Big Night for TYR at 2009 World Championship Trials

The IUPUI pool in Indianapolis, IN set the stage Friday evening for TYR swimmers to shine at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials. Matt Grevers and Mary DeScenza both qualified for the U.S. team to compete at the championships in Rome, Italy beginning on July 22nd. TYR’s coach Kim Brackin of University of Texas also placed a swimmer on the roster, adding to the night’s overall success. In the final of the men’s 100m freestyle, Grevers arrived from the ready room dressed in TYR’s new Tracer Sayonara™. After placing eighth in the preliminaries in a 49.01, he stepped on the blocks of lane eight ready to be the heat’s outside smoke. Going out in a blazing 22.89-the fastest in the field- he did just that. “I knew I had to race with nothing to lose. So I did, “said Grevers. “I went out fast trying on the new Sayonara and it worked out great. I felt so much better tonight in the water.” Grevers held on the second fifty to place fourth overall, touching in a lifetime best 48.27. The time positioned him on the men’s 400m freestyle relay in Rome, Italy at the World Championships- the same event he is a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in. “I wanted that so bad tonight,” Grevers said of making the relay team. “Being a part of the relay team in Beijing was incredible and I knew I wanted to be a part of that again. This is awesome.” Immediately following Grever’s performance, DeScenza entered the final heat of the women’s 200m butterfly seated third. Already dropping half a second three nights before in the 100m butterfly (57.77) where she placed fourth, it would take another personal best to make the team. DeScenza entered the turn at the 150m in third place, and used her back end speed to close in on the competition, splitting 33.21 on the last 50m. The effort resulted in the fastest time of DeScenza’s career- 2:07.13. Touching second, she reached her goal of making the U.S. roster for the championships. “I am so excited I am going to Rome,” DeScenza exclaimed. “I just wanted to swim my own race and not worry about what was going on around me. It has been a really hard week and I am happy I was able to come out on top!” Also excited and relieved after the race was University of Texas’ head womens coach Brackin, who watched as her swimmer finished first, also securing a spot on the World Championship team roster. “It felt great to watch her make the team,” Brackin said. “She deserves to be in Rome. She works hard and is a talented kid. Right now I feel excitement, relief, and pride for her.” With only one more day left at the championships, sign on to TYR.com to share in the enthusiasm of TYR’s swimmers and coaches as they look to add more swims to their trip in Rome.