Ryan Held Wins 50 Free, Swims 22.15 in Prelims

2024 Sun Devil Open

  • May 17-19, 2024
  • Tempe, Arizona
  • Long Course Meters (50 meters)
  • Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 Sun Devil Open”

With most of Arizona State’s pros and collegiate stars are training with the program’s former head coach at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, or racing at the Canadian Olympic Trials, a handful are racing in their home pool this weekend.

The meet, which is not officially part of the USA Swimming Club Excellence Series that is officially the meets in Austin, Irvine, and Atlanta, lacked some of the sizzle on day 1 that we’ve seen from elsewhere across the country.

Among the highlights was a 22.15 in the 50 free in prelims from pro Ryan Held. That’s slower than he was last month in San Antonio (21.68), but is faster than he was in Westmont or Knoxville at his first two meets of the season. He was a touch off that time in finals, finishing 1st in 22.33.

His training partner and fellow US National Teamer Jonny Kulow was 2nd in 22.34 and Jack Dolan was 3rd in 22.49. Kulow swam 21.89 in San Antonio and Dolan swam 22.12, so the Sun Devil sprint crew seems to be in a heavier training load than they were for that meet a month ago – which makes sense given that they’re racing at home.

18-year-old August Vetsch from Neptune Swimming was 5th in that final in 22.76 which slides him under the Olympic Trials standard of 22.79. That’s a second event for him to race in Indianapolis along with the 100 fly where he hit a Trials cut last summer.

The session was dominated by swimmers with Sun Devil ties. Australian Charli Brown, one of the bright spots for the women’s varsity at Arizona State during this season, swam 4:16.10, which is her best time by .03 seconds. Her previous best was done at this meet last season.

15-year-old Paige Downey finished 2nd in 4:16.81, which knocks a tenth of a second off her best time from March.

Other Winners and Notable Results

  • University of Arizona swimmer Julia Wozniak won the 50 free in 25.87, about four-tenths shy of her best time that was done in a time trial in San Antonio last month.
  • Grant House, whose best shot at the Olympic Team is on the 800 free relay, won the 200 IM on Friday in 2:00.60. He was 1:58.69 at the Pro Swim in San Antonio last month. He chose that race over the 400 free, which was won by his fellow Sun Devil Reece Grady in 3:54.94.
  • Arizona State rising junior Zoe Summar won the women’s 200 IM in 2:17.90.

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ACC fan
28 days ago

Ryan Held us my hero!

Miself
28 days ago

August vetsch dropped a second OT cut in the 50 free tonight

relays are fun
Reply to  Braden Keith
28 days ago

Agreed there wasn’t a lot of sizzle on day one but there were a few additional quality swims to note:

Patrick Sammon 50 LCM free :22.62 (under OT cut and just 0.21 off PB)
Julian Hill 400 LCM free 3:55.13(not a PB but under OT cut)
Cale Martter 200 LCM IM 2:03.69; PB; just 0.20 off 2:03.49 Trials cut
Good depth in the event with 7 of 8 at 2:05+ in a.m. or p.m.
Sean Honey, Utah Valley, 18; seeded at 2:05.71; was twice 2:04+, with fastest in a.m. 2:04.73
Leo Roden, ASU freshman, won B final of 50 LCM free at :22.88, just 0.09 off Trials; PB by 0.43
Trey Hesser (Gold Medal… Read more »

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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