2024 Minnesota Invite: Day 4 Finals Recap

2024 Minnesota Invite

• December 4-7, 2024
• Prelims: 10 am CST/ Finals: 6 pm CST
• SCY (25 Yards)
• University of Minnesota
• Participating Teams: Minnesota (host), University of California- Berkley, University of Nevada- Las Vegas, Harvard, Rutgers, University of Denver
• 2025 NCAA Championship Standards
• Live Stream
• Live Results
• Psych Sheets
• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Here we are: the final session of the 2024 Minnesota Invite. The end of tonight’s session will also mark the end of the major mid-season invites in what has been a thrilling college season so far. As always, this session will feature the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly, along with the 400 free relay.

All eyes will be on Cal fifth year Isabelle Stadden, who comes in as the top seed in the women’s 200 back tonight. Stadden put up a 1:53.92 this morning, leading the field by well over a second.

Cal sophomore Keaton Jones was also great in the 200 back this morning, leading the men’s event with a 1:41.54. That swim marked a season best for Jones, which he will try to lower even further tonight.

Minnesota freshman Jacob Johnson continues to impress this weekend. After winning the 100 fly last night, Johnson posted a 1:41.56 in the men’s 200 fly this morning, leading the field by nearly 2 seconds.

Cal freshmen Nans Mazellier and Mary-Ambre Moluh are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the sprint events. Mazellier led the field this morning in the men’s 100 free with a 42.50, establishing a new career best. Of note, Cal had the top 7 swimmers in the men’s 100 free this morning, with their sprinters ranging from 42.50 to 43.58. Meanwhile, Moluh clocked a 48.76 to lead the women’s 100 free this morning.

WOMEN’S 1650 FREE – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA Record: 15:03.31, Katie Ledecky (Stanford) – 2017
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 15:52.41
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 16:14.82

RESULTS:

1. Maya Geringer (Cal) – 15:53.92
2. Eliot Kennedy (Minnesota) – 16:08.24
3. Katie McCarthy (Minnesota) – 16:08.27
4. Ava Olson (UNLV) – 16:29.65
5. Alexandra Bastone (Harvard) – 16:35.70
6. Kathryn Hazle (Cal) – 16:46.83
7. Paige Reilly (Denver) – 16:48.66
8. Nika Spehar (Denver) – 16:51.05

Cal fifth year Maya Geringer popped a new career best of 15:53.92 to win the women’s 1650 free tonight in Minneapolis. The performance came in well under her previous best of 15:56.28, which she swam last November when she was still a member of Ohio State. Geringer was close to the NCAA ‘A’ cut, which stands at 15:52.41. She won the race decisively, touching 1st by a little over 14 seconds.

Minnesota senior Eliot Kennedy came in 2nd with a 16:08.24. That swim marks a career best for Kennedy as well, also marking her first time under 16:10 in the event. The other half of the Minnesota distance duo, Katie McCarthy, came in 3rd tonight with a 16:08.27. Like Kennedy, McCarthy’s swim tonight was a new career best and her first time under 16:10.

MEN’S 1650 FREE – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA Record: 14:12.08, Bobby Finke (Florida) – 2020
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 14:37.31
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 14:54.92

RESULTS:

1. Matthew Chai (Cal) – 14:49.18
2. Joe Hancock (Denver) – 15:07.52
3. Bar Soloveychik (Minnesota) – 15:07.58
4. Joey Tepper (Minnesota) – 15:21.41
5. Shane Washart (Harvard) – 15:27.96
6. Luke Brennan (Minnesota) – 15:29.95
7. Will Melsha (Denver) – 15:33.25
8. Max O’Neil (Denver) – 15:42.06

Cal junior Matthew Chai was dominant in the men’s 1650 free tonight, swimming a 14:49.18. That was a strong mid-season performance out of Chai, whose career best stands at 14:45.37 from back in December of 2021. He swam an incredibly consistent race tonight, splitting 4:30.38 on the 1st 500 yards, then 4:29.81 on the 2nd 500, and 4:30.77 on the 3rd 500, before going 1:18.22 on the final 150.

Denver’s Joe Hancock was exceptional tonight as well, swimming a 15:07.52 for 2nd. While he was well behind Chai, Hancock’s performance marks a career best for him by a whopping 14 seconds. His previous best was the 15:21.56 he swam at the Summit League Championships back in February of this year.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:46.87, Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.50
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:54.01

RESULTS:

1. Isabelle Stadden (Cal) – 1:50.93
2. Finley Anderson (Cal) – 1:54.21
3. Adriana Smith (Cal) – 1:56.50
4. Molly Hamlin (Harvard) – 1:56.78
5. Shannon Meadway (Rutgers) – 1:57.17
6. Grace Wharton (UNLV) – 1:57.44
7. Indy Jongman (Minnesota) – 1:57.87
8. Elise Jacobs (Minnesota) – 1:58.66

Cal fifth year Isabelle Stadden won a decisive victory in the women’s 200 back tonight, swimming a 1:50.93. The performance marks a season best for Stadden, though she holds a career best of 1:48.75 from the 2023 Pac-12 Championships. She was out fast tonight, splitting 25.92 and 27.67 respectively on the first two 50s, for a 53.59 on the opening 100. She wasn’t able to hold that pace, however, splitting 28.24 on the 3rd 50 and 29.10 on the 4th 50, which made for a 57.34 on the back half.

Cal has some nice young depth in the event, as freshmen Finley Anderson and Adriana Smith came in 2nd and 3rd tonight with times of 1:54.21 and 1:56.50 respectively.

UNLV freshman Grace Wharton had an encouraging race as well, finishing 6th with a 1:57.44. Fellow UNLV freshman Halayna Montrichard swam a 1:57.43 in the ‘B’ final.

MEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:35.37, Destin Lasco (Cal) – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:38.80
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:40.62

RESULTS:

1. Keaton Jones (Cal) – 1:39.76
2. Humberto Najera (Cal) – 1:40.49
3. Anthony Rincon (Harvard) – 1:41.37
4. Tommy Roder (Cal) – 1:43.03
5. Dylan Wright (Denver) – 1:43.23
6. Tatsuki Inoue (UNLV) – 1:43.89
7. Joey Tepper (Minnesota) – 1:45.28
8. Kai Crews (Cal) – 1:45.43

Cal made it a sweep of the 200 backstrokes, as Keaton Jones won the men’s 200 back in 1:39.76. It was a solid mid-season swim for Jones, who holds a career best of 1:38.46 from NCAAs last season.

His wasn’t the fastest swim of the session, however: Cal senior Gabriel Jett ripped a 1:38.31, an NCAA “A” cut, in the B-Final. Best-known as a middle-distance freestyler and butterflier coming into this meet, Jett really upped his overall profile in Minnesota by swimming best times in the 100 back (44.54), 200 back (1:38.31), and 200 IM (1:41.89).

Harvard’s Anthony Rincon got out to the early lead, splitting 48.84 on the opening 100, however, he slipped off that pace, and ended up finishing 3rd in 1:41.37.

Cal’s Humberto Najera, a sophomore, finished 2nd with a 1:40.49. The performance marks a massive career best for Najera, whose previous best was 1:42.07, which he swam at the Pac-12 Championships last season.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 44.83, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 47.10
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 48.34

RESULTS:

1. Mary-Ambre Moluh (Cal) – 48.01
2. Morgan Brophy (Cal) – 48.67
3. Livi Wanner (Minnesota) – 49.13
4. Mina Kaljevic (Minnesota) – 49.48
5. Erika Carlson (UNLV) – 49.49
6. Mia West (Cal) – 49.51
7. Hannah Cornish (Minnesota) – 49.74
8. Ella Mazurek (Cal) – 49.89

Mary-Ambre Moluh earned the win for Cal in the women’s 100 free, swimming a 48.01. She was slightly off her season and career best, which stands at 47.89 from the Cal, ASU, Stanford double dual meet in November. Tonight, Moluh was out fast, splitting 22.88 on the opening 50.

Cal senior Morgan Brophy came in 2nd with a 48.67. Brophy holds a career best of 48.28 from NCAAs this past season.

Minnesota freshman Livi Wanner posted a 49.13 for 3rd tonight. Like Moluh, she was just off her season best of 48.75, which was swum at the Minnesota/Wisconsin dual meet in November.

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 39.90, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 41.34
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 42.19

RESULTS:

1. Destin Lasco (Cal) – 42.59
2. Nans Mazellier (Cal) – 42.74
3. Nikolas Antoniou (Cal) – 42.81
4. Samuel Quarles (Cal) – 43.08
5. Trent Frandson (Cal) – 43.13
6. Sonny Wang (Harvard) – 43.64
7. Colby Hatton (Cal) – 43.68
8. David Greeley (Harvard) – 43.70

Cal fifth year Destin Lasco won the men’s 100 free after deciding not to do the 200 back, which is his best event. Lasco swam a 42.59, narrowly missing his career best of 42.40, which he swam in February of this year.

Cal freshman Nans Mazellier clocked a 42.74 for 2nd tonight. Of note, Mazellier went 42.50 in prelims this morning, which is both his career best and stands as the fastest time of the day.

Cal also saw sophomore Nikolas Antoniou come in 3rd with a 42.81.

Well Cal was phenomenal in the event, with 6 swimmers in the ‘A’ final, the other very encouraging performance for the Golden Bears came in the ‘B’ final, where freshman Lucca Battaglini swam a 43.32.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 2:01.29, Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:05.73
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 2:09.55

RESULTS:

1. Abigail Herscu (Cal) – 2:08.83
2. Leah Polonsky (Cal) – 2:09.73
3. Alicia Henry (Cal) – 2:09.77
4. Molly Urkiel (Rutgers) – 2:10.90
5. Jessica Maeda (Denver) – 2:11.65
6. Margaux McDonald (Cal) – 2:11.75
7. Stephanie Iannaconne (Harvard) – 2:14.05
8. Grace Drabot (Minnesota) – 2:14.38

Cal went 1-2-3 in the women’s 200 breast, seeing Abigail Herscu lead the way with a 2:08.83. The performance marks a new career best for Herscu, chipping half a second off her previous best of 2:09.33, which she swam at the NCAA Championships back in March of this year.

Herscu came in about a second ahead of senior teammate Leah Polonsky, who swam a 2:09.73. That swim also marks a career best for Polonsky, clipping her previous mark of 2:09.93, which has stood since 2022. C

Coming in 3rd was Cal senior Alicia Henry, who swam a 2:09.77. Henry has the fastest career best on Cal’s roster this season, having been as fast as 2:07.89 before.

Rutgers had a strong performance out of Molly Urkiel, who swam a 2:10.90 for 4th. The swim represents a huge career best for Urkiel, blowing away her previous mark of 2:12.65, which was set at the 2021 Minnesota Invite.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:46.35, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.65
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:53.12

RESULTS:

1. Yamato Okadome (Cal) – 1:52.40
2. Hank Rivers (Cal) – 1:52.93
3. Daniel Nicusan (UNLV) – 1:53.65
4. Jacob Soderlund (Cal) – 1:54.43
5. Joe Rudd (Minnesota) – 1:55.47
6. Danny Beji (UNLV) – 1:55.52
7. Carter Lancaster (Cal) – 1:55.91
8. Michael Breitbart (UNLV) – 1:58.04

Cal was strong in the men’s 200 breast as well, seeing freshman Yamato Okadome pop a new career best of 1:52.40 to win the race. Okadome was out fast, splitting 53.14 on the opening 100, then held on through the back half of the race.

Finishing close behind was Cal junior Hank Rivers, who went 1:52.93. The swim marks a new career best for Rivers, clipping his previous best of 1:53.13.

UNLV saw a great swim out of Daniel Nicusan, who touched 3rd with a 1:53.65. Nicusan entered today with a career best of 1:55.58, which he swam in February of this year.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:49.16, Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:52.47
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:55.88

RESULTS:

1. Lilou Ressencourt (Cal) – 1:56.17
2. Lizzy Cook (Cal) – 1:56.20
3. Ava Chavez (Cal) – 1:57.39
4. Blanka Berecz (Rutgers) – 1:59.29
5. Claire Reinke (Minnesota) – 1:59.45
6. Rachel Conley (Minnesota) – 2:00.35
7. Ava Yablonski (Minnesota) – 2:00.83
8. Peyton Ross (Minnesota) – 2:01.57

Cal showed off their depth in the women’s 200 fly tonight, seeing Lilou Ressencourt win the event in 1:56.17. Lizzy Cook was right behind in 1:56.20, while Ava Chavez clocked a 1:57.39 for 3rd. Ressencourt swam her career best of 1:55.94 earlier in the season as Cal’s double dual meet with ASU and Stanford. Meanwhile,  Cook holds a career best of 1:54.70, which she swam at the 2023 Pac-12 Championships. On the other hand, Chavez’s performance tonight marks a career best. She entered the day with a personal best of 1:59.06.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:37.35, Jack Conger (Texas) – 2017
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.05
• 2024 NCAA Cutline: 1:42.10

RESULTS:

1. Jacob Johnson (Minnesota) – 1:42.61
2. Frank Applebaum (Cal) – 1:42.78
3. David Schmitt (Harvard) – 1:43.72
4. Tyler Kopp (Cal) – 1:44.24
5. Ian Belflower (UNLV) – 1:44.71
6. Colby Raffel (UNLV) – 1:44.80
7. August Vetsch (Cal) – 1:44.86
8. Michael McGillivray (Cal) – 1:47.09

Minnesota freshman Jacob Johnson completed his sweep of the men’s fly events this weekend, swimming a 1:42.61 in the men’s 200 fly. He narrowly touched out Cal fifth year Frank Applebaum, who swam a 1:42.78. Notably, Johnson swam his career best of 1:41.56 this morning in prelims. Applebaum’s swim tonight marks his career best and his first time under 1:43 in the event.

Cal senior Gabriel Jett swam the 200 fly in prelims this morning, where he swam a 1:43.46, but didn’t race the event tonight.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA Record: 3:05.84, Virginia – 2023
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:13.74

RESULTS:

1. Cal ‘A’ – 3:11.76
2. Minnesota ‘A’ – 3:17.95
3. Harvard ‘A’ – 3:20.24
4. UNLV ‘A’ – 3:20.77
5. Denver ‘A’ – 3:21.43
6. Rutgers ‘A’ – 3:26.51

Cal won the women’s 400 free relay decisively tonight, putting up a 3:11.76 to finish 1st by over 6 seconds. Moluh (47.63), Stadden (47.85), Polosnky (47.93), and Brophy (48.35) combined to get the job done, securing the NCAA ‘A’ cut in the process. Moluh’s lead-off split is notable, as it marks a new career best for the freshman. It’s also worth noting that Cal saw a 48.41 split from McKenna Stone and a 48.58 split from Mia West on their ‘B’ relay tonight.

Minnesota came in 2nd tonight with a very consistent relay, seeing Livi Wanner (49.58), Mina Kaljevic (49.10), Morgan Thomas (49.31), and Hannah Cornish (49.96) team up for a 3:17.95.

MEN’S 400 FREE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA Record: 2:43.40, Arizona State – 2024
• 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:49.79

RESULTS:

1. Cal ‘A’ – 2:48.79
2. Harvard ‘A’ – 2:53.46
3. Minnesota ‘A’ – 2:54.27
4. UNLV ‘A’ – 2:55.53
5. Denver ‘A’ – 2:57.82

Cal ended the meet with a bang, seeing their ‘A’ men’s 400 free relay win a decisive victory. Mazellier (42.07), Bjorn Seeliger (42.23), Lasco (42.59), and Gabriel Jett (41.90) finished in 2:48.79, earning the NCAA ‘A’ cut, just as the Cal women did. Like Moluh on the women’s lead-off, Mazellier’s swim there marks a new career best.

The Golden Bears ‘B’ relay was excellent as well, with Antoniou (43.28), Battaglini (42.63), Trent Frandson (42.46), and Samuel Quarles (42.10) combining for a 2:50.47. The Cal ‘C’ relay also saw a 42.16 anchor out of Keaton Jones. Given all those options, Cal is looking to be in great shape in this relay moving forward this season. It’s also worth noting Seeliger holds a career best of 40.75 in the event, which means he has more to give as well.

Harvard put up a strong relay tonight, as Sonny Wang (43.58), David Greeley (43.50), Marre Gattnar (42.79), and Evan Croley (43.59) teamed up for a 2:53.46. The most encouraging thing about this relay for Harvard is that Croley and Gattnar are freshmen, while Wang is a sophomore.