2023 AP RACE INTERNATIONAL MEET
- Saturday, May 27th – Monday, May 29th
- London Aquatic Center
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview
- Entries
- Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap
- Results
The 2023 AP Race International Meet wrapped up at London Aquatic Center, closing out a successful competition that saw local youth take on aquatic superstars.
One of those stars was reigning 200m freestyle Olympic champion Tom Dean, with the Bath swimmer winning his signature event.
Dean touched in a time of 1:46.09 to get the edge over Matt Richards, with Richards hitting 1:46.73 as tonight’s silver medalist. Austria’s Felix Auboeck rounded out the top 3, posting 1:48.69 representing Loughborough.
As for Dean, the 23-year-old owns a season-best outing of 1:44.93 from when he snagged silver at the British Swimming Championships last month. Taking the national title there in Sheffield was Richards, who produced a best-ever result of 1:44.83.
The women’s 100m free tonight saw Catie DeLoof of the United States get to the wall first, posting a super solid swim of 54.04. DeLoof opened in 25.67 and closed in 28.37 to top Anna Hopkin who settled for silver in 54.33. Poland’s Kornelia Fiedkiewicz clocked 54.45 to bag bronze in the race.
As for the former University of Michigan Wolverine DeLoof, her time of 54.04 this evening checks in as the 3rd fastest of her career. She owns a lifetime best of 53.77 from the 2021 Olympic Trials and also posted a 53.87 from that same meet. This time slides into the 3rd slot on her resume.
DeLoof now ranks 19th in the world on the season, while Hopkin’s season-best of 53.52 from the British Championships rendered her the world’s 11th swiftest performer.
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Arno Kamminga easily defeated the men’s 200m breast field here, logging a result of 2:09.34 to get to the wall 5 seconds ahead of his competitors.
Tonight’s performance represents the Dutchman’s season-best, overtaking his previous effort of 2:09.47 from last month’s Mediterranean Open. Kamminga moves up the rankings to now own position #9 on the season.
Canada’s Sydney Pickrem came within striking distance of her own lifetime best en route to winning the women’s 200m IM this evening.
26-year-old Pickrem produced a mark of 2:08.89, a time which fell just .28 of her career-best 2:08.61 notched in 2019 and again at this year’s Canadian Trials She remains the #2 performer of all time for Canada.
Additional Winners
- Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago clocked a time of 23.21 to take the men’s 50m fly event by over one second.
- South Africa’s Lara van Niekerk earned gold in the women’s 50m breast, hitting 30.62 ahead of Sophie Hansson‘s (SWE) mark of 30.86. Van Niekerk has already notched multiple sub-30-second results this season, led by her world-leading 29.75 from the Monaco stop of the Mare Nostrum Tour.
- Sister Louise Hansson got it done for gold in the women’s 100m fly with a time of 57.96 while Millfield’s Emily Large snagged silver in 59.79. Hansson already ranks as the 5th swiftest performer in the world with her time of 57.00 from April’s Stockholm Open.
- Elliot Clogg earned gold in teh men’s 100m back in 55.97 while Holly Robinson clinched the women’s 200m back top prize in 2:19.74.
- Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen put up another sub-7:50 800m free result, taking tonight’s race in 7:47.52. The Loughborough racer already owns a lifetime best of 7:44.45 from last month, ranking 7th in the world this season.
- The women’s 800m free saw Ella Dyson secure the top of the podium in 8:49.23 this evening.
Whilst it had a few extremely good top level swims, this was a pretty bad meet to be fair and won’t have helped the AP brand image much. Looks like the organisers completely messed up the dates (deliberately clashing it with the Glasgow Meet when they didn’t need to do so, and placing it right before the key English school exam period too, and charging a small fortune to swim. Many events were down to straight finals, the heats and other finals having to be scrapped. The financial losses for it must be horrific.i
Understand what you’re saying on the timing, but the image will be fine. It was an first time event, many will not have known about it and I suspect it’ll be better attended next year and some tweaks to the prize pot so top athletes have more chance to get something from it (just a hunch). Atmosphere was great, it was lovely and relaxed and appeared to run pretty smooth. 100% will improve next year. It’s what the team does.
It was a good meet, with a great atmosphere and some decent performances considering the time of the year. It should definitely be an annual event! Top work AP and all 👍
Impressive swimming from Tom Dean + Mathew Richards from a GB perspective.
Dean has some 1’46.0 in seasons, but not evenly split. 48.3 + 1’58.0 certainly his quickest! He was similar in the 200Free pre trials but didn’t drop as much as some others. Hopefully in summer, he can peak even more effectively, we could see 1’43?
Richards, I can’t find as fast as 48.1 + 1’46.7. Certainly capable of 47/1’44 mid territory.
Though there are no guarantees, it does bode well for both and their respective relays.
That final 50 from Dean was filth – 25.8 (!!!) is obscene on the back of a 200 at any pace.
Avenging is defeat at British Trials in a nasty manner! A statement indeed, and appears time well spent training with Mat and Duncan in altitude a referenced on his podcast.
What was the podcast name?
Probably this I guess? https://www.instagram.com/the_weekly_freestyle/
Has Paige Madden been racing?
Yes. She’s been racing basically once a month on the European circuit. Lots of 1:58s in the 200 free.
https://www.swimrankings.net/index.php?page=athleteDetail&athleteId=4961404&athletePage=MEET
Great in-season swim for Pickrem. The return to Texas A&M suits her. I’m rooting for her to get a PB in the 200 IM this summer 🤞
This Meet turned out to be decent! Would be great to see it continue and grow in the future.
Fantastic swim. That would have won bronze last year and in Tokyo. Fingers crossed she does well at Worlds.
Where is Pickrem’s primary training site these days?
Texas A&M men’s team
Not sure why this is getting downvoted as I’m pretty sure it’s correct that she is training with Jason Calanog and the men’s group now
She’s back at A&M.
Deloof might sneak into the relay
Thriving in Loughborough with Iain Hume
Hulme has always done well with talented swimmers but can’t develope anyone
To be talented?
He’d be some coach if he could do that. What a rubbish comment.
What I meant is that deloof came to Loughborough as a world class swimmer but Hulme never developed someone to become a world class and he has been there for a long time
What about Jocelyn Ulyett?
In terms of development, relative to starting point, regardless of level he has advanced performance and therefore developed many athletes.
I agree she is an exception but she never came close to her British record again which shows me that Hulme can’t develop an athlete to be on the highest level
It’s not if Natalie Hinds has been tearing it up during calendar year 2023 while Mallory Comerford has been Missing In Action.