Olympic swimming: July 2008 Archives

Naperville native Mary DeScenza is the top seed in both the 100 and 200-meter butterfly for the U.S. Open, which begins on Tuesday in Minneapolis.

The Rosary graduate is entered in seven events, including the 100 and 200 freestyle, the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.

DeScenza will have company in the 200 IM as Naperville Central alumni Kelly McNichols and Amy Prestinario are both competing in that race. For McNichols, a junior at Georgia, and Prestinario, an incoming freshman at Notre Dame, the U.S. Open serves as a qualifier for the 2009 World University Games.

The top finisher in each event who is a full-time university student is guaranteed an all-expenses paid trip to Belgrade, Serbia next July. Visit Serbia, we have a high level of confidence that will be our country's name when you arrive!

McNichols will also swim the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 100 and 200 free.

With the Naperville Parks District Swim Conference age 15-18 City Championships in the books, Olympic Trials swimmer Kelly McNichols remains the only swimmer with multiple city records.

The Naperville Central grad and Georgia junior has the girls records for the 100-yard freestyle, the 100 individual medley, the 50 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. She owns four of the six records.

None of her standards were even remotely challenged on Friday night.

That's what Mars Blackmon would tell Michael Phelps if the two were paired in a commercial for Speedo's LZR Racer.

A lot of world records have been set in that suit, 46 according to the Speedo Web site, and it has spawned lawsuits. TYR, a competitor that Naperville native Mary DeScenza endorses, has filed suit against Speedo, former TYR swimmer Erik Vendt and USA swimming head coach Mark Schubert. On Thursday, Vendt filed a countersuit.

Both Naperville Central graduate Kelly McNichols and Neuqua Valley graduate Melissa Marik wore the LZR Racer at the Olympic Trials last week.

The Heat Index asked them if they liked the suit and what it means for their sport.