1ST ANNUAL SUN DEVIL OPEN
- June 2-4, 2023
- Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, Tempe, Arizona
- Long Course Meters (50m)
- Psych Sheets
- Results on Meet Mobile “2023 Sun Devil Open”
Highlighting the final morning of competition in Tempe was rising Arizona State sophomore Jonny Kulow who swam the top time of the morning in the men’s 100 free. Kulow swam to a final time of 48.89. That time places him at #4 all-time in the US for the 17-18 age group.
That was a personal best for the Wyoming native as he came into the meet with a best time of 49.29 which he swam only two weeks ago at Pro Swim-Mission Viejo. Kulow has already dropped over a second and a half off his personal best this season as his best prior to this season was a 50.39 from 2020 Wave II Olympic Trials.
Kulow now sits as tied for the sixth fastest American this season. At 2022 International Team Trials, it took a 48.38 to make the Worlds team as a relay-only swimmer.
2022-2023 Men’s 100 Free Top Americans
- Matt King, 48.72
- Ryan Held, 48.74
- Hunter Armstrong, 48.79
- Kaii Winkler, 48.81
- Jack Alexy, 48.85
- Drew Kibler/Jonny Kulow, 48.89
In tonight’s finals, Kulow will swim next to the second-fastest American this season Ryan Held who swam a 49.20 this morning. The Olympic Gold Medalist Held graduated from NC State in 2018 and now trains as a pro at Arizona State.
Kulow’s swim is also important for the Sun Devils at the collegiate level. Kulow was the team’s second-fastest 50 (behind Jack Dolan) and 100 (behind Leon Marchand) freestyler this past season. Dolan just finished up his redshirt junior year and Marchand completed his sophomore year.
Kulow was on four of Arizona State’s relays at NCAAs this past season, all but the 800 free relay. Notably, the team loses two legs (Max McCusker and Grant House) in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays as both swimmers just graduated. Kulow’s continued success this summer so far is a good sign to help minimize the losses for the Sun Devil sprint group.
Highlighting the women’s side this morning was the 200 butterfly where Hali Flickinger led the way and swam a 2:06.80. That was faster than she was in both prelims of International Team Trials and 2022 Worlds. Her best time is a 2:05.65 from the 2020 Olympics.
Regan Smith finished behind Flickinger in a 2:08.45, which was also faster than she was in both prelims of International Team Trials and 2022 Worlds. The two will swim next to each other tonight. Both Flickinger and Smith made the final of the event at 2022 Worlds as Flickinger went on to win silver and Smith finished fourth, less than half a second off the podium.
Are they posting meet results anywhere? I can’t find them and only see the articles.
Bet he’s thinking about that NAG record tonight.
He missed it by 0.01 tonight 😭💀 48.70
Wasn’t just Kulow in the 100 Free: there were 5 under 50 seconds.
Kulow -PB Held :49.20, Sammon :49.37PB, Dolan :49.79PB, Swift :49.81 (he won’t be in final as he is traveling back to New Zealand to finalize Fukuoka prep), plus Kos :50.05PB(Prior PB :51.65), Xander Skinner, Namibia, :50.23 PB, which doesn’t even include Grant House who was :50.72. Swift not returning allows a 17 year old into the final, Ian Pickles at :51.13. Beyond this ther were 4 more at :51.50 or better.
The 200 Fly Women is very interesting; Regan Smith, Olympic Silver and #1 American for the year going into the meet at 2:07.92 … was the #3 seed. #2 seed Lindsay Looney, Pac-12 Champ and 4th… Read more »
College sophomore still a 17/18?
Rising sophomore
On June 4 after my freshman year of college I was still 18. Many people hold their summer birthday kids back, but not all.
We should all keep an eye on Jonny Kulow. The kid is going places!
Go Johnny Go
I see what you did there 🎸
Bobs making a dream team down there
I feel like Flickinger has sum a 2:06 200 fly like a million times. One of the most consistent elite swimmers I can think of.
Agree, a few 2:05s, a ton 206s and 2:07s, but never slower! But will she ever go 2:03 or 04? At the right time!
Really that’s the only negative thing you could say about Flickinger as an athlete. She’s not a big taper swimmer.
I want to see my favorite swimmers swim their fastest time of the season in their most important race of the season. She hasn’t been able to consistently do that.
Actually this is something she has gotten significantly better at since moving to Bowman from Georgia. She swam her PB in the Olympic final in Tokyo and swam her 2 fastest times of the season last year in the WC semis/finals (both within 0.1 of each other).
Her best time is literally in the Olympic final. How is that not showing up when it matters most?
Like Sippy Woodhead’s 1.58 200 frees back in the day.