Margalis tries to provide consolation after winning 200 IM

INDIANAPOLIS » Melanie Margalis was more interested in helping her friend than celebrating another victory.

After winning the women’s 200-meter individual medley title and claiming a spot on the American world championship team Saturday night, she reached over to the next lane, hugged Ella Eastin and mouthed some encouraging words.

In time, Margalis’ memorable actions may help ease the pain Eastin felt after missing out on the big swimming party next month in Budapest, Hungary. But on the final day of the U.S. National Championships, everyone seemed to leave with the same emotions.

“I’m a huge Ella fan my heart was broken the other night after seeing her disqualified,” Margalis told the crowd. “I just wanted her to know we were all rooting for her.”

The crowd responded with a loud ovation — a stark contrast from the resounding boos heard Thursday night when it was announced Eastin, the second-place finisher in the women’s 400 IM, had been disqualified.

Only winners of each event automatically qualify for the U.S. team. Runner-ups generally make the team through a selection process, and after the judge’s decision, Eastin was neither.

She rebounded Saturday with two strong legs to start before fading to third and finishing in 2 minutes, 10.89 seconds. Margalis won with a time of 2:09.57, Madisyn Cox was second in 2:09.69 and again, Eastin was out.

“I know she’s pretty disappointed,” said Abrahm DeVine, another Stanford swimmer who had something to prove Saturday.

Like Eastin, DeVine lost his first chance to qualify because of a ruling in the men’s 400 IM prelims. And like Eastin, he was disqualified for the same violation — swimming more than a quarter of the race on his back, a FINA provision that has been tightened up because of a technique Ryan Lochte used on one turn.