USC's Binder, Arizona's Neethling Take Wins
June 21, 1999 | Women's Swimming & Diving
July 24, 1998
LOS ANGELES -- USC sophomore All-American Alexis Binder and three-time 1998 NCAA champion Ryk Neethling of Arizona both won their respective 800m freestyle events, kicking off the 5th annual Janet Evans Invitational on Thursday (July 23) at the USC McDonald's Swim Stadium, hosted by USC and presented by Speedo.
Neethling, from South Africa, set a meet record in a time of 8:07.31, bettering the mark of 8:07.54 posted by Australia's Kieren Perkins (the world record holder in the event) set last year. U.S. national swimmer Chris Thompson took second (8:17.02) and Matt O'Mara from Reno Aquatics took third (8:18.86). Olympic gold medalist Tom Dolan finished fifth (8:21.27).
Binder, who earned All-American honors in the 1650-yard free as a freshman, upset 1996 Olympian and 1998 1650-yard NCAA Champion Trina Jackson as well as U.S. national teamer Jamie Cail of Marina High. Binder won the event in a personal-best time 8:47.02. Jackson took second (8:51.56) and Julie Varroza of Santa Clara Swim Club finished third (8:52.10). Cail, the 1998 CIF Southern Section Division I Swimmer of the Year, finished sixth in 8:57.14.
The meet continues Friday through Sunday (July 24-26) with prelims beginning at 9 a.m. and finals starting at 5 p.m. each day. The order of events for the remaining days are as follows:
Friday: 100m Freestyle, 200m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke, 400m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle Relay
Saturday: 200m Freestyle, 200m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 400m IM, 800m Freestyle Relay
Sunday: 100m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m IM, 1500m Freestyle, 400 Medley Relay
Results
Men's 800m Freestyle (Timed Finals)
1. Ryk Neethling (Hillenbrand) 8:07.31*
2. Chris Thompson (Club Wolverine) 8:17.02
3. Matt O'Mara (Reno Aquatics) 8:18.86
4. Steven McLeod (Mission Viejo) 8:19.30
5. Tom Dolan (Club Wolverine) 8:21.27
6. Ryno Markgraaff (Hillenbrand) 8:21.35
7. James Davison (Mission Viejo) 8:23.69
8. Tim Siciliano (North Coast Aquatics) 8:24.74
*Meet Record
Women's 800m Freestyle (Timed Finals)
1. Alexis Binder (USC) 8:47.02
2. Trina Jackson (Hillenbrand) 8:51.56
3. Julie Varozza (Santa Clara Swim Club) 8:52.10
4. Caroline Kilian (De Anza Cupertino Aqu.) 8:52.92
5. Ellen Stonebraker (Wisconsin Aquatics) 8:54.62
6. Jamie Cail (Golden West Swim Club) 8:57.14
7. Corrie Murphy (USC) 9:00.68
8. Melissa Pavlik (USC) 9:01.58
