INDIANAPOLIS — Texas A&M senior-to-be Bethany Galat earned a spot on the Team USA roster for the 2017 FINA World Championships with a runner-up finish in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Phillips 66 National Championships on Wednesday at the IU Natatorium.
Galat, from Mishawaka, Ind., earned her spot on Team USA in the same pool that she won multiple Indiana state championships as a high schooler. The FINA World Championships will be contested in Budapest, Hungary July 14-30.
Galat turned in a school record time of 2:22.24 to earn runner-up honors behind Indiana University junior-to-be Lilly King, who touched first in 2:21.83. Also in the race, former Texas A&M standout Breeja Larson was eighth in 2:28.09.
“Being at my home pool from growing up in Indiana, it was a really special race for me,” Galat said. “I felt very good in the water. I trusted my training. I was positive and everything fit together. It was a really fun race. It’s something I’ll never forget and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s my first international team so it obviously means a lot to me. It’s a testament to the support I have at Texas A&M and back at home.”
The Aggies also received a record-setting performance from junior-to-be Claire Rasmus, who became the first Texas A&M swimmer to break the 1:58 barrier in the 200-meter freestyle. Rasmus, from New Orleans, La., placed seventh with a time of 1:57.92. Rasmus’ effort earned her a spot in the World University Games, which will be contested in Taipei, China in August.
In other action involving the Texas A&M women’s team, senior-to-be Lisa Bratton placed seventh in the 200 backstroke in 2:12.06; 2017 graduate Sarah Gibson won the “B” final of the 50 butterfly in 26.76; and incoming freshman Kara Eisenmann placed eighth in the 50 fly “C” final in 27.90.
INDIANAPOLIS — Texas A&M senior-to-be Jonathan Tybur placed sixth in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke to highlight the Aggie men’s day 2 at the Phillips 66 National Championships on Wednesday at the IU Natatorium.
Tybur, from The Woodlands, Texas, turned in a lifetime best time of 2:10.94 while becoming the first member of the Aggie men’s team to earn a spot in the “A” final of the U.S. National Championships in 19 years. Additionally, incoming freshman Tanner Olson placed sixth in the 200 breast “C” final in 2:17.48.
Also earning an evening swim for the Aggies was senior-to-be Brock Bonetti, who placed eighth in the “B” final of the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:01.94.
Stories courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics