Three Cougar swimmers to compete at national championships

PROVO, Utah - Jake Taylor, Hayden Palmer and Chad Sorensen will head out to Irvine, Calif., to compete at the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships from August 6-10, at the William Woollett, Jr. Aquatics Complex.

The national championships serve as a selection event for four international events: the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, the 2014 World Short Course Championships, the 2015 World Championships, the 2015 World University games and plays a huge role in determining who represents Team USA over the next couple of years.

“Ultimately, we want a reputation at nationals and competing here will help us earn that,” BYU swim coach John Brooks said. “Their goal is to try and make it in the top-16 so they can get back in the evening and compete in the finals.”

Taylor will compete in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke as well as the time trials for the 100 freestyle and 200 IM. Palmer will swim the 200 and 400 IM and time trial in the 200 breast. Sorensen will compete in the 50 and 100 breast.

Heats begin every morning at 9 a.m., with the finals beginning the same evening at 6 p.m.

For event information, visit usaswimming.org and for qualifying criteria for international events, click here.