Meriza Werenski and David Ingraham clinch 400m IM titles – 2011 YMCA Long Course Nationals
Meriza Werenski of Gr Holyoke-MA and David Ingraham of Middle Tyger-SC earned the title of 400m Individual Medley (IM) in Women’s and Men’s categories respectively, on the fourth day of 2011 Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Long Course Nationals
in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 15-year-old Werenski displayed her remarkable effort in the IM discipline and won the title of the distant IM event with a timing of 4 minutes and 57.09 seconds. Her time was 3.68 seconds behind the national mark of 4 minutes and 53.41 seconds, set by
Ashley Jones of Joliet – IL in 2004.
She was followed by Amanda McNulty of Middle Tyger-SC, who stayed 5.62 seconds slower than Werenski and reached the podium for the silver medal, with a timing of 5 minutes and 02.71 seconds. The 14-year-old McNulty was trailed by Megan Alexander of North
Shore-MA, who failed to overwhelm the effort of her former finisher with a difference of 0.27 seconds and secured the podium for bronze medal, by submitting a time of 5 minutes and 02.98 seconds.
The third position holder was 0.51 seconds away from her following swimmer and Werenski’s team-member, Amanda Lucia, who ended her swim in a fourth fastest time of 5 minutes and 03.49 seconds. Morgan Carr of Huntington-WV and Shaylynn Spelman of Me Lyons-OH
were the fifth and sixth fastest finishers of the event, as they ended their swims with timings of 5:06.08 and 5:06.14 minutes, respectively.
In the Men’s corner, the 18-year-old Ingraham improved the national record of the event, by posting a shattering effort of 4 minutes and 27.27 seconds. His time was 4.97 seconds under the national mark of 4 minutes and 32.23 seconds, made by J. Faltraco
of Spartanburg-SC in 1997.
He was joined by Christopher DePietro of Lancaster-OH, who remained 5.47 seconds behind the gold medallist and clocked a time of 4 minutes and 32.74 seconds. Stephen Raynes of SomersetHills-NJ was just 0.07 seconds slower from DePietro and produced a time
of 4 minutes and 32.81 seconds.
David Morgan of Suncoast-FL and Shane McKenzie of Tri-Hampton-PA emerged as the fourth and fifth finest swimmers of the Men’s IM event, as they reported in a time of 4:34.16 and 4:35.58 minutes, respectively. Colton Spark of Middle Tyger-SC was the sixth
best swimmer of the meet, as he stayed just 0.68 seconds behind fifth position holder and posted a time of 4 minutes and 36.26 seconds.
In addition, the arena enjoyed the superb efforts of all participants in the 400m swim, whereas, the podium finishers received medals for their gruelling efforts after the session’s completion.
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