Chelsea Chenault and Andi Murez started off Saturday night’s final session of the TYR Fran Crippen Memorial Swim Meet Of Champions with a great race in the women’s 200 freestyle. They both took their first 100 out just above 58 seconds, and powered through the final meters of the 200. Chelsea Chenault won the race, touching the wall at 1:59.41. Andi Murez finished second at 1:59.76. Both swimmers dropped close to two seconds in finals.
USC’s Cristian Quintero won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.99. He led Jeremy Bagshaw by a little more than a half second. Bagshaw touched second at 1:50.55.
Kierra Smith, Haley Spencer, and Andrea Kropp were the only three swimmers under 2:30 in the 200 breaststroke. Kierra Smith won the event with a 2:26.70; dropping close to four seconds. Haley Spencer was second with a 2:28.14 and Andrea Kropp was third at 2:29.20.
Josh Prenot came to play, winning the 200 breaststroke by five seconds with a final time of 2:12.79. He dropped almost a full second from his fourth place finish at the Santa Clara Grand Prix. Chuck Katis finished second with a time of 2:17.75. Prenot is now within a second of his time from last summer at nationals in the 200 breaststroke.
The women’s 50 freestyle went to Abbey Weitzeil with a time of 25.37, dropping .59 from her seed. She won the women’s 100 freestyle on friday night. Jessica Hardy and Andi Murez were second and third at 25.39 and 25.88.
Joey Hale, Utah’s Nick Soedel, and Yuri Kisil finished first, second, and third in the men’s 50 freestyle. Hale posted a winning time of 22.79, followed by a 22.80 from Soedel and a 22.96 from Kisil.
Emily Overhalt ran away from the rest of the field to win the women’s 400 IM with a time of 4:43.57, followed by Ella Eastin at 4:51.90. Corey Okubo snagged the final individual event of the day, posting a 4:20.39 to win the 400 IM. Zac Dalby was second at 4:26.80.
That was a notable women’s 200 breaststroke race! I hadn’t heard of Kierra Smith before yesterday, but 2:26.7 is an excellent in-season time, only about a half second behind what Laura Sugar swam to win silver at Santa Clara and about #30 in the world rankings! Haley Spencer’s time also cracks the current top 50 world times, and I’m glad to see Andrea Kropp swimming well. I assume Micah Lawrence will take the top spot in this event for the US, but it will be a real battle for #2! I haven’t seen LC times this year from Breeja Larson or Emma Reany, and I’m sure there are other competitors to consider, but as a former Bluefish coach, I’m rooting… Read more »
Abbey Weitzeil much faster than last year at the same meet in the 50 free.
25.37 vs 26.02
Ella Eastin slower than last year at the same meet in the 400 IM.
4.51.90 vs 4.49.31
Great consistency in all these in-season meets for Corey Okubo around 4.20 in the 400 IM.
4.15 fully tapered in August?