Donahue cracks 59, Ziegler hits comeback-best 400 free at Tennessee Invite

Olympian Claire Donahue blasted one of the best 100 fly times in the nation so far this year in Tennessee, one of several Olympians to light up the Tennessee Aquatics June Invitational in Knoxville.

Donahue, of course, is coming out of a tumultuous spring in which her longtime coach Bruce Marchionda was let go as the Western Kentucky program was suspended after hazing violations. Donahue and Marchionda just ended a long period of uncertainly by selecting South Florida Aquatic Club as both of their landing spots, though they haven’t yet started training there.

But Donahue responded to that period of adversity with a huge 58.99 win in the 100 fly, a season-best and a time that ranks just outside the world’s top 25 for the year. That time would have earned Donahue second place and a $600 paycheck at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara the same weekend.

Joining Donahue were several more big-name American Olympians. Open water specialist Alex Meyer was competing at his new Tennessee training home, and won the men’s 1500 free. Meyer, who will represent the U.S. at Worlds in the open water events this summer, went 15:27.38, holding off a continual threat from young Georgia Bulldog Kevin Litherland (15:31.66).

Another new Tennessee Aquatics import is former world record-holding distance swimmer Kate Ziegler, who was a U.S. Olympian back in 2012. Ziegler took an extended break from the pool, but has now resurfaced. She had mostly contested the 200 free since returning to action, but this weekend, she stepped up a level in distance, winning the 400 free in 4:16.11. That’s her best swim in the event since 2013.

And Olympic relay swimmer Shannon Vreeland also made the trek from Georgia, showing up to win the 200 free in 1:59.85. Vreeland was also the top seed out of prelims in the 400 with a 4:16.62, but scratched from the final.

The breaststrokes were all about Tennessee with national teamer Brad Craig and college All-American Molly Hannis earning two wins apiece. Craig was 1:02.37 in the 100 and 2:18.06 in the 200; Hannis went 1:07.74 and 2:30.76.

Full results are here.

A few other notable names to compete:

• Paul Powers, who just wrapped his freshman year at Michigan, won the 50 free in 23.44.
• One of the nation’s top incoming college freshmen, Townley Haas competed in Tennessee with NOVA of Virginia, going 3:57.02 to win the 400 free and 1:51.86 to tie for the win in the 200 free.
• He tied Jay Litherland, a rising sophomore at Georgia. Jay and his two twin brothers (Mick and Kevin) were all in the hunt in various events. Jay won that 200, Kevin took the 400 IM (4:28.21) and Mick won the 100 fly (55.32) and 200 fly (2:00.59) for Dynamo.
• Another great race was the women’s 50 free, where Tennessee’s Faith Johnson went 25.73 to touch out SwimAtlanta pro Amanda Weir (25.88) and Georgia/SwimAtlanta racer Maddy Locus (25.94).
• Georgia dominated the backstrokes. Rising sophomore Kylie Stewart won both women’s races, beating teammate Olivia Smoliga by a tiny margin in the 200. Stewart was 2:15.87 and Smoliga 2:15.89.
• Tynan Stewart won both men’s backstrokes for Georgia, too. His times were 2:03.53 and 56.24.