USA Swimming contact:

Sara Hunninghake, (719) 866-3588, shunninghake@usaswimming.org

MELBOURNE, Australia – The women might have carried Team USA in the medal count on Day 1, but it was the men who stormed back on Wednesday to capture three medals for the Americans at the Victorian State Championships (Jan. 3-7, Melbourne, Australia). A U.S. sweep of the women’s 1500m freestyle on Day 2 brings the overall American total to 12: five gold, three silver and four bronze.

“We swam very well today,” said Jim Nickell, assistant women’s coach. “It is good to see the team members have great performances, but at the same time, recognize the things they need to improve to get to the world class level.”

Clark Burckle (Louisville, Ky. / Lakeside) dominated the men’s 400m individual medley, winning the first gold medal for the men’s team in 4:26.94. Phillip Hinrichsen (Darnestown, Md. / Curl Burke) made a run at the podium, but narrowly missed a medal, finishing in fourth place with a lifetime best time of 4:31.43.

“Clark is going to be one heck of a swimmer,” said Dave Ferris, assistant men’s coach. “It was a great effort, but I think if he had needed it, he could have come back quite a bit faster.”

Dillon Connolly (Marietta, Ga. / Marietta Marlins) won a second consecutive gold medal for the men, taking the top spot in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:04.63. The men’s 800m freestyle relay couldn’t quite match the women’s gold-medal effort from Tuesday, but they still won some hardware, capturing the bronze medal with a time of 7:37.92.

The American women had an impressive performance in the 1500m free, sweeping the medals and claiming the top five spots. Chloe Sutton (Ashburn, Va. / The Fish) won her first individual gold, and teammates Monica Drake (Bloomington, Ill. / BNY Waves) and Leah Gingrich (Enola, Pa. / West Shore YMCA) claimed the silver and bronze, respectively, notching the top three times in National Junior Team history. It was the second medal for Drake and Gingrich’s third medal for the meet.

“I didn’t have any expectations,” Sutton said. “I have been trying a new approach to relax, get excited and have fun. It is really easy with this team – they are all great. I guess it is working.”

Team USA had five finals swims that narrowly missed the podium in fourth place, including: Michelle McKeehan (Greenwood, Ind. / Center Grove) in the 50m breast, Kristin Shickora (Tamaqua, Pa. / Atlantis Aquatic Club) in the 100m backstroke, Eugene Godsoe (Greensboro, N.C. / Greensboro Swim) in the 100m back, David Seiler (Auburn, Calif. / Sierra Marlins) in the 100m butterfly and Hinrichsen in the 400m IM.

Day 3 (Thursday) of the Victorian Championships at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre begins with heats at 9 a.m. and finals at 6:30 p.m. Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, which means heats begin at 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday Jan. 4, and finals begin at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday Jan. 5.

Download the National Junior Team media guide by following the link or logging on to www.usaswimming.org.

Here’s how the rest of Team USA fared in the Top 10 in each event:

Women’s 50m Breast FINAL:

Michelle McKeehan (Greenwood, Ind.), 32.68, 4th

Caitlin Leverenz (Tucson, Ariz.), 33.70, t5th

Men’s 100m Back FINAL:

Eugene Godsoe (Greensboro, N.C.), 56.94, 4th

Josh Hafkin (Rockville, Md.), 57.01, 5th

Men’s 100m Breast FINAL:

Dillon Connolly (Marietta, Ga.), 1:04.63, Gold

Troy Nissen (Sacramento, Calif.), 1:06.30, 5th

Women’s 100m Back FINAL:

Kristen Shickora (Tamaqua, Pa.), 1:04.01, 4th

Theresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.), 1:04.18, 5th

Megan Romano (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 1:04.90, 9th

Men’s 100m Fly FINAL:

David Seiler (Auburn, Calif.), 55.33, 4th

Mark Dylla (Littleton, Colo.), 55.62, 5th

David Mosko (Cincinnati, Ohio), 56.73, 9th

Women’s 100m Free SEMI advancing:

Megan Romano (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 57.13, 4th

Karlee Bispo (Modesto, Calif.), 57.49, 6th

Samantha Woodward (Edmond, Okla.), 57,69, 8th

Men’s 400m IM FINAL:

Clark Burckle (Louisville, Ky.), 4:26.94, Gold

Phillip Hinrichsen (Darnestown, Md.), 4:31.43, 4th

Dillon Connolly (Marietta, Ga.), 4:31.61, 5th

Mark Dylla (Littleton, Colo.), 4:35.09, 7th

Women’s 50m Fly SEMI advancing:

Samantha Woodward (Edmond, Okla.), 27.77, 2nd

Men’s 800m Free Relay:

USA Bronze (7:37.92)

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