2020 U.S. Open — Sarasota: Saturday AM Live Recap

2020 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, November 12 – Saturday, November 14
• Selby Aquatic Center, Sarasota, FL
• Long Course Meters (LCM)
• Timed Finals
• Where To Watch US National Team Members
• Streaming Info/Races to Watch
• Meet Central – Sarasota
• Sarasota Psych Sheets
• Sarasota Heat Sheets (All Sessions)
• Live Results – Sarasota

The final racing session of the 2020 U.S. Open Swimming Championships here in Sarasota will consist of the timed finals of the men’s and women’s 1500 free followed by the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly.

15-year-old Michaela Mattes holds the top seed in the women’s 1500 free while distance ace Bobby Finke will swim the middle lane on the men’s side.

Yesterday’s men’s 100 back champion Clark Beach will double the distance as he leads the 200 back over brother Ethan Beach and 2008 Olympic champion Ryan Lochte. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Natalie Mannion is the top seed for the women’s 200 back.

In the women’s 100 free, 17-year-old Micayla Cronk will face off against 26-year-old Arizona State alum Marina Spadoni in the middle lanes. The men’s race will feature a star-studded field featuring Cayman Islands Olympian Brett Fraser, Florida Gator Kieran Smith, Mexico’s Daniel Ramirez, and Lochte.

14-year-old Gracie Weyant is the women’s 200 breast top seed, with 22-year-old Taylor Grabenhorst and 18-year-old sister Emma Weyant swimming next to her. On the men’s side, Gator Swim Club’s Jonathan Tybur holds the top seed while training mate Nils Wich-Glasen enters the event as yesterday’s 100 breast champion.

The women’s 200 fly features Mannion again, swimming alongside fellow 16-year-old and top seed Brynn Wright. Finally, 18-year-old Mason Laur will finish the competition off as he leads the men’s 200 fly race.

Saturday AM Live Stream

WOMEN’S 1500 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 15:20.48 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
• U.S. Open record: 15:20.48 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 15:35.98 – Katie Ledecky (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 16:49.19

Top 3:

1. Michaela Mattes (SYS)- 16:51.97
2. Maria Victoria Yegres (AZFL)- 17:15.94
3. Anna Auld (ECAC)- 17:20.51

Taking the top time in the women’s 1500 free was 15-year-old Michaela Mattes of the Sarasota Sharks, touching in at 16:51.97. That time was half a second above her seed time of 16:51.45.

Finishing in second place with a lifetime best by 3 seconds was 14-year-old Maria Victoria Yegres of Azura Florida Aquatics, clocking in a 17:15.94. Yegres, who represents Venezuela internationally, swam her previous lifetime best of 17:18.88 at the 2019 World Junior Championships where she placed 20th overall.

Taking third place here was 17-year-old Anna Auld, clocking in at 17:20.51.

MEN’S 1500 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 14:39.48 – Connor Jaeger (2016)
• U.S. Open record: 14:45.54 – Peter Vanderkaay (2008)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 14:55.46 – Damien Joly (2017)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 15:44.89

Top 3:

1. Bobby Finke (FLOR)- 15:09.14
2. Liam Custer (SYS)- 15:35.69
3. Brennan Gravley (FLOR)- 15:36.65

Topping the longest race on the men’s side was Florida Gator Bobby Finke, touching in at 15:09.14. His personal best rests at 14:48.70, which was the third-fastest time from the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. At last year’s U.S. Open meet, Finke finished in third place with a 15:05.55. He was the 2019 U.S. National champion in this event last summer as well, putting up a winning 14:51.55. His swim this morning currently ranks him 4th in the world this season.

Smashing 28.63 seconds off his lifetime best from January 2020 to take second place and earn a Trials cut was 16-year-old Liam Custer of the Sarasota Sharks, touching in at 15:35.69. That puts Custer in the top 50 all-time 15-16 age group rankings.

Finishing in third place was Florida’s Brennan Gravley, clocking in a 15:36.65.

The remainder of the session is set to continue at 11am ET/10am CT.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open record: 2:05.68 – Missy Franklin (2013)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 2:08.42 — Hayley McGregory (2008)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:14.69

Top 3:

1. Emma Weyant (SYS)- 2:13.77
2. Celina Marquez (AZFL)- 2:13.93
3. Jordan Agliano (HIGH)- 2:15.21

Emma Weyant tops her 7th event this weekend in Sarasota, swimming a lifetime best to win the women’s 200 back with a 2:13.77. Her previous best of 2:15.56 came from the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville in January. That time just snuck Weyant into the top 100 all-time 17-18 age group rankings.

Finishing in second place was Azura’s Celina Marquez, also swimming a personal best of 2:13.93. Marquez’s time also takes down her own Salvadorian national record of 2:14.76, which she set at the 2019 Pan American Games.

Taking third place was Highlander’s Jordan Agliano, swimming a 2:15.21.

MEN’S 200 BACK – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open record: 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 1:54.59 – Nick Thoman (2009)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:02.99

Top 3:

1. Clark Beach (FLOR)- 2:00.21
2. Yeziel Morales (AZFL)- 2:01.68
3. Amadeusz Knop (SYS)- 2:03.41

Sweeping the backstroke events here in the Sarasota was Florida’s Clark Beach, swimming a 2:00.21. At the 2019 U.S. Open, Beach took third place with a 1:59.42. Beach also finished in third place at the 2019 U.S. Nationals in this event, swimming his current lifetime best of 1:57.14. His time this morning puts him in the top 15 times in the world this season.

Taking second place was Azura’s Yeziel Morales, touching the wall at 2:01.68. Morales also placed at last year’s U.S. Open meet, finishing in 7th at 2:01.84. Morales is the current national record holder in this event for Puerto Rico, holding a 2:00.27 from the 2019 Pan American Games.

Finishing in third place with a lifetime best was 15-year-old Amadeusz Knop of the Sarasota Sharks, clocking in a 2:03.41. His time now puts him at #64 all-time in 15-16 age group history.

2008 Olympic event champion Ryan Lochte placed 5th in this event at 2:03.83. His lifetime best hails from the 2011 World Championships, where he put up a 1:52.96. At the 2019 U.S. Open, Lochte put up a 1:59.26.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel (2019)
• U.S. Open record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel (2018)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 53.42 — Erika Brown (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 56.29

Top 3:

1. Micayla Cronk (BD)- 55.97
2. Ella Bathurst (TEAM)- 56.46
3. Marina Spadoni (UN)- 56.66

Taking the win in the women’s 100 free was 17-year-old Micayla Cronk of the Blue Dolfins, touching in at 55.97. She set her current personal best at the 2019 U.S. Open, where she won the D-final in a 55.65.

Taking second place was 17-year-old Ella Bathurst of Tampa Elite, touching in at 56.46. Her lifetime best of 56.35 was set in December 2019.

Arizona State alum Marina Spadoni rounded out the top 3 here in Sarasota with a 56.66. In January 2020, Spadoni swam 55.98/55.86 at the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.

MEN’S 100 FREE – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 46.96 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open record: 47.39 – Ryan Held (2019)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 47.69 – Zach Apple (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 50.49

Top 3:

1. Eric Friese (FLOR)- 49.91
2. Kieran Smith (FLOR)- 49.93
3. Brett Fraser (NYAC)- 50.73

Florida Gator and German native Eric Friese took the top time in the men’s 100 free at 49.91. Friese’s time knocked a full second off his previous 100-meter free best of 51.18 from the 2018 Irish Championships.

Finishing in second place with another sub-50 swim was Kieran Smith, touching in at 49.93. At the 2019 U.S. Nationals, Smith set his current personal best of 49.11, which placed 11th.

Taking third place was Cayman Islands’ Brett Fraser, touching in at 50.73.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 2:19.59 – Rebecca Soni (2012)
• U.S. Open record: 2:20.38 – Rebecca Soni (2009)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 2:22.00 — Emily Escobedo (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:33.29

Top 3:

1. Gracie Weyant (SYS)- 2:32.85
2. Emma Weyant (SYS)- 2:34.04
3. Eliza Brown (UN)- 2:37.23

The Weyant sisters go 1-2 in the women’s 200 breast, led by 14-year-old Gracie Weyant, who swam a 2:32.85 this morning. G. Weyant’s lifetime best of 2:31.15 is the 15th-fastest time in 13-14 age group history.

After going 7-for-7 this weekend, 18-year-old Emma Weyant settled for second place in this event. She put up a new lifetime best of 2:34.04, which downed her former best of 2:35.95 from the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.

Taking third place was Eliza Brown, who trains with the Sarasota Sharks, finishing in a personal best of 2:37.23.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
• U.S. Open record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 2:09.67 – Cody Miller (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:17.89

Top 3:

1. Nils Wich-Glasen (GSC)- 2:15.49
2. Amro Al-Wir (FLOR)- 2:16.10
3. Kevin Vargas (FLOR)- 2:16.50

German native Nils Wich-Glasen sweeps the breaststroke events in Sarasota with his 200 breast winning time of 2:15.49. Wich-Glasen was seeded with a 2:14.69 entering this meet.

Florida’s Amro Al-Wir took second with a 2:16.10. Al-Wir is the Jordanian national record-holder in this event, holding a 2:14.82 from the 2019 World Championships.

Rounding out the top three was Florida’s Kevin Vargas, touching in at 2:16.50. His seed time entering this meet was 2:15.58.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 2:04.14 – Mary Descenza (2009)
• U.S. Open record: 2:05.87 – Hali Flickinger (2018)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 2:07.20 — Susie O’Neill (1999)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:14.59

Top 3:

1. Addison Reese (LAKR)- 2:15.91
2. Isabel Traba (MIA)/Lockett Bowley (BD)- 2:17.26
3. (tie)

Winning the final women’s event in Sarasota was 15-year-old Addison Reese of Laker Swim, touching in at 2:15.91. She was just a hair off her lifetime best of 2:15.84 from February 2020.

Tying for second place was 19-year-old Isabel Traba of the University of Miami and 16-year-old Lockett Bowley of the Blue Dolfins, simultaneously touching the wall at 2:17.26.

MEN’S 200 FLY – TIMED FINALS

• American record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps (2009)
• U.S. Open record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Meet record: 1:55.60 – Luca Urlando (2019)
• U.S. Olympic Trials cut: 2:01.19

Top 3:

1. Miguel Cancel (FLOR)- 2:01.58
2. Mason Laur (T2)- 2:01.59
3. Victor Rosado (SPA)- 2:02.49

Winning the final event here in Sarasota by was Florida’s Miguel Cancel, touching in at 2:01.58. It was a tight race heading into the final 25 meters, yet top seed Mason Laur settled for second by 0.01s with a 2:01.59. Rounding out the top three was Saint Petersburg’s Victor Rosado.

Cancel’s time this morning shaved a second off his previous lifetime best of 2:o2.60, which came from the 2018 Gainesville Sectionals. Rosado also set a new lifetime best, taking down his 2:04.81 swim from February 2020.