2018 MEL ZAJAC JR. INTERNATIONAL
- June 1-3, 2018
- UBC Aquatic Centre
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Live Stream
12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte made some noise on day 1 of the Mel Zajac Jr. International meet with his performance in the 400 IM, clocking 4:15.80 and showing his best form since the 2016 Olympic Games. He continued the momentum on day 2, winning the 200 IM in a time of 1:58.90.
With solid splits all-around of 25.99(29.79)(34.63)(28.49), the 33-year-old is now the 2nd fastest American this year in both IM events, trailing only Chase Kalisz (who is the reigning world champion in both events). In fact, between Kalisz and Lochte, they’ve won the last five World titles in the event (Lochte had a record four straight from 2009 to 2015). Lochte’s Gator teammate Mark Szaranek took 2nd in 2:03.29, and U.S. junior team member Jake Foster was 3rd in 2:03.66. Foster had a win of his own in the 200 breast, going wire-to-wire in 2:16.55.
Lochte was also in action in the 100 fly, where he finished 4th in 53.71. Caeleb Dressel, who won two events on day 1, won the race in 52.45, making him the 3rd fastest American this year behind Jack Conger and Tripp Cooper. For comparison, Dressel was 52.29 exactly one year ago at the 2017 Santa Clara Pro Swim. U.S. junior Gianluca Urlando scored his second PB in the event for 2nd in 53.21, and Maxime Rooney was .01 off his season best for 3rd in 53.69. Szaranek, who was a sluggish 58.0 in the heats, dropped a 54.89 from the C-final.
Dressel also won the 50 free, making him 4/4 so far in the meet in terms of victories, with his first sub-23 of the year in 22.15. Noticeably wearing a Speedo suit after yesterday’s Mizuno, he’s now also 3rd among Americans in this event, trailing Michael Andrew and Nathan Adrian. Yuri Kisil (22.52), Sid Farber (22.61) and Alex Loginov (22.79) also cracked 23 for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Penny Oleksiak matched her performances from Friday, winning a butterfly event and also winning a freestyle B-final. She won the 100 fly in a very solid 59.12, well under her 1:00.92 from the Atlanta Classic, and went 25.80 in the 50 free B-final. Heidi Bradley (1:01.07) took 2nd in the 100 fly, and Phoebe Bacon (1:01.63) and Gretchen Walsh (1:01.64) both hit personal bests for 3rd and 4th.
Walsh also established a best on the day in the 50 free, when she went 25.46 in the prelims. She just missed that time tonight in 25.50, but still won comfortably over Sarah Fournier (25.80).
Like Dressel, Mackenzie Padington stood out with a pair of wins in the women’s 400 free and 200 IM. Her 400 of 4:10.63 was a season best, and just over a second off her lifetime best. Molly Gowans (4:16.46) was 2nd, and Savanna Faulconer (4:17.02) earned a PB for 3rd.
In the 200 IM, Padington out-sprinted breaststroker Kelsey Wog for the victory, touching in 2:15.25 to Wog’s 2:15.50. Kelly Fertel (2:16.58) was 3rd, as the top-3 all had their second fastest performance ever, and 15-year-old Bailey Herbert (2:16.66) posted a new lifetime best for 4th.
OTHER EVENTS
- Last night’s 200 back winner Isabelle Stadden of the U.S. junior team won the 50 tonight in 28.17, a new best time, moving into a tie for 3rd among Americans this year with Ali Deloof. Her teammate Katharine Berkoff (28.38) tied her best from prelims for 2nd, and Gator’s Emma Ball (28.47) also went a PB for 3rd.
- Markus Thormeyer cracked 26 for the first time in the men’s race, clocking 25.81 for the gold, while Wyatt Davis (26.28) got under his best by .02 for 2nd.
- Rachel Nicol of Calgary won the women’s 200 breast in a season best of 2:28.98, while the youngster Herbert continued her onslaught of personal best times for 2nd in 2:29.95.
- Mitch D’Arrigo crushed his season best to win the men’s 400 free in 3:51.93, with Ben Lawless (3:54.99) and Mikey Calvillo (3:55.54) narrowly missing their PBs for 2nd and 3rd.
- In the women’s 800 free relay, the U.S. juniors (8:18.97) had an epic battle with the Canadian juniors, as Kyla Leibel (2:01.36) nearly ran down Walsh (2:02.33) on the anchor leg. Berkoff was the main difference between the two teams, leading off in 2:03.93.
- For the men, the U.S. juniors won in 7:36.14, followed by Cascade (7:44.93) and Hyack (7:48.80).
Clearly the headline picture was not taken this weekend. Lochte was wearing TYR and is TYR sponsored and has not worn speedo for two years.
Considering the sides of his cap say “MAC”, It’s clear this photo was taken before Rio. That was when he was still training at swim mac and was still sponsored by speedo.
Second night in a row where Oleksiak only made a freestyle B-final, but still swam it fast enough to have won a medal in the A-final. And the 50m freestyle really isn’t her specialty.
Where is Switkowski?
He had his Polish meet a week ago where he went crazy fast considering he barely rested for it.
51.6 100 Fly
1:56 low 200 Fly
1:47 high 200 FR
Based on his NCAA form, he could shake up the order at Europeans this summer. No 200 IM?
what type of goggles was dressel wearing? Seemed different from his normal white speedo sockets
The fast kind.
Time is not very super good in world but old swimmer swam before day two time 400IM+ 200m Back heat. 1000metres high lactate swimminig one day. 1:58,9 with hard tired.
1:58.9 in hard training not super good?
How do u know his time is not super good at age 33 after hard training ? u have a special expertise in the domain ?
I want say: Ryan competed second day and 400metres IM was today he body. Recovering is slower than 10 years ago. He could swim 1: 56.
Question. Do you know anything about competitive swimming….? Like at all
Lochte could barely break 2:00 in hard training before, so for him to go 1:58 at an in-season meet is tremendous. It’s a fantastic time.
I believe 158 was the world record at the start of the Phelps&Lochte show in the early 2000s…
I remember when that record was held by Jani Sievinen who Rowdy dubbed the best swimmer in the world at one point.
1:58.16 in 2003 till Phelps broke it at an in season meet.
Wow. With those times, the Lochte redemption tour can gear up into full swing. America loves comeback stories. We may have a good one here.
If Lochte can go a 1:58 in June as a 33 year old then I feel like he can go much faster than a 1:56. Dressle said that they’ve been training really hard so if He can go an in season 1:58 while dead and as a 33 year old then I feel like he can drop a 1:54 or 1:55 at Nationals (assuming that he is fully tapered of course)
so Now Usa has 3 potential Gold medalist in the 200 IM for Tokyo – just insane And lets enjoy the fireworks