The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Walters claims 100 free at U.S. Championships
08.02.2007 | Men's Swimming and Diving
INDIANAPOLIS -- University of Texas sophomore Dave Walters stunned a loaded field to capture the 100-meter freestyle, an event featuring two Olympic gold medalists and two former Longhorn All-Americans, Wednesday evening at the 2007 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships.
Walters (Yorktown, Va.) stood in last place after completing the first 50 meters in 23.75 before running down the seven competitors in front of him to win in 48.96. Walters edged Ryk Neethling, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist for South Africa in the 400-meter freestyle relay, who took silver at 48.98.
Former Longhorn All-American Neil Walker, who co-owns the 400-meter freestyle relay world record with Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak, took fourth in 490.10. Garrett Weber-Gale, UT's 2006 NCAA 100-yard freestyle champion, placed fifth at 49.14.
Walters also topped Olympic gold medalist Roland Schoeman, who teamed with Neethling to win gold for South Africa at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in the 400-meter freestyle relay. Schoeman took sixth in 49.15.
Walters teamed up with Walker, fellow UT sophomore Ricky Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) and Dale Rogers to take second in the 400-meter freestyle relay for the Longhorn Aquatics club team. The quartet took silver in 3:18.66. The Longhorn Aquatics "B" squad of Weber-Gale, senior Chris Seitz (Taylor Mill, Ky.), junior Ryan Verlatti (Tacoma, Wash.) and sophomore Peter Jameson (Indianapolis, Ind.) placed fourth at 3:21.09.
Former Longhorn All-American Troy Dumais enjoyed a solid showing Wednesday at the 2007 Kaiser Permanente USA Diving National Championships, where he led the three-meter event going into the finals with a score of 431.55. Dumais will take part in the finals on Saturday, Aug. 4 in Palo Alto, Calif.
