Arizona State hosted its annual ’25 yard freestyle battle royale’ (aka 25 Freestyle Championship of the World) on Friday in Tempe, Arizona, where their collegiate and post-grad sprinters squared off to see who has the fastest zero-to-60 on campus.
Some swimmers wore technical racing suits while other wore practice suits, though on the women’s side this was not decisive. It appears as though racing suits were used in the first round as an equalizer of sorts for the lower-seeded sprinters.
On the women’s side, the pro group’s top two sprinters, who didn’t suit for any of the rounds of racing, came through on top.
In the finals, Olivia Smoliga beat out 2016 50 free Olympic silver medalist Simone Manuel. Both swimmers split 9.7s, but Smoliga got her hand on the wall first.
The two had a similar pattern all day – 10.0 in the first round, 9.8 in the second round, and 9.7 in the final.
Note: red underlines indicate a tech suit was worn.
Women’s 25 free results
On the men’s side, where the sprint group has a lot more depth, it came down to the squad’s top pro Ryan Held against the squad’s top collegian Jack Dolan.
It was a photo-finish, but unsuited, Held touched in 8.45 and Dolan touched in 8.50.
Held went 8.4 in the first round as well, followed by 8.9, 8.5, and the 8.45 in the final.
This is at least Held’s third straight championship (the tournament was last run in February). He swam 8.19 in the win last year, but his all-time World Record of 7.96 remains.
Note: red underlines indicate a tech suit was worn.
Men’s 25 free results
Ryan held his own
Wait. So Olivia and Simone races without a suit to even the playing field?
They swam naked? 🫣
World yards records have not been recognised since 1966
Easy to set a world record when no official body recognises it
Competition write up was tongue in cheek.
This has to be hand watches. Humanly impossible to go 17.9 unsuited.
7.9*
Is this electronic timing or hand timing?
If hand timing and starting the stopwatch one would assume the times are a good deal
Slower.
It is electronic timing. ASU has electronic start timing on the bulkhead starting blocks as they are use for 50 meter starts when the bulkhead is at the far end of the pool for 50 meter long course events. Thus ASU can do electronic timing from both ends of the pool.
I’m aware they can do it. But there’s no video to show it was in fact done. 9.8 on Liv. And a team record of 7.
Who is going to represent Team USA in the 50free in Paris and what will be the 1-2 times at trials? Dressel is back and you have Held, Alexy and Andrew all wanting a spot. Did I miss anyone?
Dressel looks happy and fast. Andrew went 21.8 which is solid.
I say Dressel and Alexy. But in addition to MA and Held – Curtiss and Kulow are also in the mix.
Alexy seems the most likely of that crew to drop time , then Kulow.
The real competition this year appears to be, which group produces more exciting early and mid-season times, the ASU group (including pros) or the UVA group (including pros and Curzan).
UVA so far
Agree! So far ASU on the men’s side and UVA on the women’s side.