AU SWIMMING: Former Tiger Gangloff sets American record

Former Auburn swimmer Mark Gangloff swam the world’s fastest 100m breast stroke time of 2009 en route to a new American record at the ConocoPhillips National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., in Tuesday’s finals session. Just behind, in second place, was former Auburn teammate Eric Shanteau.

Gangloff advanced to finals following a third-place showing through heats, swimming out of lane three with a 1:00.21 qualifying time.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native exploded in the final heat, throwing down an American record time of 59.01 and signing a ticket to Rome for the 2009 World Championships. The former record was owned by Brenden Hansen who recorded a 59.13 on Aug. 1, 2006 in Irvine, Calif.

Shanteau, who won heats with a 59.89, hit the wall just behind Gangloff in 59.45. Auburn junior Adam Klein finished seventh in finals, hitting the wall in 1:00.99. In prelims, Klein advanced as the sixth seed following a career best, 1:00.72.

Auburn rising senior Maggie Bird also placed seventh in Tuesday night finals, posting a 400m freestyle time of 4:13.72. The Muncie, Ind., native made finals after an eighth-place preliminary finish, touching in at 4:13.19.

Fellow Tigers Will Dove and Robert Looney both advanced to the “C” Final of the men’s 400m free.

Dove, a rising senior, placed 20th overall, hitting the pad with a career-best time of 3:55.19. The Cary, N.C., native finished 22nd through heats with a 3:56.79. Looney, a rising junior, placed 24th overall with a finals time of 3:57.42.

In heats, Looney set his personal-best time in the 400m free, a 3:55.61, that gave the Shreveport, La., native the 18th seed.

The five-day meet is being used as a qualifying meet for American swimmers competing for a spot on the national team.

The trials, which are being held at the Indiana University Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI and run through Saturday, will be a showcase of the top U.S. talent in search for one of 26 spots on the team that will travel to Rome for the 2009 FINA World Championships from July 26-Aug. 2.

Ohlgren advances to 200 IM finals in University Games
Auburn rising senior Ava Ohlgren topped the field in the World University Games 200m IM semifinals Tuesday, advancing as the top seed in today’s final session. The Northville, Mich., native hit the wall in 2:13.23, over two seconds ahead of Italy’s Erica Burrato (2:15.41) in second place.

The 13-time Southeastern Conference Champion delivered two gold medals to Team USA on Sunday, winning the women’s 400m IM finals and swimming the third leg of the victorious United States 400m freestyle relay.

Ohlgren also earned a pair of gold medals for Team USA at the 2007 Pan American Games, taking first in the 200m freestyle and swimming the third leg of the winning 800m freestyle relay team.

Ohlgren earned her position on the USA National Team following a 400 Individual Medley victory at the 2008 USA Swimming U.S. Open, held July 29-Aug. 2 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Northville, Mich., native was also selected to represent the United States in the 200 IM and 200 fly.

The 2009 World University Games are a 12-day, 15-sport event held July 1-12 in Belgrade, Serbia. The United States sent a total of 26 swimmers and 11 divers to Belgrade.