Former Bulldogs Chase Kalisz and Olivia Smoliga raced to gold medals at the Phillips 66 Nationals in the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center on Thursday, securing their respective names on the 2018 U.S. Pan Pacific Championships roster.
Kalisz shared the pool of the 400-meter IM final with two other Bulldogs: Jay Litherland and Gunnar Bentz. Litherland followed Kalisz in second (4:10.21), and Bentz checked in at seventh (4:15.48).
Smoliga’s gold came in the final event of the night, the 50-meter backstroke. After placing second in the preliminary round, Smoliga produced a time of 27.70 for the top finish.
In the B heat of the 400-meter IM, incoming freshman Andrew Abruzzo and junior Clayton Forde came in respective third (4:19.79) and fourth (4:19.94) places.
Mel Margalis represented the Bulldog women in the A final of the 400-meter individual medley. She added a bronze medal to her collection with a time of 4:35.40.
Junior Veronica Burchill and incoming freshman Dakota Luther qualified for the A final in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing tied for sixth (58.59), as well as eighth (58.91), respectively.
On the men’s side, sophomore Camden Murphy swam to a sixth-place and 22ndoverall finish in the C heat (53.29).
Nic Fink competed to a sixth-place finish in the 50-meter breaststroke (27.49).
Competition moves into the weekend on Saturday with the 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter breaststroke, and 100-meter backstroke.