GREENSBORO, N.C. - Several members of the IUPUI swimming team competed on the national stage last week, racing at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Open Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Emmaleigh Zietlow, Kevin Burke, Spencer Jyawook, and Logan Kelly represented the Jaguars at the championships and were also the only athletes from the Horizon League competing. The four-day event was the last national-level meet held in long course meters before next summer's 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis. During the collegiate season, the swimmers typically only race short-course yards.
 
Zietlow started off the competition on Thursday with a best time in the 400-meter freestyle (4:23.52). This shaved seven-tenths of a second off the junior's previous best time from July of this year.
 
Later in the Thursday session, Jyawook and Burke took to the pool for the 50-meter freestyle. Burke, a fifth year, took nearly four-tenths of a second off his previous best, posting a 24.04. A few heats later Jyawook, a senior, was roughly half a second off his personal best, touching at 23.58.
 
The duo of Burke and Jyawook kicked off the Friday morning session for the Jaguars, racing in the 100-meter butterfly. Burke posted another best (56.48), this time by nearly a second. Jyawook (55.46) was slightly slower than his personal best set earlier this year at the Indy Spring Cup.
 
Friday's morning session also included Kelly in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.92). The junior was a little over a second off his personal best from this summer. Kelly already holds the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying times in both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke. He became the first IUPUI swimmer in history to qualify for the meet after hitting the 200-breakstroke standard at 2023 Phillips 66 USA National Championships in June. He went on to qualify in the 100-breasktroke as well a month later.
 
Kelly wrapped up the meet for the Jaguars with the 200-meter breaststroke Saturday morning. He touched in 2:18.82, roughly four-seconds off his best time from June.
 
"I'm pretty happy with those time. Not being rested and not having raced long-course in a few months," said Kelly. "This helped me get ready for Olympic Trials next summer by showing be where my standings are compared to other competitors."
 
Head Coach Damion Dennis expressed how valuable this type of showing on a national stage is to further the growth and development of the program.
 
"I'm really proud of this group. To dive in and race against some of the best swimmers in the world is a great opportunity for our program and these athletes," said Dennis. "All of their achievements are 100% a reflection of their hard work and commitment to excellence. I just can't say enough how proud and happy I am. Overall, it was a really successful, fun experience and a huge step froward for our program and these athletes."