Yannick Agnel went 8:42.58 in the 1000 free at the North Baltimore Christmas meet, which is the 2nd-fastest swim in that event in history, according to USA Swimming.
The French superstar held nearly all 26s, going 4:21.36 in the first 500 and winning by 18 seconds. His 8:42.58 ranks just above Robert Margalis’ swim from 2007 and behind only Erik Vendt’s 8:36.49 from 2008.
What’s more impressive is that Agnel is clearly not at his physical peak at this point – he swam the 200 free at this meet twice and went 1:36.73 both times. There’s nothing slow about a 1:36, but for a guy who went 1:31 the first time he ever swam the race in yards (at the Minneapolis Grand Prix a month ago), that kind of time shows some training fatigue.
NBAC’s pros were on display in a multitude of events on the first day of the meet. Conor Dwyer won the 100 breast in 53.01 and the 100 fly in 47.19. That 100 fly win came over fellow pro Tom Luchsinger, who went 48.37 there and added a 1:49.41 to win the 200 IM later in the night.
Matt McLean also competed in the 1000, going 9:00.00 on the dot to take second behind Agnel.
A pair of young NBAC women also provided some fireworks. Cierra Runge won the women’s 1000 in 9:25.79 over teammate Gillian Ryan, who was 9:40.60.
Runge also added a 200 IM win in 1:57.96 and Ryan won the 200 free, going 1:46.63.
The two combined for a 400 free relay win, with the relay going 3:23.34. Ryan led off in 50.09 and Runge anchored in 49.95. In between were Korby Simpson and Mary Pelton.
The male pros banded together for a 400 free relay of their own: the team of Conor Dwyer, Tom Luchsinger, Matt McLean and Yannick Agnel went 2:55.20. Agnel was 42.5 anchoring and Dwyer led off in 42.9.
Point about his “slow” 200 free is a little overstated. He coasted to 1:36 in the a.m. session. The 1:36 in the p.m. was not long after the incredible 800 free performance and he was definitely feeling the previous effort.
Thanks for all your informations.
Both girls took the same path from what I hear from folks in the east coast. Cierra arrived at NBAC with Chris Collier. Gillian with Erik Posegay. Both went to the pro group, then to the non pro group, then back to the pro group.
Runge was always a distance swimmer. She has one of the more beautiful freestyles in the country This young lady is ‘the next big thing’ in USA swimming. For the past two years she was commuting up to 3 hours a day to train at NBAC. this season she has established residence in Bmore and is thriving under Coach Bowman after swimming for many years for the same coach. According to USAS database Cierras 925 ranks fourth all time in 17-18 age group just behind Katie Hoff 910, Kate Zeigler 924 and Janet Evans 925.49.
Cierra will swim at Cal 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 so will be interesting to see where she trains in the summer 2015 and prep for Olympic Trials summer 2016.
Regardless, she may be the talk of women’s swimming this summer as she is 6-3 and now adjusted to training with the pro group. Her stroke in the 1000 was so incredibly long covering so much distance per stroke. And a 1:57 IM the same night as a 9:25 1000 speaks well to fitness and range for a swimmer many thought a 100 freestyler.
Gillian Ryan only this winter moved to the pro group as a training partner with Friis so do not overreact to her 1000 as she has been… Read more »
I’ve seen her next to both Allison and Missy and she’s got another inch or 2 on both. Guessing that puts her around 6’3″ maybe 4″. VERY fit.
Cierra is very tall and fit. Her 1000 was effortless. She swims with the pro group at NBAC since last Spring and looks to have finally adjusted this winter. Not sure how rested she is for this meet.
The high school kids that are not training with the pro group did not taper. They simply dropped morning workouts this week and cut back to 6000 in the afternoons this week. Some of the finals were only 10 minutes apart. You can’t compare their times to times at Juniors
Thanks for the informations.
Incredible swim for Cierra Runge! Cal definitely got themselves a surprisingly versatile package! I’ve been watching her swim for years and I don’t think we’ve seen her max yet. Much more potential in that tank. Keep an eye on her!
Theres a younger Runge rising too. Another NBAC prodigy in the making?! Wonderful young women too.
i remember the last time I’ve watched her at the junior worlds, she looked tall on the pictures. How tall is she?
And perhaps she’s in the conversation for 2016, especially for the 4X200 free relay. If we imagine that Katie Ledecky, Missy Franklin and Allison Schmitt are very likely, there’s a 4th place which looks very open. If she continues to improve like that, why not?