July 28, 2017
Zane Grothe anchored the USA's 4x200m freestyle relay to a bronze medal on Friday at the 2017 FINA World Championships at Budapest. The medal was the first for Grothe and the fifth won by a current or former Auburn swimmer at this summer's championships.
Grothe, who swam at Auburn from 2010-14, split a 1:46.90 to help the USA move up from seventh out of prelims to third in finals. Blake Pieroni led off for the US foursome in 1:46.33 and was followed by Townley Haas (1:44.58) and Jack Conger (1:45.37) before giving way to Grothe.
The bronze medal marked Grothe's second lifetime international medal as he previously won silver as part of the same relay at the 2016 Short Course World Championships.
Auburn's other medals at the 2017 World Championships include a gold for Zach Apple (USA), a silver for Marcelo Chierighini and Cesar Cielo (BRA) and a bronze for Peter Holoda (HUN), all of which came on the 4x100 free relay on opening night.
Cielo will vie for an individual medal on Saturday after advancing out of prelims and semifinals of the 50m free on Friday. The current world record holder in the event, he swam a 21.99 to tie for ninth in prelims and a 21.77 to finish eighth in the semifinals.
Also swimming on Friday was Luis Martinez (GUA) and Santiago Grassi (ARG) in the prelims of the 100m fly. Martinez swam a 52.18 to finish 21st and Grassi a 52.59 to finish 25th. Martinez' time established a new Guatemalan national record, besting his 52.22 from last year's Olympic Games in Rio.
On Saturday, Julie Meynen will swim in the final heat of the 50m free prelims, taking off in lane 9.
The swimming competition is being be held at the Danube Arena.
Live results can be found online at www.omegatiming.com.