Courtesy: USA Deaf Swimming
The USADS National Team had a strong showing in the first day of competition at the 2019 World Deaf Swimming Championships. Eight of 14 athletes made finals in their events for this evening plus the women’s 4×200 free relay. Three of these eight finalists were first time competitors at the World Deaf Swimming Championships including Carli Cronk, Brooke Thompson, and Collin Davis.
Seven of the eight evening swims were personal best times. Molly Likins smashed the 200 breaststroke American Deaf Record in the 200 breast with her time of 2:43.69. The old record was 2:50.29 set by Jessica Weeden in 2009. Also earning a personal best time in the women’s 200 breast was Kaitlyn Weatherby with a time of 2:56.26.
Emily Massengale swam to a personal record of 4:43.27 and earned the first bronze medal for Team USA in the women’s 400 freestyle behind Russia’s Polina Bilalova (Gold) and Victorya Terentyeva (Silver). Carli Cronk was 6th in that event with a time of 4:47.38.
Both Brooke Thompson and Elizabeth Cocker swam personal records in the women’s 50 fly with Thompson swimming a 30.80 (7th) and Cocker swimming a 31.00 (8th).
Collin Davis set a new personal record in the men’s 50 backstroke with a time of 27.90 (5th place) in his first World Deaf Championships final. He earned the highest finish of the three first-year athletes in the finals.
Cooper Willetts improved his swim from morning prelims by over 6 seconds with a personal record of 4:49.65 (6th) in the men’s 400 individual medley.
The World Deaf Championship Team is coached by Brad Robbins, Head Coach, from Tigard Tualatin Swim Club and Chris Daly, Assistant Coach, from the Chico Aquajets Swim Club.
Women’s 400 Free.
3rd — Emily Massengale, 4:43.27, (PR) BRONZE
6th — Carli Cronk, 4:47.38
Women’s 50 Fly
7th — Brooke Thompson, 30.80 (PR)
8th — Elizabeth Cocker, 31.00 (PR)
Men’s 50 Back
5th — Collin Davis, 27.90 (PR)
Women’s 200 Breast
5th — Molly Likins, 2:43.69 (PR), *American Record
8th – Kaitlyn Weatherby, 2:56.26 (PR)
Men’s 400 IM
6th — Cooper Willetts, 4:49.65 (PR)
Women’s 4 x 200 Free Relay
4th – Cronk, Massengale, Weatherby, Cocker 9:19.83