Aug. 4, 2011

PALO ALTO, Calif. – South Carolina sophomore swimmer Rachael Shaffer finished 14th overall in the 400-meter individual medley with a near personal best time of 4:45.27 in the consolation finals of the event at day three of the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships at Stanford University’s Avery Aquatic Center in Palo Alto, Calif., on Thursday night.

Schaffer advanced to the consolation final, missing the national championship race by just one spot after posting a time of 4:46.40 in the morning preliminary round. Teammate Abby Galbreath also competed in the preliminary round of the event, finishing with a mark of 4:57.87.

Several Gamecocks swam time trials in various events, with junior Brooks Ross posting a time of 1:55.54 in the 200 meter freestyle, which when converted to the short-course yards format that college swimming uses, the time would be a personal best. Junior Collin Kaden posted a 56.39 in the 100 fly and senior Ryan Connolly swam a 2:08.76 in the 200 individual medley, both personal bests after the conversion.

South Carolina continues competition at nationals on Friday. Complete meet results can be found via USA Swimming’s website (www.usaswimming.org), or by clicking HERE.

Thursday
Women 50 M Freestyle
Prelim: Bridget Halligan, 26:53

Women 400 M – IM
Prelim: Rachael Schaffer, 4:46.40
Consolation Final: 4:45.27 (14th overall)

Prelim: Abby Galbreath, 4:57.87

Time Trials
Women 100 M Freestyle
Bridget Halligan, 1:11.57

Women 200 M Freestyle
Whitney Avers, 2:07.84

Men 50 M Freestyle
Andrew Seiler, 23.83

Men 200 M Freestyle
Brooks Ross, 1:55.54

Men 100 M Butterfly
Collin Kaden, 56.39
Christopher Kelly, 57.33

Men 200 M – IM
Ryan Connolly, 2:08.76

Men 200 M Butterfly
Matt Navata, 2:06.98