2019 MINNESOTA INVITATIONAL
- Wed. Dec. 4 – Sun. Dec. 8, 2019
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center / University of Minnesota / Minneapolis, MN
- Wed. Timed finals 6 PM
- Thu.-Sat. Prelims 10 AM / Finals 6 PM / Diving 12 Noon
- Short course yards (SCY) format Wed.-Sat. (LCM format Sunday)
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream (days 2-4)
- Live results
- Also on Meet Mobile. Search “Minnesota Invite 2019”
The final session of prelims at the 2019 Minnesota Invitational concluded earlier today, with the session highlighted by Texas junior Austin Katz taking the top time of 1:39.15 in the 200 back. That time ranks second in the nation this year, behind only Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas (1:38.21). Additionally, it makes him just the third man under 1:40 this season after Casas and NC State’s Coleman Stewart (1:39.98).
The Longhorns went 1-2-3-4 this morning in the event, with Ryan Harty taking second (1:40.47) followed by Josh Artmann (1:41.06) and freshman Ethan Harder (1:41.55). Harty is now fourth in the nation; so far, nobody else besides Casas, Katz, Stewart, and himself have broken 1:41. Harder, meanwhile, took a few tenths off of his old best.
A fantastic battle for the 200 breast win is brewing after three men went 1:52’s this morning. Minnesota sophomore Max McHugh leads the way at 1:52.07, with Cal sophomore Reece Whitley and Texas freshman Caspar Corbeau not far back at 1:52.79 and 1:52.83, respectively. For Corbeau, that’s a huge best time, taking a chunk out of his old best of 1:54.56.
Abbey Weitzeil of Cal led the 100 free prelims on the women’s side, coasting to a 47.12. Nobody was close; second this morning was her teammate Robin Neumann and Michigan’s Daria Pyshnenko. They tied at 48.51, with Texas’s Claire Adams (48.70) and Iowa’s Hannah Burvill (48.96) also getting under 49. Weitzeil will be chasing Erika Brown of Tennessee tonight, who went 46.15 at the Tennessee Invite and leads the nation.
Longhorn freshman Kelly Pash shot out to a lifetime best and prelims-leading time of 1:55.41 in the 200 fly. Pash came to college with a best of 1:57.15; she went 1:56.82 in an October dual meet and then 1:55.67 in a November dual meet before now bringing it down a couple tenths more. Michigan’s Vanessa Krause posted a 1:56.04 for second.
OTHER NOTABLE SWIMS
- In the men’s 100 free, Longhorn Daniel Krueger posted a 41.84 to hold off Cal’s Ryan Hoffer (42.25) and Texas’s Drew Kibler (42.50). Krueger takes over the top time in the country with that swim.
- In the 200 fly, Sam Pomajevich dropped another 1:39; he had time-trialed a 1:39.35 on Wednesday night, and this morning, he posted a 1:39.77. Pomajevich came into the meet with a 1:40.82 lifetime best. Second was Maxime Rooney, posting a 1:40.94 to now rank second in the country.
- Cal’s Ema Rajic led two Big Ten seniors in the 200 breast. Rajic was 2:10.93 to edge Michigan’s Miranda Tucker (2:11.49) and Minnesota’s Lindsey Kozelsky (2:11.67).
- Julia Cook of Texas led the 200 back prelims with a 1:53.57 ahead of Cal’s Keaton Blovad (1:54.00) and Izzy Ivey (1:54.11). Michigan’s Chloe Hicks was right behind in 1:54.17.
2 Back will be fun to watch at NCAAs. Katz Will probably have the #1 spot going into March and is the favorite to win it. However, come March Casas could give him a challenge similar to this past Summer if he manages his schedule well enough.
And then Katz and Casas can battle for the second spot at trials
Someone check Sam’s suit for an extra logo.
Yea, logos are mechanical doping;)
Dave Durden already did
Durden with a lack of class as always. Sore loser?
He probably learned it from Eddie, who reported the winner of the B final at NCAAs in 2013 or 2014 for the exact same violation and had him disqualified. (Except that only Texas swimmers seem to think Dave actually did this – other commenters have said that they’re on deck and that Dave was nowhere near the official who called it).