Schroeder Y’s Isaac Fleig Hits PB of 9:02.78 in the 1000 FR to Open 2023 YMCA Nationals

2023 YMCA NATIONALS (SC)

• April 2-7, 2023
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central
• Live Stream
• Psych Sheet

The first day of the 2023 YMCA Nationals at the Greensboro Aquatic Center featured the 1000 free and the 200 free relay. In the first individual event of the meet, the women’s 10o0 free, 17-year-old Ava Sutphin out of ME Lyons Anderson YMCA won decisively in 9:55.93. She touched first by nearly six seconds and was just off her personal best of 9:55.62, which she swam at last year’s YMCA Nationals. She swam a consistent race, going 4:57.48 on the first 500 and coming home in 4:58.45.

In the men’s 1000 free, 18-year-old Isaac Fleig sped to the finish in 9:02.78, touching first by nearly 13 seconds. The Schroeder Y product took two seconds off his lifetime best of 9:04.89, which he had just swam in February. Fleig negative split his race, splitting 4:32.08 on the first 500 and coming home in 4:30.72.

Greater Somerset County YMCA won the women’s 200 free relay tonight, swimming a 1:33.46 to touch out Upper Main Line Y (1:33.62). Wyckoff Family YMCA was also very much in the mix, finishing third in 1:33.75. Wyckoff Family Y got out to the fastest start of the three teams, leading Greater Somerset by 0.78 seconds going into the final leg. Here is a split comparison between the three teams:

Anna Moesch‘s 22.77 lead-off leg was critical to Greater Somerset’s team, while Emily Thompson‘s 23.16 anchor leg sealed the deal. While Moesch’s swim was huge for her team, it’s worth noting that the swim was well off her personal best 0f 21.97 in the 50 free, which she swam at last year’s Y Nats. Alexa Fulton was flying on Upper Main Line Y’s anchor, roaring to a 22.63 on her leg, however, she fell just short of getting her hand on the wall before Thompson. Wyckoff Family Y’s Katie Lawrence had a huge split as well, clocking a 22.91 on the second leg of her relay.

In the men’s 200 free relay, Ridley Area YMCA won with a 1:21.74, touching out Greater Somerset County (1:21.95). The Ridley Area Y team of Shane Eckler (20.56), Jake Kennedy (20.02), Jonathan Hoole (20.41), and Ben Kutufaris (20.75) combined to earn the victory. Greater Somerset County was out a tick faster thanks to Garrett Gould‘s 20.34 lead-off split, but Kennedy quickly took the race over for Ridley Area on the second leg. GSCY’s anchor, Rob Alexy, came home with a sizzling 20.04 but it wasn’t quite enough to get his team back into the lead. Alexy is notably the younger brother of Cal sophomore Jack Alexy, who recently helped the Golden Bears to a second-straight NCAA title.