2023 Fran Crippen SMOC Day 2 Finals Recap: Katie Grimes Blasts New 200 Fly PB of 2:08.77

2023 CA FRAN CRIPPEN SWIM MEET OF CHAMPIONS

• April 13-16, 2023
• Marguerite Aquatic Center, Mission Viejo, CA
• Hosted by Mission Viejo Nadadores
• LCM (50 meters)
• Psych Sheet
• Day 1 Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap

The second day of the 2023 Fran Crippen Swim Meet of Champions saw some incredible racing at the Maguerite Aquatic Center in Mission Viejo.

Sandpipers of Nevada 16-year-old Claire Weinstein had a terrific day, winning an event and clocking a lifetime best time in another event. Weinstein won the women’s 400 free in 4:06.70, beating out teammate Bella Sims by nearly two seconds. With the performance, Weinstein was just off her personal best of 4:06.24, which she set last month at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale. She swam a balanced race, splitting 59.54 on the opening 100m, then splitting 1:02.73, 1:02.60, and 1:01.83 respectively on the remaining 100s.

Sims came in second with a 4:08.41, which is just shy of two seconds off her lifetime best of 4:06.61, which she swam last April.

Weinstein also took third in the women’s 200 fly, swimming a 2:13.17. That swim blew away Weinstein’s previous best of 2:16.39, which was set last April.

It was 17-year-old Sandpipers teammate Katie Grimes who won the 200 fly last night, roaring to a new personal best of 2:08.77. Grimes’ performance took nearly a full second off her career best of 2:09.58, which she had swum in January of this year at the Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. She got out to a quick start, splitting 1:01.47 on the opening 100, then faded just a bit down the stretch, coming home in 1:07.30 on the final 100. Also, Grimes has now risen to #14 all-time in the 17-18 age group in the event.

Once again, Sims came in second in the 200 fly, swimming a 2:10.36. For the 17-year-old, that swim comes in just off her personal best of 2:09.89, which she swam at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale.

La Mirada Armada 14-year-old Kayla Han was up there in both the women’s 200 fly and 400 free. In the 200 fly, Han clocked a 2:14.59 to finish fourth, setting a new lifetime best in the process. Han’s previous best was a 2:15.27, which she had established last May. She swam a consistent race, splitting 30.53 on the first 50, then splitting 34.38, 34.53, and 35.15 respectively on the remaining 50s. Additionally, Han is now the #40 all-time performer in the 13-14 girls 200 fly.

Han also finished fourth in the 400 free last night, posting a 4:15.23. That swim was a bit off her personal best of 4:11.34.

Rose Bowl Aquatics 18-year-old Rex Maurer was on fire last night, winning both his individual events. Maurer kicked things off by winning the men’s 100 free with a 50.89, touching first by a little over half a second. His swim came in 0.55 seconds off his lifetime best of 50.44, which he swam at Junior Pan Pacs last summer. He split the race tightly, going 24.88 on the first 50, then coming home in 26.01.

Maurer would go on to win the men’s 400 free by a wide margin, speeding to a 3:52.78. He put together a very well-swum race, splitting 55.75 on the first 100, 59.95 on the second, 59.27 on the third, and 57.81 on the final 100. The swim was also a bit off his career best of 3:49.86, which he also swam at Junior Pan Pacs last summer, but Maurer still won the race by five seconds last night.

After clocking a new personal best of 55.58 in prelims, Mission Viejo Nadadores 16-year-old Teagan O’Dell won the women’s 100 free in 55.76 last night. She won the race convincingly, touching as the only swimmer under 57 seconds. Mission Viejo had a great showing in the event, with Asia Kozan taking second (57.00), Teia Salvino coming in fourth (57.66), and Gracyn Aquino finishing fifth (57.78).

Evolution Racing Club 18-year-old David Schmitt won the men’s 200 fly in 2:01.79, beating out Sandpipers 17-year-old Dillon Wright (2:02.14) by 0.35 seconds. Wright got out to an early lead, splitting 58.33 on the opening 100 to Schmitt’s 59.16. Wright actually expanded his lead on the third 50, out-splitting Schmitt 31.70 to 32.31. The tables turned on the final 50, however, with Schmitt roaring home in 30.32, passing Wright, who split 32.11 on the final 50. For Schmitt, the swim came in a few seconds off his personal best of 1:58.82, while Wright clipped his lifetime best of 2:02.90.

Mission Viejo 15-year-old Gracyn Aquino had a big swim to win the women’s 50 back, clocking a 29.80. Aquino broke 30 seconds in the event for the first time with the swim last night. Her previous best of 30.40 was set at SMOC last April.

Mission Viejo’s Kevin Gillooly, 23, won the men’s 50 back in 25.96, touching first by exactly a second.

USC’s Isabelle Odgers won the women’s 200 breast in 2:29.79, clearing the rest of the field by three seconds. It was a solid April swim for Odgers, who has a lifetime best of 2:27.67 in the event. Irvine Novaquatics 15-year-old Kaitlyn Nguyen came in second with a 2:32.77, taking 0.60 seconds off her personal best in the process.

Rose Bowl Aquatics 17-year-old Daniel Li won the men’s 200 breast in 2:16.99. The swim was nearly identical to his prelims swim of 2:16.94.

The Sandpipers of Nevada won the women’s 400 free relay by almost 19 seconds last night, speeding to a 3:45.55. Bella Sims (56.49), Claire Weinstein (56.52), Katie Grimes (55.92), and Macky Hodges (56.62) teamed up to win the race. Notably, that performance comes in just 0.70 seconds off the 15-18 National Age Group Record in the event, which is held by Carmel Swim Club from 2015.

Mission Viejo Nadadores won the men’s 400 free relay by nearly 12 seconds. Jarod Hatch (50.50), Jerome Heidrich (52.96), Kevin Gillooly (52.84), and Trenton Julian (50.76) teamed up to swim a 3:27.06.