Ransford Paces U-M Contingent at Phillips 66 National Championships
7/2/2017 4:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Eleven members of the University of Michigan men's swimming and diving team were in action at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships, held June 27-July 1 at IUPUI Natatorium.
Those swimming included seniors Paul Powers, PJ Ransford and Ryan Sebastian; juniors Stephen Holmquist and Kai Williams; and sophomores Tommy Cope, James Jones, Jacob Montague, Miles Smachlo, Charlie Swanson and Rob Zofchak. Also in Indianapolis was incoming freshman Will Roberts.
Several swimmers put themselves in contention for spots on the 2017-18 U.S. National Team and for the World University Games, though an official announcement is still forthcoming from USA Swimming.
Ransford secured a spot on the U.S. National Team for another year, winning bronze with a third-place finish in the 1,500-meter freestyle (15:01.82). With the top two finishers in that event going to the World Championships, Ransford is likely to be selected to the roster for the World University Games.
Three sophomores made event finals in Indianapolis, including Montague, who did it twice. His best swim of the week came in the 100-meter breaststroke, as he finished fifth (1:00.39) out of lane one, out-touching NCAA champion Will Licon and 2016 Olympian Josh Prenot. Montague was the only swimmer in the eight-man field that was not in the final at last summer's Olympic Trials. He also took eighth in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:12.73) and 11th in the 50-meter breaststroke (28.15).
Smachlo had one of the best performances of the week, shaving nearly four seconds off his seed time to make the final in the 200-meter butterfly, in which he finished eighth (2:00.46). He also had two consolation swims, taking 16th in both the 50-meter butterfly (24.54) and 100-meter butterfly (53.59).
Swanson qualified for the 400-meter individual medley final for the second consecutive year and finished seventh (4:19.26). He was also seventh at last year's Olympic Trials.
Michigan Swimmers at Phillips 66 National Championships
Miles Smachlo
50m FL -- 16th, 24.54
100m FL -- 16th, 53.59
200m FL -- 8th, 2:00.46
200m IM -- 44th, 2:06.08
Paul Powers
50m FR -- 12th, 22.36
100m FR -- T-42nd, 50.38
Will Roberts (Incoming Freshman)
400m FR -- 50th, 4:00.66
800m FR -- 33rd, 8:15.11
1500m FR -- 34th, 15:48.59
400m IM -- 37th, 4:30.08
PJ Ransford
400m FR -- 11th, 3:52.51
800m FR -- 14th, 8:03.55
1500m FR -- 3rd, 15:01.82
Kai Williams
200m FR -- 47th, 1:51.79
Ryan Sebastian
200m BR -- 60th, 2:23.99
Tommy Cope
50m BR -- T-34th, 29.03
100m BR -- 18th, 1:02.67
200m BR -- 20th, 2:15.84
200m IM -- 20th, 2:03.30
Charlie Swanson
200m BR -- 15th, 2:14.56
200m IM -- 27th, 2:04.02
400m IM -- 7th, 4:19.26
Jacob Montague
50m BR -- 11th, 28.15
100m BR -- 5th, 1:00.39
200m BR -- 8th, 2:12.73
200m IM -- 38th, 2:05.39
Rob Zofchak
50m BK -- 32nd, 26.59
100m BK -- 32nd, 56.53
200m BK -- 17th, 2:01.01
James Jones
100m FR -- 46th, 50.68
50m FL -- 25th, 24.68
100m FL -- 74th, 56.31
Stephen Holmquist
400m IM -- 13th, 4:23.58
Players Mentioned
