2020 U.S. Open – Greensboro Friday P.M. Live Recap

2020 U.S. OPEN Swimming Championships

• Thursday, November 12 – Saturday, November 14
• Greensboro, NC
• Long course meters (LCM)
• Timed Finals
• Where To Watch US National Team Members
• Meet Central
• Women’s Heat Sheets (all sessions)
• Men’s Heat Sheets (all sessions)
• Live results (Omega Timing)
• Friday Evening Livestream Link

Tonight’s action in Greensboro will consist of timed finals of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back, and we’re expecting to see big names compete, from 16 year-old Claire Curzan to Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• U.S. Open record: 4:31.07 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 4:51.79

Top 3:

1. Réka György (VT) – 4:46.14
2. Yara Hierath (NCS) – 4:53.81

Only four women were entered in this event here, and only two women ended up competing. Virginia Tech’s Réka György, who competes for Hungary internationally, touched first with a time of 4:46.14, about five seconds away from her lifetime best from 2016. Yara Hierath, a NC State swimmers who hails from New York but competes for Germany internationally, touched in 4:53.81, over eight seconds off of her lifetime best of 4:45.75 from the 2018 European Juniors.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer (2012)
• U.S. Open record: 56.38 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 1:00.69

Top 3:

1. Claire Curzan (TAC) – 56.61
2. Farida Osman (PRVT) – 58.39
3. Kylee Alons (NCS) – 59.52

16 year-old Claire Curzan of TAC lopped the better part of a second off of the 15-16 NAG, previously a 57.48 by Torri Huske. That’s Curzan’s best time by nearly a second, and would’ve qualified for the USA’s Rio Olympic team. Among US women, only Dana Vollmer and Kelsi Dahlia have been faster. It was pretty obvious Curzan was about to do something special when she took it out in 26.00, and she continued to look smooth most of the way.

Egyptian Olympian Farida Osman, who trains with Pinnacle under VT coach Sergio Lopez, touched 2nd in 58.39, and NC State’s Kylee Alons was the only other woman under 1:00, taking 3rd in 59.52.

MEN’S 200 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Open record: 1:54.40 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:01.69

Top 3:

1. Kirsti McEnroe (YSSC) – 2:03.66
2. Loulou Vos (VT) – 2:04.23
3. Chase Travis (VT) – 2:05.35

16 year-old Kirsti McEnroe shaved 0.03s off of her personal best to touch first here in 2:03.66. Virginia Tech teammates Loulou Vos and Chase Travis took 2nd and 3rd with times of 2:04.23 and 2:05.35.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy (2009)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 1:10.99

Top 3:

1. Rachel Bernhardt (GAME) – 1:07.67
2. Micah Sumrall (GAME) – 1:08.13
3. Abigail Arens (NCS) – 1:09.59

Rachel Bernhardt came within 0.08s of her lifetime best, a 1:07.59 from last year’s edition of the U.S. Open, to take the win. 2nd place went to veteran Micah Sumrall (1:08.13). While the long course season is still young, those appear to be the fastest two times in the US so far this season.

NC State’s Abigail Arens took 3rd in 1:09.59, as the top seven women were under the US Trials cut of 1:10.99.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open record: 58.00 – Kathleen Baker (2018)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 1:02.69

Top 3:

1. Claire Curzan (TAC) – 1:00.30
2. Katharine Berkoff (NCS) – 1:00.38
3. Caroline Bentz (VT) – 1:01.05

Less than 40 minutes after her stunning swim in the 100 fly, Curzan jumped back in the pool and put up a casual 1:00.30, her 3rd-fastest time ever. Pending results from other sites tonight, only Kathleen Baker has been faster among US women this season, with her 59.82 from earlier this evening.

NC State star Katharine Berkoff gave Curzan a run for her money, touching just behind in 1:00.38. VT’s Caroline Bentz took 3rd in 1:01.05, setting a new personal best by 0.63s.

MEN’S 400 IM – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 4:25.99

Top 3:

1. Jay Litherland (DYNA) – 4:22.05
2. Jay Baker (NCAC) – 4:26.07
3. Lance Norris (TAC) – 4:27.64

With fellow Olympian Chase Kalisz a late scratch, Jay Litherland didn’t have a ton of competition, but the teens in the field kept him honest. Litherland ended up winning in 4:22.05, while NCAC’s Jay Baker, a UNC commit, knocked over 5 seconds off of his seed time to take 2nd in 4:26.07, less than a tenth of a second away from the OT cut. TAC’s Lance Norris took 3rd in 4:27.64.

MEN’S 100 FLY – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 49.50 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open record: 50.22 – Michael Phelps (2009)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 54.19

Top 3:

1. Justin Wright (NCAC) – 52.92
2. Youssef Ramadan (VT) – 52.99
3. Blake Manoff (VT) – 53.30

US National Team member Justin Wright got the win here with a 52.93, which looks to be his 3rd-fastest time ever. Wright, who’s known primarily as a 200 flier, went to Arizona but is currently training at UNC. VT’s Youssef Ramadan finished just behind Wright at 52.99, followed by fellow Hokie Blake Manoff at 53.20.

This was one of the more notable fields across any event at any location of this meet. Former Queens and Cal star Matthew Josa took 4th in 53.50, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling placed 5th in 53.81, VT’s Antani Ivanov took 6th in 53.95, just ahead of Dean Farris at 53.98, and Jack Saunderson rounded out the top 8 with a 54.05.

MEN’S 200 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 1:50.70

Top 3:

1. Michael Cotter (TAC) – 1:50.72
2. Samuel Hoover (NCAC) – 1:50.74
3. Jonathan Rutter (PRVT) – 1:50.85

It was a tight race here, as NC State commits Cotter of TAC and Hoover of NCAC battled against Pinnacle’s Jonathan Rutter for the win. Cotter got his hand on the wall first with a 1:50.72 that’s a lifetime best by 0.84, followed by Hoover and his 1:50.74, a lifetime best by nearly two seconds. Rutter touched 3rd in 1:50.85, his best time since 2017 and his 2nd-best performance ever.

MEN’S 100 BREAST – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 58.64 – Kevin Cordes (2017)
• U.S. Open record: 58.74 – Kevin Cordes/Jaoa Gomes (2017)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 1:03.29

Top 3:

1. Andrew Wilson (ABSC) – 59.58
2. Ilya Evdokimov (PRVT) – 1:00.47
3. Jorge Murillo (TAC) – 1:00.85

While we’re still waiting for all fo the results to roll in, this seems to have been the fastest site for this event. Andrew Wilson joined Cody Miller in Indianapolis in the sub-minute club tonight, winning here (and beating Miller) with a 59.58.

Pinnacle’s Ilya Evdokimov took 2nd in 1:00.48, followed by TAC’s Jorge Murillo with a 1:00.85. The top 8 finishers here were all under the OT cut of 1:03.29.

MEN’S 100 BACK – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
• U.S. Open record: 51.94 – Aaron Piersol (2009)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 56.59

Top 3:

1. Will Grant (VS) – 54.69
2. Forest Webb (VT) – 55.60
3. Hunter Tapp (NCS) – 56.11

Harvard’s Will Grant was the only man under 55, winning in 54.69, exactly 0.80s off of his best time from last year’s World Junior championships. Virginia Tech’s Forest Webb was the only other man under 56, taking 2nd in 55.60. NC State’s Hunter Tapp won a tight battle for 3rd that saw him touch in 56.11, just ahead of Farris’s 56.20.