FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Nine LSU swimmers will participate in the U.S. Spring Championships, which get underway Wednesday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
The four-day meet features the nation’s best swimmers competing in long-course yards.
Sophomore Kevin Braud is slated to be the first to compete for the Tigers, swimming the 200-meter backstroke. Braud qualified for the event with an entry mark of 1:45.76 in short-course yards.
Braud will also swim the 100-meter back on Friday and the 200-meter individual medley on Saturday.
Julius Gloeckner, fresh off his NCAA Championship appearance, swims four events during the meet. The freshman participates in the 200-meter freestyle and 400-meter IM on Thursday. He will also take part in the 400-meter free and 100-meter butterfly on Friday.
Miko Malberg, who narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships, earns another shot at competition on Wednesday in the 100-meter free. The sophomore swims the 100-meter fly on Friday and the 50-free on Saturday.
Senior Matt Coenen begins his final official competition on Wednesday as well. Coenen, who owned LSU’s top time in the 200-yard breaststroke this season, swims the 200-meter breaststroke. Coenen qualified for the 100-meter breaststroke with an entry clocking of 57.21.
Freshman Connor Farber and senior Ryan Ashby round out the men’s competitors. The two join Gloeckner in the 100-meter fly on Friday. Farber swims the 50-meter free the following day. Ashby closes out his career in the same event.
LSU’s talented freestyle-butterfly duo of Colleen Bertirotti and Heather Brand enter the meet after a brilliant season. Both were part of school records in relays, and Friday they get a chance to leave their marks on the 100-meter fly. They will also participate 50-meter free.
Freshman Katie Gilmore partakes in the 50-meter free and 100-meter fly.