Betulius Advances to 2nd Final at National Championships

June 28, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS — University of Iowa junior Grant Betulius advanced to his second final of the week at the 2013 Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials on Friday in Indianapolis.

The Naperville, Ill., native posted a time of 56.34 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke at the IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI. The time was the 24th-best in the competition, advancing Betulius to tonight’s “C” final, which begins at 5 p.m. (CT).

Sophomore Mike Nelson narrowly missed advancing to the final of a second event. He posted a time of 1:04.33 seconds in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing 25th. The top 24 swimmers move on for a second swim.

Both swimmers competed in the Thursday night finals. Betulius finished 16th in the 50-meter backstroke in 26.17 seconds, while Nelson was 13th in the 50-meter breaststroke in 28.71 seconds.

Senior Emily Hovren of the UI women’s team will round out the Hawkeyes competing in the Championships on Saturday when she swims the 200-meter individual medley.