A group of nine current and former Auburn swimmers are competing this week in the Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis for a chance to swim in the 2013 FINA World Championships.
Rising seniors Olivia Scott, Haley Krakoski and Zane Grothe joined by rising sophomore Jillian Vitarius are the four current Auburn swimmers competing in the meet.
Incoming freshman Kyle Darmody will also be competing against his future Auburn teammates as a member of the SwimMAC Carolina team. Darmody is rated as a top-ten national recruit from the class of 2013. The Charlotte, N.C. native chose the Tigers over family ties to the University of Texas where his older brother swims.
Former Auburn swimmers, including three former Olympians are also competing in the qualifying meet this week. Winner of a London 2012 gold medal, Tyler McGill is a top seed in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly. Two-time gold medalist Mark Gangloff will compete in multiple breaststroke events along with Mikah Lawrence. Karl Krug, a 2012 Auburn graduate, will compete in the sprint freestyle competitions.
The Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships are held June 25-29 at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, home of the 2013 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
The finals in both the men's and women's 200-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle were on Tuesday, June 25. In the men's 100-meter freestyle Darmody finished in 12th with a time of 50.13, followed by a 50.42 by Krug placing him in 27th.
In the women's freestyle, Scott placed 34th following a 56.71 time. Scott did not qualify for the finals in the women's 200-meter butterfly event.
The FINA World Championships will be in Barcelona, Spain July 24-Aug. 4. The top-two competitors in each event will qualify for the U.S. National team.
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