TYR Swimmers Gear Up for World Championship Trials

Only a few days remain before the beginning of the highly-anticipated 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials. Held at the IUPUI pool in Indianapolis, IN, the meet will run from Tuesday, July 7th to Saturday, July 11th, and feature some of the world’s best talent. The World Championship team will be selected off the final results of each race, allowing the top two Americans from each event as well as the top six from the 100m and 200m freestyle event the chance to represent the US. The Championships will be held in Rome, Italy from July 22nd through August 2nd. Seven of TYR’s sponsored athletes will compete at the meet for a chance to wear the stars and stripes this summer. Recent 2008-2009 Grand Prix Series winner Mary DeScenza is scheduled to race in six events at the meet, included her specialty, the 200m butterfly. DeScenza won the event in every stop on the series, is an American Record holder and 2008 World Champion in the event, and will use that momentum against two 2008 Olympians in the event. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers will look to the event that he captured his first individual Olympic medal in, the 100m backstroke, to secure a spot on the championship team. Entered in five events at the trials, he is seated amongst the top 6 for American men in the 50m and 100m freestyle-furthering his chances of a spot on a team as a relay swimmer. Rounding out the top eight her top events entering into the meet, Amanda Weir looks to have a breakout performance and make the team in both the 50m and 100m freestyle. Not new to success on the national or international level, Weir is a 5-time national champion in the sprint freestyles, as well as a 2-time Olympic medalist. Robert Margalis will enter the IUPUI pool as one of the 400 Individual Medley favorites, only behind Olympian Ryan Lochte. An international veteran in the event, Margalis was a member of the 2008 World Championship team, where he placed second in the event. He will also compete in six other events, spreading out his talent throughout the meet. Also competing next week will be TYR’s Adam Ritter, Elizabeth Tinnon, and Tanica Jamison. For up-to-date recaps of the athlete’s performances at the meet, continue to visit the News/Events section of TYR.com. Television broadcasting of the meet will be on Universal Sports. Check local listings for scheduled times.