Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Jared Anderson.
Swimming against a veteran field loaded with international experience, 18-year-old American Simone Manuel came up big in the women’s 50 free, gritting out a tough win against Dutch Olympian Femke Heemskerk and American Olympian Natalie Coughlin.
Manuel, who just wrapped up her freshman year at Stanford and is among the most exciting young sprinters in the nation, was 24.75 for the win, just four hundredths up on Heemskerk (24.79). Coughlin also cracked 25, going 24.97.
SwimMAC’s Madison Kennedy was fourth in 25.13 – both she and Heemskerk are 27, while Coughlin is 32, compared to the 18-year-old Manuel.
Cal’s Farida Osman brought things back to youth in fifth place, going 25.20. Arizona grad Margo Geer and Brazil’s rising sprinter Etiene Medeiros tied for sixth at 25.21, and a couple of college standouts (Stanford’s Lia Neal at 25.35 and Wisconsin’s Ivy Martin at 25.52) rounded out the A heat.
Brazil’s Daynara de Paula won the B heat at 25.60.
COMMONWOMBAT see E GAMBLE
I think that BOBO GIGI was speaking about the potential of Simone Manuel. No one is comparing her to Cate Campbell at this early point in her career. Also, you saying that Simone was ” surfing” Campbell’s ” bow wave ” at Pan Pacs, still does not diminish her potential in becoming the greatest American sprinter.
Yes, there have been many NCAA Titans that have not done well on LCM. But, I’m sure Nathan Adrian, Ryan Lochte, Tyler Clary, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni, and others would not agree with you.
Do I think that Simone Manuel will one day be capable of breaking an American or World record in LCM? Absolutely!
I love that girl.
She’s beautiful, smart, poised, funny . . . and so talented. 😎
Has everything to be the best American sprinter in history.
That’s still a long way from being established … if indeed it ever eventuates. Some continue to progress; some plateau for some years before “making strides late career whilst others peak as teens. All too many NCAA titans prove minnows in “real world conditions”; ie LCM.
As it stands, Manuel is far from a cert for the 50 final in Kazan and the same can be said for the 100. Her 100 PB at PP was set “surfing” Campbell’s “bow wave” with her other 100 ventures at that meet back on the south side of 53.50. Kazan may tell us more regarding any real substance to the hype of certain US pundits.
i get your point but here , we are seriously hoping , that with her potential ,she will rise as a great sprint freestyler on LC . debates ? NO