2023 FAST Senior Open
- June 3 to June 4, 2023
- Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training, Ocala, Florida
- LCM (50m)
- Full results under “FAST Senior Open” on MeetMobile
This past weekend, seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel competed at the FAST Senior Open, where he finished second overall in the 100 free with a time of 49.80 and recorded splits of 24.24/25.56. He also was entered in the 50 free and 100 fly, but MeetMobile has indicated that he no-showed both events. The meet was a timed finals meet.
The FAST Senior Open was Dressel’s second competition since he abruptly dropped out of the 2022 World Championships for non-COVID-related health reasons. In May 2023, he raced at the Atlanta Classic, where he went 22.57 in the 50 free final and 52.41 in the 100 fly final. He also went a 50.29 100 free and a 2:05.18 200 fly in prelims, though he did not race finals of either event. In the 100 free, he had qualified for the ‘A’ final but ended up no-showing it.
Dressel was not the only big name swimming at this meet, as many of his training partners at the University of Florida also got racing in. The man who beat Dressel in the 100 free was Macguire McDuff, who clocked a 49.26 to take the win. He was just 0.2 seconds off his best time of 49.06, which was set at Futures last summer. McDuff also entered in the 200 free but ended up no-showing the race.
Kieran Smith swam and won both the 100 back and 200 IM. In the 100 back, he set a personal best of 55.18, which shaves over a second off his previous best time of 56.81 from 2018. He then clocked a 1:59.48 in the 200 IM, which was his fastest time since the 2020(1) U.S. Olympic trials, where he set his best time of 1:57.23. Sweeping the breaststroke events was Aleksas Savickas, who went times of 1:01.07 and 2:12.26 in the 100 and 200 breast respectively. He was significantly faster in both of his races this weekend than he was at the Atlanta Classic, where he clocked a 1:01.80 in the 100 breast and a 2:14.41 in the 200 breast.
On the women’s side, it was Isabel Ivey who won the 100 free in a time of 55.35, which was just 0.05 seconds off her season best. Placing second was rising Florida junior Ekaterina Nikonova, who went 55.60. Nikonova also won the 50 free in a time of 25.54.
Emma Weyant set a season-best time in the 200 free, going 2:00.83. Previously, her fastest time of the 2022-23 season was the 2:01.65 she swam at the Atlanta Classic. In fact, her swim from this weekend was the fastest she’s been in the 200 free since 2020(1) Olympic trials. Also posting a strong swim was Mabel Zavaros, who just over half a second off her 400 IM personal best and went a 4:40.49 to win the event.
Fellow Swiftie, Emma Weyant, has reached her peak.
Wow he no showed? Im shocked
Still doesn’t change the fact that he quit on his team in Budapest
Also, this is 2017 schooling all over again
I would describe Schooling’s situation as more “I accomplished my dream..what do I do now?” whereas Dressel’s situation is more “I’m not incredibly happy right now. Take a break, reset, and come back refocused.”
Of course I am putting words in their mouths, but I genuinely think there are different.
Schooling also became a Singapore celebrity and hero. I’m sure there were plenty of distractions and sponsorship opportunities that lead to less time training.
Out of the pool I’d agree, but I’m mainly referring to the dropoff that occurred in the pool, regardless of reason
But that makes it a bad comp.
Schooling is closer to Dmitriy Balandin than he is Dressel.
When downvotes are upvotes, through the eyes of a troll.
This might be the most low pro leadup to Worlds trials ever. The time certainly appears pedestrian. Something in the 48 mid range would look more dangerous.
He apparently told Lochte recently that he’s in the best physical and mental space of his life right now. That could mean he’s going to surprise at trials. Or it could just be one of those platitudes that someone says.
The hope is that Dressel is in very heavy training now and the slow times reflect that. However, he may be on a longer trajectory targeting Paris 2024 not Fukoaka 2023
webcast and results is posted:
https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/fastfalcons/page/calendar#/team-events/upcoming/215262
100 Free: https://youtu.be/iiQxioC_1Ug?t=2953
Who woulda thought Zane Grothe and Dressel would be toss-ups in the 100 free? I really hope he hasn’t Schooling’d. I hope this isn’t a Masters “these are your new best times” kinda thing. But I guess if he’s in a happy place — and who would know, given his radio silence — that’s great. Maybe pick up a construction job like Chalmers.
He is just coming back into training. Also dressel isn’t normally that fast in season.
Come on Caeleb this is a butterfly time…
Looks like he was trying to even split the race
I agree. Liendo swam a 49.0 yesterday going out 1 second faster. Dressel came back .2 faster.
So is this guy just allergic to swimming whenever there are cameras in the building?
Dude won wot like 5 Olympic golds? Chill dawg roof