Owen qualifies for World University Games at USA Swimming Nationals

Hicks places third with a personal time in the C final of the 200 meter backstroke

June 28, 2017

BLACKSBURG - Rising sophomore Chloe Hicks and 2017 senior Robert Owen both registered third place finishes in the 200 meter backstroke at the 2017 USA Swimming National Championships on Wednesday evening in Indianapolis.

Hicks swam a 2:13.45 to finish third in the C final while Owen, a member of the USA Swimming National Team, placed third with a time of 1:57.17. Owen’s top three finish in the A final qualified him for the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan from August 20-27, his first major international event he’s qualified for.

A Centreville, Virginia native, Hicks was in the lead through the first 50 meters with a split of 30.98 but still managed to secure a top three finish. Her time of 2:13.45 set a new personal best and was more than a second improvement on her morning time of 2:14.08.

Owen also improved on his morning time of 1:57.34 in the A final. That time was the second-fastest of the prelims and slightly faster than Ryan Murphy, an Olympic gold medalist in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke events.

Owen and Hicks will be back at it tomorrow morning as they compete in the prelims of the 50m backstroke.

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