adrian (Bremerton, Wash.) followed with an American record of its own, touching in 3:20.91. Grevers also added an American mark in the 100m back with his 49.25 leadoff split.
Also victorious in American-record fashion was Cody Miller (Reno, Nev.), an Indiana University product who rode a supportive crowd to a win in the men’s 200m breast 2:02.33, and Shields, who took home the 100m fly in 48.63. Worrell, who touched second in the women’s 100m fly in 55.42, also set an American record.
“It’s like a hometown pool for me, I’ve been racing here for years. Some of my best races have been in this pool,” Miller said. “Anytime you’re in a situation like, racing against the world’s best, that’s how you get better.”
With the score tied at 9-9 following the first two events, Team USA went 1-2 in both 100m freestyles to grab a lead it would not relinquish. In the men’s race Adrian took the win in 46.57, with Josh Schneider (Cincinnati, Ohio) second in 46.66. The back-to-back sweeps pushed the Team USA lead to 25-11 through four events.
Other winners for the U.S. on night one included Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) in the men’s 400m IM in 4:02.78, Grevers in the 200m back in 1:48.97 and Melanie Margalis (St. Petersburg, Fla.) in the women’s 200m breast in 2:18.35.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu led Europe with a pair victories on the night, taking the women’s 400m IM in 4:21.21 and the women’s 200m back in 1:59.75.
The U.S. is undefeated and holds a 6-0 all-time record in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool.
Television coverage of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool will air Sunday, Dec. 19 on Universal HD from 2-4 p.m. Eastern and NBC from 4-6 6 p.m. Eastern.
About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.
Issued on behalf of USA Swimming.org by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
Hanson Media Group | P O Box 299 | West Burleigh Qld 4219
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160 | Fax: +61 7 5522 5557
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | www.hansonsportsmedia.com.au