Kovac Nabs U18 National Title at Phillips 66 National Championships as Tigers Notch 12 Top 16 Finishes
7/31/2018 8:12:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
IRVINE, Calif. - Eight current, former and future members of the Mizzou men's and women's swimming and diving teams combined for 12 top 16 finishes at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships, held July 25-29 at the William Wollett, Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine, Calif. Incoming freshman Danny Kovac claimed the 18-and-Under 100 fly national title as the highest-placing swimmer 18 and under in the event.
Kovac placed 14th overall in the men's 100 fly at the meet and first among competitors 18 and under to claim his national title. He went 52.71 in finals, just off the personal-best time of 52.70 he clocked in preliminaries.
Junior Nick Alexander notched four top 15 finishes on his own, with placements of eighth in the 200 back, 10th in the 100 back, 12th in the 50 back and 15th in the 200 IM. He recorded best times in all four of the events, including taking almost two full seconds off his previous best in the 200 back, to rank him sixth nationally in the event this year.
Michael Chadwick, who completed his Tiger career in 2017, earned a pair of top five finishes, placing fourth in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. The 48.44 he posted in finals was personal-best, just faster than his 48.48 recorded at the 2017 National Championships.
In the 50 breast, junior Caleb Hicks won the B final to place ninth overall. He went a career-best 27.48 in prelims, which was more than half a second better than his previous best set at last year's Championships.
Also notching top 16 finishes were senior Annie Ochitwa in the 50 fly (12th), sophomore Carter Grimes in the 400 IM (15th), senior Luke Mankus in the 50 fly (16th) and senior Jordan O'Brien in the 50 breast (16th).
Complete Results
Men's 200 Fly
19. Jack Dahlgren (1:59.83 finals; 1:59.10 prelims)
21. Micah Slaton (1:59.99 finals; 1:59.62 prelims)
30. Dane Flore (2:02.99 U18 D final; 2:00.86 prelims)
32. Carter Grimes (2:00.24 prelims)
Women's 100 Free
35. Sammie Jo Porter (55.72 prelims)
47. Annie Ochitwa (56.01 prelims)
Men's 100 Free
5. Michael Chadwick (48.44 finals; 48.60 prelims)
54. Danny Kovac (50.69 prelims)
65. Jack Dahlgren (51.15 prelims)
Women's 800 Free
21. Courtney Evensen (8:40.86)
Men's 1500 Free
47. Jacob Wielinski (15:54.77)
48. Dane Florea (15:55.08)
Women's 200 Free
47. Courtney Evensen (2:01.95)
Men's 200 Free
27. Jack Dahlgren (1:50.19 U18 D final; 1:50.49 prelims)
71. Danny Kovac (1:52.62)
Women's 200 Breast
41. Lauren Savoy (2:33.03 prelims)
Men's 200 Breast
33. Jordan O'Brien (2:15.71 prelims)
Women's 200 Back
60. Kylie Dahlgren (2:17.16 prelims)
Men's 200 Back
8. Nick Alexander (1:58.49 finals, 1:57.17 prelims)
23. Alex Walton (2:03.32 finals; 2:01.52 prelims)
33. Griffin Schaetzle (2:02.13 prelims)
38. Daniel Hein (2:02.24 prelims)
41. Carter Grimes (2:02.3 prelims)
63. Jack Dahlgren (2:05.69 prelims)
Women's 50 Fly
12. Annie Ochitwa (26.97 finals, 27.03 prelims)
Men's 50 Fly
16. Luke Mankus (24.59 finals, 24.20 prelims)
27. Danny Kovac (24.74 U18 D final, 24.76 prelims)
35. Micah Slaton (24.72 prelims)
46. Daniel Hein (25.02 prelims)
Women's 400 IM
44. Devan Sweeney (4:54.51 prelims)
67. Lauren Savoy (5:01.42 prelims)
Men's 400 IM
15. Carter Grimes (4:23.67 finals, 4:21.45 prelims)
30. Dane Florea (4:30.95 U18 D final; 4:23.48 prelims)
53. Alex Walton (4:29.49 prelims)
Women's 100 Fly
53. Annie Ochitwa (1:01.01 prelims)
Men's 100 Fly
14. Danny Kovac (52.71 finals, 52.70 prelims)
28. Micah Slaton (53.49 prelims)
39. Daniel Hein (53.86 prelims)
50. Luke Mankus (54.33 prelims)
Women's 50 Breast
44. Emily Snyder (32.96 prelims)
Men's 50 Breast
9. Caleb Hicks (27.53 finals, 27.48 prelims)
16. Jordan O'Brien (29.38 finals, 27.93 prelims)
Women's 50 Back
32. Haley Hynes (29.30 prelims)
Men's 50 Back
12. Nick Alexander (25.73 finals, 25.43 prelims)
27. Jack Dahlgren (26.67 U18 D final; 26.67 prelims)
32. Daniel Hein (26.32 prelims)
49. Griffin Schaetzle (27.08 prelims)
Women's 400 Free
31. Courtney Evensen (4:14.65 prelims)
Men's 400 Free
84. Dane Florea (4:06.95 prelims)
Men's 100 Breast
18. Jordan O'Brien (1:01.76 finals, 1:01.54 prelims)
20. Caleb Hicks (1:02.14 finals; 1:01.50 prelims)
Women's 100 Back
51. Annie Ochitwa (1:02.95 prelims)
92. Haley Hynes (1:05.08 prelims)
Men's 100 Back
10. Nick Alexander (54.34 finals, 54.46 prelims)
31. Jack Dahlgren (57.02 U18 D final, 56.65 prelims)
32. Daniel Hein (55.96 prelims)
56. Alex Walton (56.96 prelims)
73. Griffin Schaetzle (58.8 prelims)
Women's 1500 Free
17. Courtney Evensen (16:36.84)
Women's 200 IM
56. Kylie Dahlgren (2:18.72 prelims)
87. Lauren Savoy (2:21.84 prelims)
Men's 200 IM
15. Nick Alexander (2:01.49 finals; 2:01.83 prelims)
28. Danny Kovac (2:03.54 finals; 2:03.28 prelims)
37. Alex Walton (2:04.03 prelims)
Men's 800 Free
52. Jacob Wielinski (8:15.52)
63. Dane Florea (8:23.82)
Women's 50 Free
28. Annie Ochitwa (25.77 prelims)
Men's 50 Free
4. Michael Chadwick (22.00 finals, 22.30 prelims)
36. Luke Mankus (23.14 prelims)
Players Mentioned
