Hoff, Phelps, Clement Clean Up at NBAC Xmas Invite -- December 15, 2003

By John Lohn

BALTIMORE, December 14. ALTHOUGH she didn't set any age group records on the final night of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club's Christmas Invitational, Katie Hoff still managed a few sterling performances to close out a top-shelf meet at Loyola College.

Michael Phelps, meanwhile, grabbed victory No. 7, taking the 1,650-yard freestyle over Kevin Clements, a fellow U.S. National Team member.

After winning the open 200-yard backstroke (2:00.46), Hoff claimed victory in the 100 freestyle, clocking 50.49, a mark that edged Marianne Limpert, a three-time Olympian from Canada who went 50.68.

Hoff then swam 1:01.94 for her breaststroke leg as the NBAC 13-and-14-year-old 400 medley relay hit the wall in 3:52.24, not far off the NAG record of 3:51.24. Hoff was joined on the relay by Jackie Gonzalez (backstroke), Courtney Kalisz (butterfly) and Allison Barnes (freestyle).

During the three-day meet, Hoff set NAG records in the 200 I.M., 400 I.M., 200 breaststroke and as a member of NBAC's 800 free relay.

Phelps won the 1,650 free in 15:16.32, with Clements finishing in 15:36.81. Clements (backstroke), Jamie Barone (breaststroke), Phelps (butterfly) and Cory Knopp (freestyle) won the 400 medley relay in 3:22.85.

Over the weekend, Phelps took first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle.