2016-17 USA Swimming National Team Roster
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech senior Robert Owen has been named to the 2016-17 USA Swimming National Team, the first H2Okie to ever be selected, USA Swimming announced on Friday.
As Owen’s coach, head coach Ned Skinner will serve as a 2016-17 National Team coach.
Owen is one of 84 members on the squad comprised of swimmers that finished with top six times at the 2016 Olympic Games, 2016 US Olympic Swim Trials and the 2016 US Swimming Open. With his selection, Owen is now considered as one of the top swimmers in the country in the 200 backstroke.
Owen’s time of 1:56.79 in the 200 backstroke at the 2016 US Open solidified his spot on the National Team, which features household names such as Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian and Ryan Murphy. The Bridgewater, Mass., native finished sixth overall at the 2016 Olympic Swim Trials with a 1:57.48 in the 200 backstroke. He also appeared as an alternate in the 400 meter individual medley at Trials.
As a junior, Owen set school records in the 400 IM and 400 medley relay. He also won individual titles in the 400 IM at ACC Swimming Championships and was an Honorable Mention All-American in the 400 IM and 200 backstroke.
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