Video Interview by Gisselle Kohoyda; Video edit Courtesy Coleman Hodges.
As reported by SwimSwam’s Braden Keith:
Giles Smith of the Phoenix Swim Club is having big success at his first Winter Nationals as a pro, and on Friday he won his first individual National Championship with a 44.99 in the men’s 100 fly.
This was a race dominated by pros, with Club Wolverine’s Geoff Cheah taking 2nd in 45.71, former Michigan swimmer Sean Fletcher taking 3rd in 45.82, and SwimMAC’s Tim Phillips winning the B-Final in 46.78.
In and among them the highest placing collegian in this race was Division II swimmer Matthew Josa from Queens University. Last year at NCAA’s, he won the Division II National title and broke the National Record as well in 45.45, but doesn’t need to be that fast in December to qualify for nationals.
Louisville teammates Pedro Coutinho (46.46), Josh Quallen (46.70), and Aaron Young (46.90) occupied the 5th, 6th, and 7th place spots, respectively.