2018 SPEEDO GRAND CHALLENGE
- May 25th-27th, 2018
- Irvine, California
- LCM
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets (updated 5/24)
- Live Results
Hungarian superstar Katinka Hosszu finally made her 2018 racing debut this morning at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine, swimming preliminary heats in the women’s 200 IM and 50 freestyle. This comes amid a crazy week for the USC grad, who publicly announced she split from longtime husband and coach Shane Tusup on Thursday. Adding insult to injury, her Facebook page was deleted shortly after, though she claims it wasn’t by her.
Nonetheless, Hosszu took to the water for the first event of the meet in the 200 IM, posting the top time by well over five seconds in 2:11.91. She moves into 18th in the world for the season, as this is not only her first race of the calendar year, but is her first long course race of the 17-18 season. Local college swimmers Louise Hansson (2:17.50) of USC and Sarah Darcel (2:17.55) of Cal sit 2nd and 3rd, with 13-year-old Claire Tuggle (2:18.16) in 4th. Tuggle also leads the women’s 400 free in 4:17.55.
The meet will uniquely have a 4-swimmer A-final, with regular ‘B’ and ‘C’ finals consisting of 8 swimmers. This comes into play in Hosszu’s other event, the 50 free, where she tied with Amy Bilquist and Caroline Baldwin for 3rd in 25.87. Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil leads the field in 25.36, and early indications show the swim-off has been scrapped and someone has scratched. It could well be Hosszu, considering she already has the 200 IM final and the 50 free is far from a primary event for her.
Other notable names swimming include Ryan Murphy, Andrew Seliskar, Zheng Wen Quah and Jacob Pebley, all of Cal, who occupy the four finals spots in the men’s 200 free. They are tightly bunched, led by Murphy at 1:50.78, and Pebley is 4th less than half a second back in 1:51.26.
Ruta Meilutyte was in action leading the women’s 100 breast field in 1:10.12, as was Josh Prenot, Will Licon and Connor Hoppe for the men, sitting 1-2-3 led by Prenot (1:01.60). Licon and Ryosuke Irie were also in the men’s 200 IM, qualifying 2nd and 3rd overall behind Trenton Julian (2:04.67). Jordan Wilimovsky won the first heat of the men’s 1500 in 15:39.83, but Cal’s Nick Norman dropped a PB of 15:23.09 in the next heat to take the top spot.
Among those not swimming despite being included in the psych sheets are Tom Shields (men’s 200 free) and Katie Meili (women’s 100 breast).
Licon and Prenot tied tonight
It said Ruta is 28, wasn’t she 15 or so in London which would put her at like 20-21 now right?
Ruta turned 21 in March.
She is a few days junior Ledecky. That made her the youngest gold medalist in London Olympics.
Just FYI meet mobile shows all 3 of the ties for the women’s 50 in the A final (5 swimmers instead of 4). I guess with the open lanes they didn’t need to do a swim off
If Claire Tuggle or her supporting teams (she is only 13 ) are thinking of the next World Championships then the best chances she has is 4×200 relay. She is ranking #6 now having Leah Smith right behind her. Today in prelim of 50 free she made her personal best. That a good sign. But her program is very loaded at this meet: today – 200IM, 400free, 50free. It’s a training meet and I wouldn’t expect personal bests in other disciplines. But if she does it then it would be very exciting.
200 – 1:59.11
400 – 4:11.37
800 – 8:37.27
She’s not the only 13-year old girl tearing things up. Check out this 1’ video (with sound on) of 13-year old Katelyn Francis in a sanctioned competition in Texas recently. Impressive! Could be on the 2024 Olympic team.
https://twitter.com/xstrategiesdc/status/991659876807004160?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Eios%7Ctwgr%5Ecom.apple.UIKit.activity.Message
Wow that was impressive. And scary
Apparently this was an old video of about 6 years. Im guessing she is around 19 or 20 now but apparently she is still competing.
Four swimmer A final? Is this a new format?
They’ve been doing it for years. Cash prize wheel I think as well?
Cash Awards will be presented to the 1st – 3rd places, to those athletes eligible to receive cash. Awards: $100.00 for 3rd
Place, $200.00 for 2nd Place with 1st Place amount determined by the spin of the Mystery Wheel ($300.00 – $1,000.00).
Other cash awards may be affected by the spin of the Mystery Wheel (ex: “Winner Takes All”). The Mystery wheel will be
spun prior to the Championship final to determine 1st Place cash value. A $100.00 cash award will be presented for a Meet
record set in the Championship Final. In addition to cash awards, merchandise awards will be presented to the
Championship Finalists (4) and the winner of the A Consolation. Swimmers… Read more »