The first night of the 2013 Austin Grand Prix was fast (both by the stopwatch and by the wall-clock), but even with such a small entry list, it was thick with Olympians and Olympic medalists. Keep in mind that this was the first meet where the new prize money was in effect (though Minneapolis medalists were awarded after-the-fact), meaning $500 went to each race winner, $300 to each runner-up, and $100 to each third-place finisher, assuming the athletes are remaining as amateurs.
Women’s 100 Free
American high school star Missy Franklin dominated the women’s 100 free in finals just as she did in prelims, winning in 54.68 – a very good time for this early in the year. This is the second-straight season in which Franklin has been very quick (46-mid) at this season-opening Austin Grand Prix, showing that even with the distractions of her senior year of high school and the post-Olympic hoopla, she’s still finding focus to do the work that she needs to do in the pool.
16-year old Simone Manuel took 2nd in 55.52, followed by SMU swimmer Nathalie Lindborg in 56.16. Both Manuel and Lindborg took the race out very fast (this is something that the latter commonly does), but it was the much younger American who held on for a runner-up finish. Lindborg’s teammate, Isabella Arcila, was 4th in 56.48; with three in the top six of this race, it’s clear why SMU is so confident headed into this year’s Championship season that they’ll be able to match or even improve-upon their impressive 16th place finish at NCAA’s last year.
Men’s 100 Free
Nathan Adrian dropped another one-up on his newfound Australian rival James Magnussen by posting a 48.32 win in this 100 free; that swim just edged out Magnussen’s 48.39 from earlier in the day (at the BHP Aquatic Super Series) as the fastest time in the world early in 2013, though both swims are quite impressive for January.
For Adrian, that not only dropped a Meet Record, but it also took down a legendary Pool Record from all the way back in 1988 – one owned by another Cal Bear, Matt Biondi, at 48.42. Biondi’s swim stood as the American Record for over a decade, so this is no small-change pool mark at the Texas Swim Center.
Texas post-grad and volunteer assistant Ricky Berens was the only other swimmer under 50 seconds in the race, as he took a runner-up spot in 49.35; that won him the $300 second-place prize and knocked his teammate Jimmy Feigen to 3rd in 50.01.
Matt Grevers was next in line in 50.01, followed by Anthony Ervin (50.49). Ryan Lochte won the B-Final in 51.09.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
The SMU women continued to excel at this meet as sophomore Rachel Nicol won the women’s 200 breaststroke easily in 2:28.79. That’s her best time by more than a second, which thrusts yet another breaststroker into the ranks of the Canadian elites.
She was the only swimmer under 2:30 in a 5-woman final; 14-year old American Allie Szekely was 3rd in 2:32.68.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
In the first big upset of the weekend, PASA professional BJ Johnson upset the National Teamers with a 2:13.02 to win the men’s 200 breaststroke. That ranks as the 5th-best swim of his career already, and as the fastest outside of a National Championship meet. If he’s on a normal training cycle right now, then this could be a big year for Johnson.
The two men he out-touched to top the podium were 2012 U.S. Olympian Clark Burckle (2:13.36) and National Team member and former Olympian Mike Alexandrov (2:13.97). Johnson was just a little bit better on the back-half of his race (specifically with a great third 50) to overtake his competitors for the victory.
Israeli Imri Ganiel, who will hope to swim for Texas next fall, took 4th in 2:19.81; New Zealand’s Glenn Snyders was 5th in 2:21.15. Former Texas swimmer Nick D’Innocenzo looked better in the B-Final than he did in the prelims and finished 9th in 2:24.88.
Women’s 400 Free
Chloe Sutton has said many times in the past at mid-season meets that her goal is to negative split these middle-distance races. She did it in prelims, and though there was no public declaration of her intent this time, she very nearly did it in the final as she took a good win in 4:09.35. Her splits ran 2:04.5-2:04.8, very nearly hitting it even in each direction.
With women’s middle distance swimming taking a big leap forward in the last two years, it’s now more the norm than the exception to see swimmers going under 4:10 unrested in this event; impressive considering that as recently as 2007, only three American women, period, were under that barrier.
Canadian Barbara Jardin in 4:10.27. She held with Sutton very well in this race, until the final 80 meters or so where Sutton inched away just enough to create a visible margin at the finish. 16-year old Quinn Carrozza from the host-team Longhorn Aquatics, finished 3rd in 4:11.16, followed by Missy Franklin in 4:12.56.
Kate Ziegler, one of the aforementioned three to go under 4:10 in this race in 2007, couldn’t do it here as she finished 6th in 4:14.46.
Men’s 400 Free
Canadian Ryan Cochrane built up just enough of a lead in this men’s 400 to hold off the famously-furious finish of Texas Longhorn Michael McBroom in this 400 free 3:52.07-3:52.41. It looked like McBroom was ready to make his move as he neared the last turn, but then Cochrane found one last bit of afterburner to hang on for the win.
Michael Klueh, who is starting to wind back up after a good short course meters season in Europe (that culminated with the Short Course World Championships) took third-place for a $100 check in 3:54.82. His new training partner Tyler Clary was 4th in 3:55.16.
Women’s 100 Fly
Just like she was in prelims, Canada’s diminutive Noemie Thomas was the only swimmer to break a minute in this women’s 100 fly final, swimming a 58.88 for victory. The swimmer, whose best race is the 50 fly but who is becoming really dangerous in this 100 as well, took the swim out very hard and didn’t let up to cruise to victory.
Her countrymate Audrey Lacroix, swimming now in her 30’s, was 2nd in 1:00.14.
Men’s 100 Fly
Stanford volunteer assistant Eugene Godsoe is having a great winter so far, though much of it has been in short course and most of it has been in backstroke. His first win of the 2013 season on Friday was neither of those, however, as he won the 100 fly in 53.54 to out-touch the more pure butterfliers Bobby Bollier (53.57) and Dan Madwed (53.77).
Ryan Lochte was 4th in 54.14.
Adrian is looking really really good. I think he is gonna be the first man under 47. Looking forward to seeing how well he does in the 50
*First man in textile to go under 47.
I don’t know, I like Adrian but Magnussen is still miles ahead with that 47.1. i think this year he will bounce back and take down the rubber world record.
If what u predict comes true , Than Adrian will be the one to be very close to Magnussen . 48.32 in january is damn good , what will it be in 5 or 6 months ?
Maybe Adrian can do it(sub-47), but Magnussen WILL DO.There is no way Magnussen will repeat his mistake twice.I think we will see something like 46.7 and 46.8.I would like to see Magnussen to be the first man made a sub24 coming home… just wonder:22.90/23.99 SICK!
And Adrian probably will challenge 50 free guys too.Remember:without the suits, sustain the parity 50/100free in TOP level is not that easy.
I feel bad for the meet host; the meet is so small and the time standards were so ridiculous. I’m glad to see some of our top swimmers there, but the Grand Prix meets, in the past, have always been an opportunity for up-and-coming swimmers to swim against the best. These time standards are detrimental to club swimming and I’d love to know how they came about. A good farmer always takes care of his crops. The future of USA Swimming did not have an opportunity to compete in this meet.
I agree wholeheartedly. Glad to hear such a respected coach voice this opinion.
Yes but at least USA swimming quickly reacted and changed the times for the other Grand Prix Meets giving the younger swimmers plenty of opportunities to compete…..they should provide a stipend to the meet host (perhaps they have already).
Despite this mistake very impressed with Frank Bush and his staff so far.
“Yes but at least USA swimming quickly reacted and changed the times for the other Grand Prix Meets”
Don’t forget this is the 2nd Grand Prix meet of the year. USA Swimming should have known based on the November meet that the time standards were off base. There is no excuse for this.
But did Adrian break that record in a brief? If not it should have an asterisk. Am I right?
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Did boondocks break the record at a mid-season meet?
Biondi* auto correct
Actually, that was a reference to a beautiful article written by Aaron Peirsol a few years ago regarding how he and many others held that record in very high regard. He was pleading with whoever should take Biondi’s name of the wall for that record to PLEASE wear a brief. People who have stared at that record for decades have been in awe that it had held so long even in the face of increasing technology.
Thanks for the insult though, boondocks. I will be sure to mention to Aaron how stupid you think he is.
Adrian did it in a freaking mid-season meet. Get over it. He didn’t do it in a magic rubber suit. Piersol asked that the record breaker “earn it”. Adrian did you idiot. Untapered in a jammer
if he keep on with this thinking.. we should ask the swimmer to not wear googles anymore because of some idea of respecting the guys who held to record withouth googles.. or to no shave anymore… All records shoulhd have dozen of marks saying thay the guy where shave, that they wore googles, that they are not using cotton-like swimsuits..
haha. this is great. let’s go back over a few years of the same garbage again. I made a joke. it was not intended to take away from Nathan Adrian. I am a huge fan of his. It was meant to lightheartedly remind everyone of the reverence we should all have for Biondi’s record that has lasted so long. Do I really want there to be an asterisk? NO. That’s silly. Would it have been freaking awesome if Adrian had worn a brief out of respect for Biondi’s record having survived the rubber suit era? Hell yeah but it’s not something anyone would expect him to do when he is racing some of the best in the world.
Your… Read more »
I would say it was more a boring session. Was there an audience in the pool? I almost felt asleep in front of my computer.
Fortunately there were a few interesting swimmers to watch.
I hoped Missy and Simone Manuel under 55. Only Missy has done it. I still think Simone Manuel has the talent to dominate American sprint with Lia Neal in the years to come.
I hoped one man under 49 and it happened. Nathan Adrian is olympic champion and he has shown why. He’s now well well well ahead of the other Americans who are pretty slow. He usually swims fast in-season but 48.32 is impressive.
I don’t understand the race of Allie… Read more »