Swimming: Local Swimmers make splash at Nationals
Local swimmers created a lot of fireworks last week at the the Phillips 66 National Swim Championships in Indianapolis.
16-year old White Plains resident Claire Weinstein made the biggest splash during the championships.
On June 28, Weinstein, who swims for the Sandpipers of Nevada, edged out Olympic distance legend Katie Ledecky in the 200-meter freestyle. Weinstein won by two one-hundredths of a second in a time of 1:55.26. Ledecky finished second in a time of 1:55.28.
"It feels amazing," Weinstein told NBC Sports. "I just wanted to make the team again so that feels really good."
Weinstein finished third in the 800 free behind Ledecky,
Former Pelham and University of Virginia standout Kate Douglass also made some noise at the National Championships.
The Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 individual medley added the title of national champion in the event. She owns the fastest time in the event on American soil in a time of 2:07.09, which is a new US Open Record. In the process she defeated reigning World Champion and her Cavalier teammate Alex Walsh. Douglass's time is now the sixth-fastest in the world this year.
"I was very excited to swim this race because I hadn't swam it in a while," Douglass said to NBC Sports. "I felt very prepared and I'm really happy with that."
She also won the 100 freestyle. She was tied for third in the 50 free, third in the 100 butterfly, and second in the 200 breaststroke.
Next up for Team USA is the World Aquatic Championships starting on July 23 in Fukuoka, Japan.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Swimming: Kate Douglass and Claire Weinstein win national titles
