The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hobson wins 200m free crown at Phillips 66 National Championships
06.28.2023 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Longhorns added a trio of medals on the second day of the national meet.
INDIANAPOLIS – Texas Swimming's Luke Hobson won gold in the 200-meter freestyle on day two of the United States Phillips 66 National Championships on Wednesday night at the Indiana University Natatorium.
With the victory, Hobson secured a spot on the United States roster for the 2023 World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The Longhorns added bronze medals from Jake Foster in the 200m breaststroke and Texas Ex Drew Kibler in the 200m free to bring UT's two-day medal count to six.
Hobson, the NCAA champion in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle, won gold in the 200-meter free in come-from-behind fashion, touching the wall in 1:45.18 for the win after surging past runner-up Kiernan Smith (1:45.63) and Kibler (1:45.75) in the final 50 meters. Coby Carrozza gave the Longhorns four swimmers in the championship final, placing eighth in 1:47.10.
In the women's 200m free, incoming Longhorn Erin Gemmell took fourth with a swim of 1:56.23 to qualify for a spot on the U.S. 4x100 freestyle relay.
Foster swam a season-best 2:09.10 to win bronze in the 200m breast, while former Longhorn Will Licon took fifth with a time 2:10.13. Incoming Longhorn Will Scholtz swam 2:15.45 to finish fifth in the C Final.
Olivia Bray took seventh in the women's 50-meter butterfly with a time of 26.33. It marked her second swim of the evening session after taking second in the 200m back consolation final, posting a personal-best 2:09.66 to drop over 1.5 seconds from her previous top time.
A pair of Longhorns raced in the women's 50m fly consolation final with Ava Longi placing fifth in 26.81 and Emma Sticklen swimming 26.96 to take seventh.
The men's 200-meter back C Final saw Chris O'Connor collect the win in 1:58.24 with incoming Longhorn Will Modglin taking third 2:00.45.
Leah Smith, who trains in Austin with women's head coach Carol Capitani, placed sixth in the 200 free with a swim of 1:59.61.
The Phillips 66 National Championships continue on Thursday in Indianapolis with the 400-meter individual medley, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter breaststroke and 50-meter backstroke.
Texas Medal Winners – 2023 U.S. Phillips 66 National Championships
National Champion
Men's 200-meter butterfly – Carson Foster
Men's 200-meter freestyle – Luke Hobson
Silver
Women's 800-meter freestyle – Jillian Cox
Bronze
Women's 200-meter butterfly – Dakota Luther
Men's 200-meter freestyle – Drew Kibler
Men's 200-meter breaststroke – Jake Foster
Players Mentioned
