The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Johnston captures 400m free title at Phillips 66 National Championships
06.30.2023 | Men's Swimming and Diving
David Johnston won the first national championship of his career and the Longhorns’ fourth of the meet.
INDIANAPOLIS – Texas Swimming's David Johnston won 400-meter free gold on day four of the United States Phillips 66 National Championships on Friday at the Indiana University Natatorium.
The victory marked the first national title Johnston's career and earned him a spot in the United States roster for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Lydia Jacoby captured silver in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, her second silver of the meet, to increase Texas' medal count to 10 through the first four days of competition.
Johnston earned the 400m free victory with a swim of 3:45.75, shaving over three seconds off of the personal-best 3:49.07 he swam in the prelims, while teammate Luke Hobson placed seventh in 3:50.41. It was Hobson who took control of the race at the outset, leading through the first 200 meters with Kiernan Smith sitting second and Johnston third. Smith and Johnston moved ahead of Hobson over the next 100 meters and Johnston surged over the final 100 meters to overtake Smith, who placed second in 3:46.11.
Jacoby collected her second silver of the meet, placing second in the 100m breast in 1:05.16, her best mark in the event since winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Chris O'Connor took seventh in the men's 100m back with a swim of 53.70, while in the men's 100m breast, Jake Foster placed eighth with a time of 1:00.31 and Texas Great Will Licon placed fourth in the consolation final in 1:09.95.
It was a good day for incoming Longhorn's in the women's 400-meter free as Erin Gemmell placed fifth in the championship final with a swim of 4:06.93 and Jillian Cox won the consolation final in 4:06.60.
On the men's side, Texas Ex Drew Kibler (3:49.88) and Alec Enyeart (3:51.25) took second and fourth, respectively, 400-meter free consolation final.
The Phillips 66 National Championships conclude on Saturday with the 200-meter individual medley, 50-meter freestyle, women's 1500-meter freestyle and men's 800-meter freestyle.
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
Men's 400-meter individual medley – Carson Foster
Men's 400-meter freestyle – David Johnston
Silver
Women's 800-meter freestyle – Jillian Cox
Women's 50-meter breaststroke – Lydia Jacoby
Women's 100-meter breaststroke – Lydia Jacoby
Bronze
Women's 200-meter butterfly – Dakota Luther
Men's 200-meter freestyle – Drew Kibler
Men's 200-meter breaststroke – Jake Foster
Players Mentioned
