It’s Iowa’s meet to lose on both the men’s and women’s sides of the Hawkeye Invite going into the last finals session. The highlights from prelims are below, with results available here. Competition resumes at 4 p.m. central time.
The race to watch will be Roman Trussov of Iowa and Zach Stephens of Notre Dame in the men’s 200 breast. Trussov and Stephens traded positions from the 100 breast, which Stephens won last night. Trussov went 2:00.53. Stephens is seeded second with a 2:00.53.
Emma Sougstad, who won the women’s 100 breast for the Hawkeyes is seeded fourth in the 200 breast with a 2:14.84. Presley Wetterstrom will be the top seed in the final for Washington State 2:12.96. Amanda Sanders will be the number two seed for Denver with a 2:14.00. Colleen Champa is the third seed for Iowa with a 2:14.75.
Grant Betulius of Iowa, Robby Whitacre of Notre Dane, Chris Freeman of Iowa, Jared Smith of Denver, and Anton Loncar of Denver all swam to B cuts in the men’s 100 backstroke. Betulius had the fastest time by a half second with a 1:45.03. Loncar had the last B cut with a 1:45.91.
Freeman and Whitacre will be a close race for second. Whitacre was 1:45.52 and Freeman was 1:45.57.
The women’s 200 backstroke saw Sam Corea of Denver continue to swim well. Corea blew out the field by over a second with a 1:58.14. Loree Olson of Denver will be second with a 1:59.51. Meghan Lavelle will be the third seed with a 2:00.71.
Olivia Kabacinski will swim as the top seed in the women’s 100 free. Kabacinski and Denver’s Johanna Ross were the only two swimmers under 50 seconds. Kabacinski was 49.70, and Roas was 49.98. Drew Matthews of Denver rounded out the top three with a 50.40.
Ray Bornman was a 44.05 for the top seed for Denver in the men’s 100 free. Jackson Allen was second for Iowa with a 44.54, and Jackson Halsmer was 44.87 for the third seed for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa will also time trial the 400 medley relay in finals. The relay of Betulius, Trussov, Jerzy Twarowski, and Jackson Halsmer were under the A cut and school record on friday but a false start disqualified the relay.
Robby Whitacre is from Notre Dame not Denver.