Kelsi Dahlia Swims Season-Best in 50 Free at Copa Heller

2nd Copa Heller Internacional

• February 22-24, 2019
• LCM (50m)
• Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2? COPA HELLER INTERNACIONNAL 2019”

The 2nd edition of the Copa Heller Internacional in Mexico once again attracted big international names to square off against some of the best local Mexican swimmers in Queretaro.

The headliners of this year’s meet are Brazilian World Record holder Cesar Cielo (in the meet that confirms that he is not yet retired);  World Record holder Alia Atkinson; and American Record holder Kelsi Dahlia.

Cielo swam a pair of race, finishing 4th in the 50 fly  in 24.41 and winning the 50 free in 22.85. Cielo was the 2008 Olympic Champion in the 50 free and has a combined 5 long course World Championships in those two evennts combined.

Dahlia swam a denser schedule n the weekend, competing in 4 events and winning them all:

• 50 fly – 26.35
• 100 fly – 59.01
• 50 free – 25.56
• 100 free – 57.31

The 50 free time is a new season best for her, while she’s been a little faster in both the 50 fly (26.20) and 100 fly (57.86) already this year at the TYR Pro Swim Series.

Atkinson swam and won her best races the 50 breaststroke (31.60) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.84), including the latter over Mexico’s top breaststroker Esther Gonzalez (1:12.65). Atkinson also swam the 50 fly (27.62 – 3rd place), 50 free (26.63 – 3rd place), and 50 back (29.92 – 1st place).

The men’s breaststrokes also had a big battle, between Brazilian veteran Joao Gomes Jr and Mexico’s own Mauro Castillo, who was an NCAA All-American at Texas A&M before graduating at the end of last season. Gomes got the upper hand in both distances he raced – the 50  breaststroke (27.46) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.75); while Castillo-Luna won the 200 breaststroke in 2:16.58.

Other Big Names at the Meet:

• Colombia’s Omar Pinzon won the 50 back (26.20), 100 back (56.77), and 200 back (2:06.32).
• Former Cal Bear Long Yuan won the 100 free in 51.06 and the 200 free in 1:52.50.
• Cuban Hanser Garcia, who 5 years ago was the ‘next big thing’ in swimming before going quiet, swam a 51.56 in the 100 free.
• Brazil’s Leonardo de Deus got wins in the 100 fly (54.29) and 200 fly (1:59.86).
• 37-year old American Anthony Ervin took 5th in the 50 free in 23.11.
• 38-year old South African Roland Schoeman swam 3 events. He finished 3rd in the 50 free (24.00), 2nd in the 50 breaststroke (27.73), and 2nd in the 50 free (23.10).
• Brazil’s Nicholas dos Santos won the 50 fly in 23.64 and the 50 free in 23.17.