Auburn Swimmers Continue Strong Week at Nationals - AuburnTigers.com

Auburn Swimmers Continue Strong Week at Nationals Nationals Day 2

Emily Bos

Aug. 4, 2011

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Three Auburn swimmers advanced to the 100-meter backstroke finals on Wednesday to highlight the Tigers' day at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.

Kyle Owens, a rising junior from Johnson City, Tenn., earned a fourth-place overall finish with a time of 54.30, improving his Olympic Trials cut to the seventh-fastest time in the country over the last two years. He qualified fifth in prelims with a 54.58. Kohlton Norys finished third in the consolation final with a 55.19, moving into the top 16 of those already qualified for next year's Olympic Trials as well. And Max Murphy swam a 55.33 in the C-final to finish 22nd overall, shaving a couple of tenths off his previous qualifying mark.

Rising junior Brandon Siemasko also picked up an Olympic Trials qualifying mark with a 57.48 in preliminaries, finishing 45th overall.

Two other Tigers advanced to finals in their respective events. Rising sophomore Emily Bos finished 16th overall in the women's 100 backstroke finals, posting a 1:02.08 in the consolation final. And 2011 senior Caitlyn Geary made the C-final in the 200 freestyle, turning in a 2:00.97 to finish third in the heat.

Action continues Thursday with competition in the men's and women's 50 freestyle, the men's 100 butterfly and the women's 100 breaststroke and 400 IM. Live results and streaming video are available through usaswimming.org.