University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Swimmers Make Splashes in USA Competitions
December 04, 2014 | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 4, 2014
Faith Johnson and Brad Craig both have had busy Decembers so far across two continents, and both have started their international events with some top finishes in a pair of USA Swimming events.
The current Tennessee swimmer claimed first place in the 50-yard freestyle A final at the AT&T USA Winter Nationals in Greensboro. Her time of 22.12 earned her the victory over UCLA's Linnea Mack by .03 seconds. Johnson shaved .05 seconds off her third-fastest preliminary time during the Thursday morning session.
The only UT participant to compete in Greensboro, N.C., thus far, Johnson earned her first title at Nationals by defeating some of the top sprinters in the country. Along with Mack, Louisville's Kelsi Worrell finished in third (22.49) after swimming the fastest qualifying time in the field (22.02).
Almost a month ago, when the Orange and White defeated the Cardinals in Knoxville, Johnson (22.73) also defeated Worrell (22.80) in the 50 free, winning the race by .07 seconds.
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Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean, former Vol swimmer Brad Craig has already helped Team USA to success at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Doha, Qatar. Two days into the event and Craig already has been a part of a record-breaking outcome.
During the Thursday morning preliminary session, the American quartet of Matt Grevers, Craig, Tom Shields and Josh Schneider swam the 4 x 50-meter medley relay in 1:33.25, setting a new American record in the event.
That record-best time was soon broken during the A final of the event Thursday night, when the USA team of Eugene Godsoe, Cody Miller, Shields and Schneider completed their race in 1:31.85, breaking the previous mark set by Craig and company. Team USA finished in third place overall, earning a bronze medal for their efforts.
