USA Swimming’s first summer “Futures Championships” continued on Friday in Greensboro, North Carolina, Mt. Hood, Orgeon and West Lafayette, Indiana. The meets were established as a championship for swimmers who didn’t qualify for Junior nationals.
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
To kick off the night in Greensboro, Brooke Rubendall emerged victorious in the women’s 200 free. She just out-touched Claire O’Mara, 2:03.31 to 2:03.34. Hannah Baker (2:03.52) was 3rd.
The men’s 200 free was topped by Hassler Carroll in 1:52.77, well under his previous best of 1:55.31 coming into the meet. Richard Mannix was close behind for 2nd in 1:52.94. Antonio Lanzi touched in 1:53.80 for 3rd.
13-year-old Abigail Arens took control of the women’s 100 breast, winning in 1:11.89. She’s now within 4 tenths of Olympic Trials. Carly Fried (1:12.72) and Emily Sykes (1:12.95) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Greg Grewal won the men’s version of that event, touching at 1:03.17. Brian Ramsey cleared 1:04 to take 2nd in 1:03.90. Kile Aukerman (1:04.20) was 3rd.
Andrea Hillen won a tight race with Krystal Lara in the 100 fly. She dropped a 1:02.12 to Lara’s 1:02.23. Jing-e Tan was also under 1:03 for 3rd in 1:02.68.
Lucas Reisch was the lone man under 55 in the 100 fly, winning in 54.48. He dropped nearly 2.5 seconds to qualify for Trials tonight. 2nd and 3rd went to Thomas Kelly (55.53) and Brent Benedict (55.77).
Katherine Trace made a massive drop from her previous best to win the women’s 400 I.M. She entered the meet at 5:05.35 on paper, dominating her way to 1st in 4:52.52. That cleared the Olympic Trials standard. Behind Trace, Jordan Silbert (4:57.74) and Sarah Giamber (4:58.13) rounded out the medals.
3 men broke the 4:30 barrier in the 400 I.M. to grab the podium spots. Dylan Cudahy and Charles Barry raced to the finish, with Cudahy winning in 4:28.21 to 4:28.38. Michael Craddock touched the wall for 3rd in 4:28.89.
MT. HOOD, OREGON
The first race of the night in Oregon went to DART’s Halladay Kinsey in the women’s 200 free. She went 2:03.83 to beat 2nd place Cali Raukar (2:03.98) by a nail at the finish. Mckenna Meyer picked up a medal, touching 3rd in 2:04.86.
It came down to the finish again in the men’s 200 free, as just a tenth separated Marc Morizono and Liam O’Haimhirgin. Morizono touched first, 1:52.20 to 1:52.31. Bradley Cline earned a podium finish with a 1:52.73.
Donna Depolo and Piper Brockley raced relentlessly into the wall in the women’s 100 breast. Both did their best to get to the wall first, and both of them did. They tied for 1st in 1:12.39. Blaise Wittenauer-Lee came in behind them at 1:12.69.
Lowering his time once again after qualifying for trials this morning, Gabriel Rooker finished a full second ahead of the rest of the men’s 100 breast field to win in 1:03.32. Cal’s Zachary Stevens swam to 2nd place in 1:04.46. Eric Tolman was 3rd at 1:04.83.
Anna Brolin clenched 1st in the women’s 100 fly with a 1:02.08. Lauren Green and Makenna Turner were neck and neck behind her at the finish, with Green getting it done first, 1:02.41 to 1:02.42.
Liam McCloskey and Yoessef Tibazi were almost evenly matched in the 100 fly. McCloskey ended up a tenth ahead, winning in 54.63 to Tibazi’s 54.73. Micah Ornelas swam a 55.25 for 3rd.
Jessica Epps grabbed a gold medal in the women’s 400 I.M., qualifying for the Olympic Trials with a 4:54.59. Jordan Anderson was just off that standard, placing second in 4:55.02. Cassidy Stein (4:56.77) was also well under 5 minutes for 3rd.
Michael White broke 4:30 in the 400 I.M., placing 1st in 4:28.46. He was well ahead of the others, as Keltan Lawler (4:30.32) and Braden Vines (4:32.24) rounded out the top 3.
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
The women’s 200 free was a very competitive race, topped by Kristen Wilson in 2:03.53. She wasn’t as fast as she was in prelims, but she was able to hold off Gabrielle Stecker and Olivia Treski. Those two were separated by just .01, with Stecker coming out ahead 2:03.93 to 2:03.94.
Luke Trimmer made a big drop to claim victory in the men’s 200 free. He came into the meet with a 1:55.05, and finished 1st in 1:52.85. Michael Dugan Swam to the wall behind him in 1:53.20, followed by Joshua Walsh in 1:53.73.
15-year-old Ema Rajic raced to the wall first in the 100 breast. Her 1.3 seconds drop to a 1:12.15 was good enough to overtake Haley Downey (1:12.47) and Charlotte Spalding (1:12.83).
In the men’s 100 breast prelims, Liam Bell dropped his time to within striking range of Reece Whitley’s 13-14 NAG record. He matched his 1:03.84 exactly in finals. He didn’t get the record, but still won the race by a good margin. Andrew Jensen (1:04.52) and Marc Rojas (1:04.86) both dropped time to close the top 3.
Next up was the 100 fly, which saw Alexa Harris drop a 1:01.00, qualifying for Olympic Trials and taking the win. 13-year-old Tristen Ulett was in a tight battle with Breanna Robinson for 2nd. Both dropped a chunk of time, with Ulett taking silver 1:01.44 to 1:01.45.
Michael Dugan dove in for his 2nd final of the night in the men’s 100 fly. He grabbed another silver in 55.71, barely behind Jacob Smith, who won in 55.71. Nicholas Wonder (56.02) earned a 3rd place finish.
14-year-old Kathleen Golding dropped almost 2 seconds to come within tenths of the Olympic Trials cute in the 400 I.M. Her 4:55.80 was good for gold ahead of Emma Gourdie (4:56.70) and Kathryn Painter (4:56.82).
Hudson Burch (4:31.31) grabbed a win in the men’s 400 I.M. 15-year-old Dane Florea raced to the wall 2nd, dropping his time to a 4:32.96. With that, Florea edged out Grayson Smith, who finished 3rd in 4:33.16.
According to MeetMobile White swam a 4:28.46
Not many 13 year olds qualified for Trials, so to have one within striking distance is amazing. I think Arens ages up in March, so plenty of time still 13 although 14 by Trials.