2026 NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge
- May 22-24, 2026
- Irvine, CA
- LCM (50 meters)
- Livestream
- Results on Meet Mobile: “2026 CA 30th NOVA-Speedo Grand Challenge”
- Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2
The NOVA Speedo Grand Challenge wrapped up in Irvine last night after another day of fast swimming from the competitors.
Gabriel Manteufel, who swims for Sandpipers of Nevada, dominated the men’s 1500 free, stopping the clock in a new personal best time of 15:13.72 to secure the victory by over 25 seconds.
Manteufel, 18, sliced 1.36 off of his previous lifetime best (15:15.08) from the 2025 U.S. Nationals last summer to mark the 2nd-fastest time in the country so far this season in the boys’ 17-18 age group. He sits just behind Luka Mijatovic, who holds the top spot in 14:59.27.
Committed to swim for Indiana University-Bloomington in the fall, Manteufel also propelled himself up the ranking of the all-time age group top 100 times. His swim marked the 28th-fastest performance of all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.
Moving up the all-time national age group ranking for the second time during the competition was Gabi Brito of Beach Cities Alpha. The 15-year-old won the women’s 100 back in 1:01.28, shaving 1.37 off of her lifetime best.
Brito’s performance landed her at #5 on the ranking of top times this season in the girls’ 15-16 age group and at #43 on the list of the all-time top 100 times in the age group.
Twelve-year-old Jasper Ye of Aquazot Swim Team turned in an eye-catching performance in the boys’ 7-12 200 IM, winning by a margin of five seconds with a personal best time of 2:19.34. He knocked over three-and-a-half seconds off of his lifetime best, marking the fastest time in the boys’ 11-12 age group so far this season.
Ye cracked the all-time national age group ranking in the 200 IM, landing at 30th on the list of top 100 times. He also posted a top swim in the boys’ 7-12 50 free, winning in a best time of 26.89 to mark the 3rd-fastest time this season in his age group and the only sub-27 performance in the field.
The women’s 800 free saw a handful of notable performances across the board. Sandpipers of Nevada’s Rebecca Diaconescu took home the win in a season-best time of 8:46.57, securing her second victory of the meet after prevailing in the 400 free (4:16.73).
Behind her, teammate Katherine Warkentin turned in yet another top swim, claiming the runner-up spot in a lifetime best time of 8:50.85. The 16-year-old dropped almost five seconds to jump up to 8th on the ranking of top times this season in the girls’ 15-16 age group.
Irvine Novaquatics’ Sofia Szymanowski shined in the breaststroke events, winning the 200 breast in a best time of 2:32.54 and taking 6th in the 50 breast in 32.75. Her performances landed her at 5th and 9th, respectively, on the list of top times this season in the girls’ 17-18 age group.
Another notable name in the women’s 200 breast was Gabby Rose, 48, who trains with Beach Cities Aquatics. Rose placed 4th in 2:34.00, just off of the season-best time (2:33.78) that she posted in early May.
Other Day 3 Highlights
- Singapore’s Tzen Teong, 28, won the men’s 50 fly in 23.61, which was a few tenths off the season-best time of 23.38 that he posted back in March. Teong was the only swimmer in the field to break 24 seconds, charging in ahead of runner-up Kamal Muhammad (24.11); both men train with Fullerton Aquatic Sports Team in California.
- Fourteen-year-old Aubrey Martinez placed 7th in the women’s 50 breast in a personal best time of 33.14. That performance marks the 2nd-fastest time in the country so far this season for 13-14 girls.
- Irvine Novaquatics’ Ethan Lim logged a strong performance in the men’s 50 breast, snagging the runner-up spot in 28.99 to shave .37 off his lifetime best and slide under the 29 barrier for the first time. His swim tied him for 8th on the ranking of top times this season in the boys’ 17-18 age group, sharing the spot with fellow 17-year-old Ryder Nichols.
- Annabelle Hayes of Irvine Novaquatics continued to deliver top performances, throwing down a personal best time of 28.05 in the girls’ 7-12 50 free to win the event and top the national rankings. The 11-year-old’s performance marked the fastest time in the country so far this season in the girls’ 11-12 age group.
- Evolution Racing Club’s Aaron Deng took 2nd in the men’s 200 breast in a lifetime best time of 2:17.32. Deng dropped over two-and-a-half seconds over the course of the meet, having come into the competition with a best time of 2:20.09 from April 2025. His performance Sunday night marked the 6th-fastest time in the country so far this season in the boys’ 15-16 age group.
