After Announcing Retirement After US Trials, Dakota Luther Swims 2:07.91 200 Fly In Austin

2024 FUTURES CHAMPIONSHIPS- AUSTIN

• July 24-27, 2024
• LCM (50 meters)
• Psych Sheets

Dakota Luther swam to a 2:07.91 in the women’s 200 fly on night 1 of competition in Austin, just over a month after originally announcing her retirement from the sport at US Olympic Trials.

Luther was faster tonight than she was at Trials as she swam a 2:08.63 for 5th a month ago. Her season best sits at a 2:07.81 that she swam in May at the Longhorn Elite meet. Her personal best time of a 2:06.79 that she swam in July 2023 would have been just off of the US Olympic roster as it took a 2:06.69 to make the team this year.

She had originally announced her retirement from the sport saying, “I promised myself a long time ago that I would walk away from swimming still in-love with the sport. I am happy to say that I have kept that promise & that 200 fly will be my final race. Although it wasn’t the fairytale ending that I dreamed about, throughout this pursuit of excellence I have gained so much more. And I would do (almost) all of it over again in a heartbeat.”

Luther finished 2nd behind 14 year old Audrey Derivaux tonight. Luther also is entered in the 100 fly this weekend, an event she finished 15th in at US Olympic Trials.

Also highlighting the night was Madi Mintenko who swam to a 1:59.06 in the women’s 200 free. She was the only swimmer under the 2:01 mark as Brinkleigh Hansen and Amelia Bodenstab tied for 2nd in a 2:01.42. Mintenko finished 10th in the 200 free at last month’s US Trials as she swam a 1:58.16, just off her best time of a 1:58.07 that she swam at the end of last summer.

The final win of the women’s side of the meet on night 1 came from Marizel van Jaarsveld in the 100 breast as the 25 year old touched in a 1:10.25. 16 year old Olivia Roberts swam to 2nd in a 1:11.33 ahead of fellow 16 year old Alexis Mesina (1:11.68). Mesina notably dropped almost two seconds as her old best time was a 1:13.47.

The men’s side of the meet was highlighted by Noah Cakir who swam to a lifetime best in the 200 fly touching in a 2:00.69. Cakir’s previous best stood at a 2:03.22 from June 2023. Yochanan Meza finished 2nd behind Cakir in a 2:00.85, dropping from his previous best of a 2:01.33.

Rising Texas sophomore Nate Germonprez swam to a win in the 100 breast touching in a 1:00.48, dropping over three seconds from his old best time of a 1:03.49 that he swam in July 2022. He swims the 200 IM at the collegiate level and made the NCAA ‘A’ final in the event and his versatility being an IMer was on display today.

Fellow Texas swmmer Manning Haskal swam to a win in the 200 free touching in a 1:50.22, faster than he was at US Trials as he swam a 1:50.29 for 41st then. His best time sits at a 1:49.47 from May.