Palomino sets PR at US National Championships
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The University of New Mexico’s Adriana Palomino faced the best swimmers in the nation and set a personal best while competing in the 400 freestyle Friday at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI.
Palomino finished with a time of 4 minutes, 20.16 seconds to take 54th overall in the heat, and while it was a personal best, she said there is room for improvement.
“The time I went wasn’t what I was hoping,” Palomino said, “but I did learn a lot from the race and I think it will help me move forward toward my ultimate goals.”
But more than her time or finish, the incoming junior said getting to compete against the best is something that won’t soon be forgotten.
“The world trials were an awesome experience,” Palomino said. “Seeing all these high elite swimmers was incredibly cool and it really inspires me to be better.”
Five-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time national champion Katie Ledecky won the 400 freestyle heat with a time of 4:02.59 (she owns the world record in the event at 3:56.46).
Palomino is coming off a sophomore campaign where she was named All-Mountain West in three events – the 200 (sixth place, 1:49.33), 500 (third place, 4:44.86) and 1,650 freestyle (fourth place, 16:30.54). She owns UNM records in the 200 (1:47.63), 500 (4:44.15), 1,000 (9:54.41) and the 1,650 freestyle (16:22.46) as well as being part of the 800 freestyle relay team that holds the school record at 7:20.70.