Benko Wins Title at U.S. Nationals
June 21, 1999 | Women's Swimming & Diving
March 30, 1999
LOS ANGELES - USC senior All-American Lindsay Benko won her second career national championship when she swam a 1:59.72 in the 200m freestyle on the third day of the U.S. Spring Nationals on Tuesday (March 30) at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in Long Island, N.Y.
Benko, a second-place finisher in the 100m free on Monday, set a USC record in the event, breaking her old mark of 2:02.07, set at the 1997 U.S. Open. Benko's first career national championship came in the 200m free at the 1998 U.S. Summer Nationals.
Benko then went on to anchor USC's winning 400m free relay team. The unit of senior Karen Campbell, sophomore Alexis Lyon, freshman Kristin MacGregor and Benko swam a winning time of 3:50.59. The men's relay was disqualified.
Trojan senior All-American Bela Szabados posted his second third-place finish of the meet and his second USC record when he swam a 1:49.66, .21 behind winner Josh Davis. Szabados, who was third in the 100m free on Monday, broke Greg Larson's 1992 time of 1:49.88.
Freshman Mark Warkentin reached the consolation finals of the 200m free, swimming a 1:52.14.
Other USC competitors in the meet included Lyon in the 200m free (2:06.86, 33rd), Melissa Pavlik in the 200m free (2:07.99, 49th), Heather Boylan in the 200m free (2:10.24, 73rd), Bret Awbrey in the 200m free (1:55.14, 31st), Liah Kim in the 400m IM (5:10.53, 64th) and Joe Curreri in the 400m IM (4:37.81, 29th).
