The fourth annual Jax50 Sprint Challenge took place over the weekend at the Bolles Swim School in Jacksonville, Florida. Although there were no professionals in the field last spring (that “Olympics” thing got in the way), a slew of stars came out for the contest this year, including four Olympic medalists and two other former NCAA sprint champions.
For those who aren’t familiar with the meet, swimmers face off head-to-head in a bracket-style format, with the winner of each heat in one round moving on until a single swimmer is crowned champion. The Jax50 began in 2010 as a fundraiser for the Planet Swim Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Bolles coach Sergio Lopez and former Virginia Tech swimmer Gustavo Calado. The charity focuses on promoting the sport of swimming through education and safety in underprivileged areas. In addition to the races, there are also clinics offered to coaches and swimmers the following day.
On the men’s side of the bracket George Bovell bested Cullen Jones in the final round, 19.20 to 19.48, to take home the $2,500 prize. The two were in a dead heat going into the first turn, but Bovell appeared to get a better breakout off the wall, and he didn’t let up until the final touch. The Trinidad and Tobago native also won this event back in 2010, when he set the current meet record of 19.16 (fellow Auburn grad Adam Brown tied that mark the following year).
One day shy of his 25th birthday, Ricky Berens actually posted the second-fastest swim of the meet in his fifth place battle with high schooler/Bolles sprint stud Caeleb Dressel, touching in 19.40, well under his previous lifetime best.
NCAA record holder and Bahamian Olympian Ariana Vanderpool-Wallace won the women’s event over U.S. Olympian Amanda Weir, 22.25 to 22.48. This is the third time Weir has been the runner-up here in Jacksonville; she fell short in the final round to Kara Lynn Joyce in 2010 and Lara Jackson in 2011. A graduate of the Bolles School, Vanderpool-Wallace has returned to her roots to participate in this event every year (she finished 4th in 2010 and 2011).
Do you still swim in yards in USA at the end of April?
Bobo, this is a special event, and it’s just the right time of year to do it to get the best athletes.
Some high schools have their state championship meets in the spring (California, for one), but everyone else (club, most high schools, all pro athletes) are done competing SC yards at the end of March/beginning of April.
Really Good for Berens !! he stilll has a lot in the tank for great races to come …. maybe he can be part of the 400 free relay in Barcelona ??? who knows ……..
Startling, impressive, and encouraging to see Berens go 19.4. Hope this bodes well for his 100 improvement.