Olympians Magnuson, Vanderkaay win titles at US swimming nationals

Olympians Magnuson, Vanderkaay win national titles

INDIANAPOLIS — Olympians Christine Magnuson and Peter Vanderkaay won titles at the U.S. national swimming championships Tuesday night, qualifying for the world championships later this month.

Magnuson won the 100-meter butterfly, touching first in 57.15 seconds at the Indiana University Natatorium. She was the silver medalist at the Beijing Games.

“I think I can be better at worlds, which is exciting,” she said. “I know I can clean that up a little bit. I’m on the team, so I’m happy.”

Vanderkaay held off 20-year-old training partner Daniel Madwed to win the 400 freestyle in 3:45.17. Vanderkaay, who was fourth in Beijing, was under American record pace through the first 350 meters.

Madwed, who trains at Michigan, hugged the lane line and drafted off Vanderkaay throughout, but he couldn’t catch him down the stretch and finished second in 3:47.24.

“Dan is a great asset to have on the team,” Vanderkaay said. “We go at it every day. It’s fun to train with him and race with him.”

Dana Vollmer finished second to Magnuson in 57.32, putting herself in line for a trip to Rome. Olympian Elaine Breeden was third in 57.46.

Olympian Julia Smit set an American record in the 200 individual medley, winning in 2:09.34. She lowered the mark of 2:09.71 set by Katie Hoff at last year’s U.S. Olympic trials.

Elizabeth Pelton, a 16-year-old who trains at the same North Baltimore club as Michael Phelps, was under world record pace through the opening 100 meters. She held on for second in 2:10.03.

Dagny Knutson, a 17-year-old up-and-comer from Minot, N.D., was second early before fading to fourth.

Olympians Mark Gangloff and Eric Shanteau dueled in the 100 breaststroke. Gangloff flirted with the world mark before winning in an American-record time of 59.01, fastest in the world this year.

“I’ve been knocking on that barrier for so long, it feels good to bust on through,” he said.

It was Gangloff’s first sub-minute performance, making him the third American man to go under a minute in the event. Shanteau was the second to do so in the morning preliminaries. Gangloff lowered Brendan Hansen’s 2006 record of 59.13. Shanteau was timed in 59.45.

Phelps had opening night of the five-day meet off. He’ll be swimming in two events Wednesday.