2023 Minnesota Invitational: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2023 MINNESOTA INVITATIONAL 

• November 29-December 2, 2023
• Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 10 AM (CT)
  • Finals: 6 PM (CT)
• Live Results
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Day 2 Finals Recap

Day 3 of the 2023 Minnesota Invite has arrived. This morning’s session will feature prelims of the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back. Cal has pulled into the lead in team scoring for both men and women heading into today.

You can watch this morning’s action on YouTube:

There should be some really great racing today. We’ll see Cal star Destin Lasco, who won the 200 IM last night, take the stage in the men’s 100 back. Cal’s Isabelle Stadden, similarly, will be the favorite in the women’s 100 back heading into today’s action.

Minnesota’s Megan Van Berkom comes in as the heavy favorite in the women’s 400 IM, leading a very thin field. There are only 14 total swimmers entered in the women’s 400 IM this morning.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 48.46, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 50.69
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 52.20

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Julia Heimstead (Arizona) – 52.07
2. Lizzy Cook (Cal) – 52.33
3. McKenna Stone (Cal) – 52.55
4. Ava Chavez (Cal) – 52.69
5. Sophie Yendell (Pitt) – 52.74 (TIE)
6. Morgan Brophy (Cal) – 52.74 (TIE)
7. Rachel Klinker (Cal) – 52.88
8. Sydney Lu (Harvard) – 53.02

Arizona’s Julia Heimstead clocked the top time of the morning in the women’s 100 fly, speeding to a 52.07. Heimstead has already been a hair faster than that this season, having swum her career best of 51.99 about a month ago in a dual meet with USC. She wasn’t out the fastest in the field this morning, splitting 24.58 on the first 50, but she came home the fastest of anyone, splitting 27.49 on the 2nd 50.

Behind Heimstead, Cal was all over this event. Lizzy Cook and McKenna Stone were the next two swimmers in, going 52.33 and 52.55 respectively. The Golden Bears also saw Ava Chavez take 4th with a 52.69. Morgan Brophy and Rachel Klinker each made the top 8 as well, making it 5 total Cal swimmers in the ‘A’ final for tonight.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 42.80, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 44.64
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 45.57

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Dare Rose (Cal) – 45.60
2. Jadan Nabor (Arizona) – 45.97
3. Roman Jones (Cal) – 46.22
4. Davide Harabagiu (Minnesota) – 46.39
5. Kaiser Neverman (Minnesota) – 46.78
6. Orion Henderson (Arizona) – 46.79
7. Tommy Palmer (Arizona) – 47.35
8. Hayden Ghufran (Arizona) – 47.37

Cal’s Dare Rose led the way in the men’s 100 fly this morning, speeding to a season best of 45.60. It was a solid prelims swim for Rose, who has a career best of 44.75 in the event. He was just off the 2023 invited time for NCAAs, which was 45.57 last season. Rose was out fast, splitting 20.95 on the opening 50, then came home in 24.65.

Arizona had a good showing here as well, seeing Jadan Nabor take 2nd with a huge season best of 45.97. The Wildcats also had Orion Henderson (46.79), Tommy Palmer (47.35), and Hayden Ghufran (47.37) advance to the ‘A’ final.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 4:03.62
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 4:11.36

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 4:09.20
2. Kathryn Hazle (Cal) – 4:10.08
3. Grace Drabot (Minnesota) – 4:15.58
4. Tia Lindsay (Arizona) – 4:17.25
5. Alexandra Bastone (Harvard) – 4:17.35
6. Katie McCarthy (Minnesota) – 4:18.82
7. Stephanie Iannaccone (Harvard) – 4:19.22
8. Ashlyn Fiorilli (Cal) – 4:21.77

With just 13 swimmers who ended up completing the race, the women’s 400 IM had a different dynamic than many of the other events. The pressure was off some of the top swimmers in the field to make it back, so we may have seen some more relaxed races this morning.

Still, Minnesota’s Megan Van Berkom was under 4:10, hitting a season best 4:09.20. As she typically does, Van Berkom swam this race very well from start to finish. She was out in 56.14 on fly, 1:03.71 on back, 1:11.70 on breast, and 57.65 on free.

Cal freshman put up a strong morning swim with a 4:10.08. She was within 3 seconds of her personal best, which stands at 4:07.44 and was set last November (2022). She was particularly strong on breast this morning, where she split 1:10.38.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82, Leon Marchand (Arizona State) – 2023
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 3:38.90
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 3:42.99

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Humberto Najera (Cal) – 3:49.94
2. Max Matteazzi (Pitt) – 3:50.21
3. William Christenson (Minnesota) – 3:50.55
4. Beck Parnham (Arizona) – 3:50.65
5. Tyler Kopp (Cal) – 3:50.79
6. Michal Piela (Pitt) – 3:52.68
7. Jake Hand (Arizona) – 3:54.86
8. Javi Zorzano (Pitt) – 3:56.16

Cal freshman Humberto Najera posted the top time of the morning in the men’s 400 IM, swimming a 3:49.94. He was out fast, splitting 51.77 on fly and 55.04 on back, for a 1:46.81 on the opening 200. His back half left a little but to be desired, as he was 1:08.51 on breast and 54.62 on free, which makes a 2:03.13 on the 2nd 200.

Pitt’s Max Matteazzi swam a 3:50.21 for 2nd this morning. He excelled on the breast leg this morning, where he split 1:04.73.

This was a very strong event for Pitt, as the Panthers saw two other swimmers finish in the top 8. Michal Piela came in 6th with a 3:52.68, while Javi Zorzano took 8th with a 3:56.16.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (Cal) – 2015
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:42.84
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:45.31

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Mia Motekaitis (Cal) – 1:45.20
2. Eloise Riley (Cal) – 1:46.29
3. Ava Chavez (Cal) – 1:46.64
4. Rachel Klinker (Cal) – 1:47.11
5. Julia Heimstead (Arizona) – 1:47.47
6. Emily Gantriis (Cal) – 1:48.45
7. Alexandra Bastone (Harvard) – 1:48.84
8. Amalie Mortensen (Arizona) – 1:48.99

Cal was all over the women’s 200 free this morning, taking the top 4 spots for tonight’s final. Mia Motekaitis, the women’s 500 free champion from last night, led the charge this morning, putting up a strong prelims swim of 1:45.20. Teammates Eloise Riley (1:46.29), Ava Chavez (1:46.64), and Rachel Klinker (1:47.11) were the next 3 swimmers in. Emily Gantriis also made it into the ‘A’ final for the Golden Bears, taking 5th with a 1:48.45.

Arizona’s Julia Heimstead, who posted the top time in the 100 fly at the beginning of the session, came in 5th this morning with a 1:47.47. Heimstead joins Chavez and Klinker as swimmers who qualified for the ‘A’ final of both the 100 fly and 200 free today. We’ll want to keep an eye on Heimstead tonight, however, as she posted the top split in the 800 free relay on Wednesday night, swimming a 1:43.88 on the 2nd leg of Arizona’s relay.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:29.15, Dean Farris (Harvard) – 2019
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:31.74
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:32.85

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Robin Hanson (Cal) – 1:33.81
2. Jack Alexy (Cal) – 1:33.83
3. Gabriel Jett (Cal) – 1:34.21
4. Orion Henderson (Arizona) – 1:35.13
5. Ben Littlejohn (Harvard) – 1:35.47
6. Trent Frandson (Cal) – 1:36.00
7. Keaton Jones (Cal) – 1:36.14
8. David Greeley (Harvard) – 1:36.26

Cal was all over this event as well, putting another 5 swimmers in the ‘A’ final of the men’s 200 free for tonight. Robin Hanson was the fastest this morning, putting up a 1:33.81, while Jack Alexy was right behind him with a 1:33.83. Gabriel Jett, the 500 free champion from last night, came in 3rd with a 1:34.21. Of note, Jett was out the fastest of anyone this morning, despite being the least sprint-oriented out of these 3 Cal swimmers. He split 44.68 on the opening 100, then came home in 49.53.

Jett also has the fastest personal best in the field by a wide margin. He holds a PB of 1:30.74, which he swam at the NCAA Championships in March of this year. Meanwhile, Hanson was pretty close to his personal best of 1:32.33, and Alexy’s time this morning actually stands as his career best.

Arizona’s Orion Henderson, who also qualified for the ‘A’ final of the 100 fly, swam a 1:35.13 to take 4th this morning.

While Cal had a strong showing, Cal freshman Aaron Shackell was off the mark, finishing 12th in 1:36.76. Shackell has a personal best of 1:32.85.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record:  55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 58.02
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 59.73

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Alicia Henry (Cal) – 59.86
2. Jade Neser (Cal) – 1:00.10
3. Hannah Brunzell (Cal) – 1:00.25
4. Maddy Ahluwalia (Arizona) – 1:00.53
5. Kelsey Wasikowski (Arizona) – 1:00.89
6. Jessie Strong (Pitt) – 1:01.07
7. Laura Wright (Ball State) – 1:01.66
8. Abigail Herscu (Cal) – 1:02.01

It wasn’t long ago at all that we were talking about Cal being a little thin on women’s breaststrokers. No more. The Golden Bears were excellent in the women’s 100 breast this morning, putting 4 swimmers into the ‘A’ final, including the top 3 performers this morning. Alicia Henry led the way, swimming a 59.86 to post the top time of the morning. That’s a huge swim for Henry, marking her first time under 1:00 in the event. Her previous best of 1:00.20 had stood since 2020.

Jade Neser wasn’t far behind, swimming a 1:00.10, while Hannah Brunzell clocked a 1:00.25 for 3rd. The other Golden Bear to make it through was Abigail Herscu, who swam a 1:02.01.

Arizona had a nice duo in the event as well, seeing Maddy Ahluwalia and Kelsey Wasikowski come in 4th and 5th respectively with times of 1:00.53 and 1:00.89.

Ball State put a swimmer into the top 8 this morning, as Laura Wright clocked a 1:01.66 for 7th.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 49.69, Ian Finnerty (Indiana) – 2018
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 51.10
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 51.90

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Ryan Foote (Arizona) – 52.71
2. Joey Garberick (Ball State) – 52.75
3. Matthew Jensen (Cal) – 53.06
4. Liam Bell (Cal) – 53.07
5. Jacob Soderlund (Cal) 52.23
6. Hank Rivers (Cal) – 53.49
7. Daniel Young (Arizona) – 53.58
8. Tavner Wisdom (Arizona) – 53.61

Arizona’s Ryan Foote swam the top time of the morning in the men’s 100 breast, clocking a 52.71. He was excellent on the back half this morning, splitting 28.00 on the 2nd 50.

Ball State had an awesome swim out of Joey Garberick, who clocked a 52.75 for 2nd. Garberick has been as fast as 52.17 in his career. He was also out the fastest this morning, splitting 24.51 on the opening 50.

Cal’s breaststroke depth was on display, with Matthew Jensen, Liam Bell, Jacob Soderlund, and Hank Rivers taking 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th respectively.

Arizona also had two other swimmers make the ‘A’ final, as Daniel Young came in 7th with a 53.58 and Tavner Wisdom was 8th with a 53.61.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 48.26, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 50.88
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 52.36

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Isabelle Stadden (Cal) – 51.67
2. Anya Mostek (Harvard) – 52.71
3. Claire Jansen (Pitt) – 52.76
4. Paula Rodriguez (Minnesota) – 53.35
5. Paige Armstrong (Arizona) – 53.61
6. Annika McEnroe (Cal) – 53.99
7. Ava Yablonski (Minnesota) – 54.01
8. Abigail Carr (Harvard) – 54.41

Cal’s Isabelle Stadden was great in the women’s 100 back this morning, putting up a 51.67 to earn the top seed for tonight’s final by more than a second. She was out pretty fast, splitting 24.92 on the first 50, then came home in 26.75.

Stadden holds a career best of 50.73, which she swam at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Harvard’s Anya Mostek clocked a 52.71 for 2nd, coming in just ahead of Pitt’s Claire Jansen, who swam a 52.76.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 43.35, Luca Urlando (Georgia) – 2022
• 2024 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 44.71
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 45.70

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Destin Lasco (Cal) – 44.91
2. Gunner Grant (Harvard) – 46.22
3. Krzysztof Radziszewski (Pitt) – 46.66
4. Ziyad Saleem (Cal) – 46.91
5. Stephan Goncharov (Pitt) – 46.97
6. Kai Crews (Cal) – 47.03
7. Marcin Goraj (Pitt) – 47.06
8. Will Meyers (Arizona) – 47.09

Cal’s Destin Lasco posted a 44.91 in the 100 back this morning, leading the field by a huge margin. He was the only swimmer in the field to finish under 46 seconds this morning. Lasco was great coming home this morning, splitting 23.09 on the 2nd 50.

Harvard’s Grant Gunner put up a strong swim as well, clocking a 46.22 for 2nd.

The 100 back was Pitt’s best event of the day, seeing 3 swimmers advance to the ‘A’ final. Krzysztof Radziszewski came in 3rd with a 46.66 this morning. Stephan Goncharov came in 5th with a 46.97, while Marcin Goraj took 7th with a 47.06.