2023 Phoenix Winter Invite
- February 17-20, 2023
- Phoenix Country Day School, Phoenix, Arizona
- Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
- Full Meet Results
Whether you’re a fan of age group swimming, Masters’ swimming, or anything in between, there was something for everyone last weekend at the 2023 Phoenix Winter Invite.
Delaney Barbee, 14, of the Arizona Dolphins, and Olympic gold medalist Roland Schoeman, 42, both came away as big winners in the sprint races, highlighting opposite ends of the age spectrum.
Barbee turned heads in November when, at 13, she split 21.59 in the 50 yard freestyle on a relay leg. A year prior, she set the Arizona 11-12 Record in the 50 free.
She aged up in December and has continued to excel in the sprint events. This weekend, that included victories in the 50 free (23.01), 100 free (50.75), 200 free (1:52.95), 100 fly (59.04), and 100 back (58.14) in the 13-14 age group events.
Along with a 4th-place finish in the 200 fly (2:16.51), those swims were all new personal bests for her.
The times in the 50 free and and 100 free are especially notable. The 50 ties her with US Olympian Kathleen Baker as the 55th-best US swimmer in 13-14 history with almost a full year (and multiple championship seasons) remaining before she ages up.
At the other end of the spectrum, Roland Schoeman swept the open-age sprint freestyle events at age 42. He won the 50 in 19.73 and the 100 in 43.75.
This is Schoeman’s third open meet since returning from a one-year FINA doping suspension. He is a four-time Olympian representing his native South Africa, swimming at the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Games. That included three medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics: gold on the South African 400 free relay, silver in the 100 free, and bronze in the 50 free.
At December’s King Marlin Swim Club Pro-Am Classic, he swam 19.28 and 43.10 in the 50 and 100 free.
This meet was deep with talent on both sides of the pool, including a pair of Canadian star age groupers Mia West and Halle West from the Manta Swim Club who made the trip down for the meet. For both swimmers, this was their first short course meet, and a chance to show college coaches their abilities in the American pool.
Mia, who is scheduled to swim for Cal in fall 2024, swam 54.19 in the 100 fly, 1:59.13 in the 200 fly, and 2:01.79 in the 200 fly, all prelims, before scratching out of finals.
Halle West is a 14-year-old who last month broke a Canadian Age Group Record in the 100 breaststroke in short course meters. She likewise swam in prelims of the 200 back in 2:05.36, 200 breast in 2:14.48, and 200 IM in 2:04.57, scratching finals. She skipped her best race, the 100 breaststroke.
Eric Dupre, from the same Winnipeg-based club as the West swimmers, also raced in the meet. That included a win in the 1650 free in 15:50.78.
Dupre is an uncommitted junior who specializes in the distance freestyle events. His best long course times are 1:56.83/3:56.31/15:50.81 in the 400/800/1500 meter freestyles. That 1500 free best time came at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Games, where he placed 6th.
Other Meet Highlights:
- Kendall Gross from the Flagstaff Snow Sharks won 6 races in the 10 & under age group, including best times in the 100 free (1:03.59), 200 free (2:22.00), 100 back (1:08.43), 50 fly (31.40), 100 fly (1:12.49), and 200 IM (2:37.87).
- 25-year-old Marlies Ross, another South African international training out of the Phoenix Swim Club, won the open-age 100 free in 51.44, the 200 free in 1:50.39, the 500 free in 4:53.76, the 200 back in 2:00.57, and the 200 breast in 2:18.15. She represented the country at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Dad?
Does anyone know if USA Swimming is testing Roland for doping? If I remember correctly, he was banned for historical use, right?
The US Anti-Doping Agency doesn’t report any positive tests since his return. They aren’t the only organization that can test him, though. Doesn’t look like World Aquatics posts lists of doping tests administered anymore.
Historical use?? Sounds like you have a history of being ignorant.
You’re asking us to give Roland the grace that he never gave to anyone else? Not even swimmers who could prove their contamination source (which, I’ll remind you, he never did)?
We’re supposed to accept “just trust me bro I never took roids” when he lambasted competitors who could prove that their supplements were contaminated through no fault of their own?
Roland still hasn’t had to account for the double standard. He’s never really been taken to task for that. As soon as I see him own that – really own it – I’ll give him some sympathy. I want to hear specific apologies to specific competitors that he blasted.
Listen to his podcast with Brett Hawke where he speaks about apologizing directly to Mr Cesar Cielo
The difference between Roland and Cesar is that Cesar proved contamination. Roland just claimed it without any evidence.
Did Phoenix Swim Club ever punish Roland for his doping? Not exactly the example to set for an age group development program with a known doper…
Didn’t Roland get banned for doping a few years ago? Honest question. But please correct me if Roland has never tested positive for doping. Thank you.
You first accuse him of “historical doping” showing you have no idea what you are talking about. We suggest you do the research and educate yourself on sketching before looking like a fool.
I certainly am looking like a fool, bad habit of mine. But is it not true Roland Schoeman tested positive for doping in 2020? Is it not true that Roland Schoeman was caught for cheating? I must be confused. Can you straighten things out for me, Mourad? Has Roland actually been clean this entire time?
Can you educate us?
An even better recommendation would be to go to the FINA website and read about his case.
Reality is you need to educate yourself. Apparently something missing from your abilities up till now.
But Mourad,
Simple question. Is it not true Roland Schoeman tested positive for doping in 2020? It’s just a simple question. Yes or no?
I just read the case. Roland was unable to prove his claimed source of contamination, according to the FINA case.
Was there some other specific part that you wanted us to read?
Roland is swimming fast all over the map. He also looked pretty good at the ASU-UofA alumni meet 2/4/23, along with Crissy Ahmann, Herbie Behm and Matt Grevers (technically a Northwestern alum but swam in pro group in Tucson long enough to meet the loose requirement for this fun event) and many others.
I’d be willing to take bovine steroids if meant being that shredded when I’m 42
Or you could train and maintain good nutrition. There’s nothing magical about being shedded at any age. It just takes work and discipline.
Genetics and PED’s help too
eat clen tren hard
I wonder if Roland is trying to make the 2024 Olympics or just swimming for fun.
I wonder if he is trying to be part of American National Team or the South African Olympic team.
Roland Schoeman is a name I haven’t heard in a long time, but a 42 y/o ripping a 19.7/43.7 is simply ridiculous. That is in fact conference level swims at most other than SECs
It’s pretty cool that Schoeman would still be competitive at the D1 level–presumably unshaved/unrested for this meet, those are solid times that would’ve earned him a conference slot for many college teams.
It’s a great performance but Schoeman is a 42 year old sprinter. He’s always tapered lol.
I imagine he trains like Santos did. All gym with a few swims sprinkled in between. He’s probably always good to go fast.
How much swimming does he do?
ask him on any question
Wonder what he’s using now???
I’m glad someone said it. Once a doper…
Spoken like someone who has never met him at all. Why are you a coward and you hide behind a fake name.
Someone who seems to only speak ill of others. It’s a shame
Is it possible Mourad is “the” Roland Schoeman in disguise?
Talk about using a “fake name.”
Roland is a colleague at North&Co here in Phoenix and a fried to most agents here. You trolls continue to talk trash about others and I imagine most are tired of the fact that Swimswam allows such uneducated and ignorant trash to be shared. Opinions are certainly one thing, but the vitriol and trash that is spoken by you and others points to the fact that you at the most basic level are pathetic.
Imagine saying that opinions are okay but getting mad when people relay facts.
You don’t have to like it, but Roland was suspended for a doping violation. Purriud. Why do you consider that to be trash or vitriol?
Did North&Co drug test Roland Schoeman upon hiring him?
Would like to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but after seeing him blatantly cheat at a prize money meet in December by doing six dolphin kicks in a 50 breast (you’re allowed two) and thus rob the two guys he beat of more money, I have no reason to believe he’s changed. But great that he’s a good guy at North&Co!
All of your comments spoke ill of others? I must be missing your point.
It’s not like we brought up when he called Indian sports fans “monkeys” or his laughable run for sports minister of South Africa while serving his doping suspension.
I wonder if Mourad knew Roland when Roland said all of the same things about his peers who were caught doping, or if Mourad has only known Roland since Roland got caught doping and decided that the system was, in fact, broken?