The 2015 CeraVe Invitational wrapped up on Sunday on the campus of Rutgers University, and finished with a late Olympic Trials cut from Bluefish swimmer Max Miranda in the men’s 200 fly final.
Miranda won that race with a 2:01.72 to beat out NBAC’s Cole Buese (2:02.73), who has been the star of the meet on the boy’s side.
Miranda’s stock has been rising nationally, including making the C-Final at Junior Nationals this summer, but this time is a new lifetime best, his first Olympic Trials cut, and easily the fastest long course time in the event this season.
The men’s 200 fly is as crowded in American junior swimming as it has ever been. In the 2013-2014 season, 31 Americans aged 18 & under were 2:01.99 or better in the event. That’s as compared to just 18 in 203 and just 17 in 2012.
Miranda is the first junior swimmer to do so in the new year.
Buese, despite falling to Miranda in the 200 fly, did end his meet with another victory. The Princeton commit won the 200 backstroke in 2:05.48.
Other individual winner on the men’s open side of the meet included 15-year old Andrew Abruzzo in the men’s 1500 free (15:52.55); Dan Golczewski in the men’s 100 free (53.15); and Ryan Brown of the Long Island Aquatic Club in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.77).
The Long Island Aquatic Club is building an impressive breaststroke group in New York. 15-year old Maggie Aroesty won the women’s race in 2:36.77 – beating out Molly Kowal, who swam 2:38.65.
NBAC’s Sierra Schmidt finished the meet with 4 individual victories, wrapping up with a 1500 free on Sunday. She swam 16:38.39, bascially unchallenged, to win that race, and had 500 meter splits of 5:34.8-5:34.9-5:28.6, putting in a negative-split all day on the race as well (8:24-8:14).
Schmidt’s 14-year old teammate Easop Lee finished the day with another win as well, swimming a 2:15.94 in the women’s 200 fly. Lee did swim some best times on the weekend, though this race specifically wasn’t close to the 2:10 that she swam to win Junior Nationals last summer.
Schmidt took 2nd in the 200 fly in 2:17.64.
Finally, UCLA commit Mary Pelton won the women’s 100 free in 57.96, breaking a dead-heat mid-way to win over Jessica Antiles (58.15) and Cara Treble (58.57).
Is Molly Kowal related to former champion Kristy Kowal?
bobo – no relation, despite the naming and geographical similarities. They did meet though once, I think I saw Kristy Tweet that!
Not surprised at Easop Lee’s 200 fly time considering only short time – perhaps 20 minutes – after winning the 200 back. Very tough double as the 200 back is exhausting on the legs. 2:15 in hard training and not currently training long course is still very impressive.
As I recall her 2:10 fly was the first event at juniors. And tapered and training long course, of course.
Boy’s 200 fly impressive times with one boy having a 1500 hanging over his head and another coming off a win in the 200 back only 20 minutes before.
These kids sure are in great shape.
Impressed with Molly Kowal swimming the 1500 in 17:11, then jumping out to swim the 200 breast to nab second less than 10 min later.
Sierra Schmidt also had a nasty triple: 1500 free, 200 back, 200 fly… Ow. Also did 800 free, 200 free, 200 IM on Friday, 400IM and 400 free Saturday. Gotta love training phase this time of year!
Congrats to Max. It was great fun to be there and see it live. FYI, after completing the 200 Fly he got out of the pool, walked over three lanes and swam the 1500 not far off his lifetime best. Impressive.
Very good swim for Max Miranda, especially in January. New PB in 2.01.72.
Last year at the same meet he swam 2.04.25. And in late July was in 2.02.54.
So we can expect a sub 2 minutes next summer.
31 Americans aged 18 and under were 2.01.99 or better in the 200 fly last LCM season? 😯 Michael Phelps’ babies.
In France, none. 😥
Our fastest 18 and under boy was in 2.03.94.
No Franck Esposito’s babies here. 🙁