Miller Repeats as Silver Medalist at USA Nationals

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Big 12 Women’s Swimmer of the Week Chelsie Miller bolted to the top of the conference standings and continued to assert herself as a national contender with a silver medal in the 400-yard individual medley while leading Kansas swimming’s efforts at the AT&T USA Winter Nationals at the Greensboro Aquatics Complex Friday. KU alumna Danielle Herrmann posted her second top-eight finish in as many days with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke and current Jayhawk Bryce Hinde reached finals in the same event.   

Miller used the 2013 USA Winter Nationals as a springboard to one of the most successful seasons in Kansas history and repeated as the national runner-up in the 400 IM in Friday’s finals. Miller led for portions of the race, finishing in a season-best 4:10.01, but was out-touched by Ohio State’s Lindsey Clary 4:09.87 for the crown. Miller’s time ranks as the fastest in the event in the conference entering the weekend and also ranked among the top-10 NCAA times at this point of the season and well under the ‘B’ qualifying standard for the 2015 NCAA Championship Meet.

“Tonight was a big night for Kansas swimming,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “It started off really well (in the morning) with Chelsie getting a lane for the ‘A’ final. Her time of 4:10.01 will be invited to the 2015 NCAA Championships – we’ve cleared that hurdle and now we can focus on Chelsie getting ready for NCAAs and the championship season coming up in February and March.”

Likewise, Herrmann, who swam for KU under head coach Clark Campbell from 2005-09, led for the first 75 yards in the finals of the 100 breast but couldn’t hold the lead after the final wall. Her time of 59.17 in prelims was nearly three seconds faster than her school-record swim (1:02.01) at the 2008 Big 12 Championships and she finished fourth in the final heat.

“She’s one of our stellar alumni,” Campbell said. “She just keeps dropping times and it was a lot of fun to see her pick up fourth place tonight and still, at the age of 27, swimming her best times.”

Hinde swam a lifetime-best to win heat No. 9 and advance to the ‘C’ final of the 100 breast, where she improved her position… Hinde was one of three current Jayhawks swimming the event, with freshmen Lydia Pocisk (1:03.89) and Hannah Driscoll (1:04.99) posting season-best performances.

“Our breaststrokers did a tremendous job, this morning as well,” Campbell said. “It was great night for us and we’re really looking forward to finishing up strong on the last day.”

Driscoll, who swam a lifetime best in a 200-yard freestyle time trial Thursday, closes her USA Winter Nationals competition with the 100-yard freestyle Saturday morning. Hinde and Pocisk look to repeat Friday’s success with the 200-yard breaststroke Saturday. Live results and a free video feed are available at USASwimming.org/Nationals.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.