2016 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Day Three: Finals

2016 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday August 24th-Saturday August 27th
• Maui, Hawaii, United States of America
• Prelims – 9 am local (3pm EDT)
• Finals – 5 pm local (11 pm EDT)
• Psych Sheets and Live Results

Women’s 400 freestyle

1. Li Bingjie (CHN) – 4:07.52
2. Courtney Harnish (USA) – 4:09.45
3. Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 4:09.81

Li Bingjie of China took her third gold medal of the competition winning the women’s 400 freestyle in a time of 4:07.52 Li led the event from start to finish turning over two seconds ahead of the field at the 200 meter mark. The 14 year old has now won 200, 400 and 800 freestyle. There was a tight battle for the silver between American Courtney Harnish and Australian Ariarne Titmus. Harnish hit the wall first in a time of 4:09.45 followed by Titmus who took the bronze in a time of 4:09.81.

Men’s 400 freestyle

1. Andrew Abruzzo (USA) – 3:53.39
2. Trey Freeman (USA) – 3:54.14
3. Jacob Vincent (AUS) – 3:54.14

American Andrew Abruzzo took the men’s 400 freestyle in a time of 3:53.39. Abruzzo was eighth at the 200 meter mark turning in a time of 1:58.42 and came back on the field splitting an incredible 1:54.97 in the second half of the race. Fellow American Trey Freeman, who turned second at the 200 meter mark, had just enough to hold off Australian Jacob Vincent in the final few meters of the race. Freeman took the silver in a time of 3:54.12 followed by Vincent who hit the wall in a time of 3:54.14.

American Sean Grieshop, who came into the competition as the favourite in the event, finished second in the B-final posting a time of 3:56.89.

Women’s 100 butterfly

1. Eva Merrell (USA) – 58.78
2. Rebecca Smith (CAN) – 58.84
3. Gemma Cooney (AUS) – 58.97

American Eva Merrell led the women’s 100 butterfly from start to finish winning the event in a time of 58.78. Merrell turned at the halfway mark in a time of 27.56 followed by Canadian Rebecca Smith who split a 27.96 and Australian Gemma Cooney who posted a time of 28.04. Merrell was able to hold off Smith who finished in a time of 58.84 and Cooney who recorded a 58.97.

Men’s 100 butterfly

1. Nao Horomura (JPN) – 52.61
2. Cameron Craig (USA) – 52.63
3. Noah Lense (USA) – 53.35

The race between Nao Horomura of Japan and American Cameron Craig for the 100 butterfly gold was as close as it gets. Craig turned first at the 50 meter mark in a time of 24.95 followed by Hormura who split a time of 24.97. The two stayed that close for the entire race, although the two changed positions at the final wall. Horomura out touched Craig at the 100 meter mark posting a time of 52.61 followed by the American who recorded a 52.63.

Craig’s time puts him seventh all-time in the United States for 17-18 year olds.

American Noah Lense finished third in a time of 53.35.

Women’s 200 backstroke

1. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2:10.01
2. Lucie Nordmann (USA) – 2:10.20
3. Minna Atherton (AUS) – 2:10.53

2015 World Junior Championship gold medalist Minna Atherton turned first at the 100 meter mark in a time of 1:03.87, but was passed in the second half of the race by Kaylee McKeown and American Lucie Nordmann. McKeown won the event in a time of 2:10.01 followed by Nordmann who recorded a time of 2:10.20. Atherton won the bronze in a time of 2:10.53.

Men’s 200 backstroke

1. Michael Taylor (USA) – 1:57.39
2. Austin Kaz (USA) – 1:59.91
3. Matthew Mac (CAN) – 2:02.15

American Michael Taylor won the men’s 200 backstroke with ease finishing over two seconds ahead of the field posting a winning time of 1:57.39. Fellow American Austin Kaz finished second in a time of 1:59.91 followed by Canadian Matthew Mac who hit the wall in a time of 2:02.15.

Women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay

1. United States – 3:42.70
2. Canada – 3:42.84
3. Australia – 3:45.37

The American team consisting of Grace Ariola, Lauren Pitzer, Eva Merrell and Isabel Ivey took the women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay in a time of 3:42.70. The Americans finished 14 one-hundredths of a second ahead of the Canadians who finished in a time of 3:42.84. The Australians finished third in a time of 3:45.37.

Men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay

1. United States – 3:17.67
2. Australia – 3:19.65
3. Canada – 3:22.34

The only competition record broken on the third night of competition happened in the final event of the evening. The American team consisting of Ryan Hoffer, Daniel Krueger, Cameron Craig and Drew Kibler set a new championship record by a full second. The Americans posted a time of 3:17.67 destroying the record of 3:19.96 set by the Australians in 2013.

• Hoffer – 50.17
• Krueger – 49.14
• Craig – 49.06
• Kibler – 49.30

The Australian team was also under the old world junior record posting a time of 3:19.65. The Canada collected the bronze in a time of 3:22.34.