When the North Baltimore Aquatic Club was set to depart for the USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine, Calif., a week ago, coach Paul Yetter admitted that his team?s focus was on individual progression. That mentality was evident when Yetter said his team would not compete in relay events, essentially taking NBAC out of the running for any national team titles.
As of Thursday, however, the NBAC girls sat in 10th place overall, thanks in part to some personal bests.
Olympian Katie Hoff set a new American record in the 200-meter individual medley on Tuesday, nearly breaking a world mark in the process. Hoff?s time of 2:10.05 broke her own record, according to the USA Swimming Web site.
With her championship performance, Hoff, like all other top-two finishers at nationals, has qualified for the Pan Pacific Games.
“I?m so excited to have gotten a best time,” Hoff said on the USA Swimming Web site. “And Pan Pacs is going to be even better.”
Hoff brought home another spot in the Pan Pacific meet with a second-place finish in the 400-meter freestyle. Kate Ziegler beat Hoff by just .12 seconds.
And all of that came on the first day of competition. On Wednesday, Hoff took second in the 200 free after breaking the meet record in the preliminary race with a time of 1:58.03.
According to the NBAC Web site, Courtney Kalisz, Felicia Lee, and Kirsten Groome have each turned in solid performances.
Also in Irvine, Baltimore native Michael Phelps, once an NBAC member, is now swimming for Club Wolverine. His new club is located in Michigan, where he is listed as a member of the University of Michigan coaching staff.
Through the first two days, Phelps has picked up wins in the 400-meter IM, 200-meter free, and 200-meter butterfly events. Despite his trio of wins, Phelps feels he could be faring better.
“It?s better than we were last year,” Phelps told usaswimming.org. “But by no means is this where I want to be right now.”
Behind Phelps? efforts, Club Wolverine is in second place behind Longhorn Aquatics in the overall team standings. The Wolverine men?s squad holds a team lead over Longhorn.
NATIONAL POWERS
» The NBAC has developed Olympic swimmers such as Hoff, Phelps, Beth Botsford and Anita Nall. For more on the club, visit www.nbac.net.
» The USA Swimming National Championships wrap up Saturday in Irvine, Calif. Keep up with the local swimmers on www.nbac.net, or at www.usaswimming.org.
