Austin Grand Prix, Day Two Prelims

Day 2 prelims of the Austin Grand Prix foreshadowed what should be an amazing finals session this evening.

In the woman’s 400 IM Canadian Olympian Alexa Komarnycky took the top seed in a time of 4:54.41. With four of the five finalists in this event are under the age of 18 (exluding Komarnycky).

Tyler Clary, who qualified first, in what looked to be an easy 4:26.91 should win the event this evening without any trouble. Clary was followed by Canadian Alec Page who posted a time of 4:27.97 and sixteen year old Curtis Ogren who hopes to be in the running tonight after posting the second fastest breaststroke split of the morning (1:06.94).

The women’s 200 freestyle saw two teenagers; Colorado Stars Missy Franklin (2:00.48) and Longhorn Aquatics’ Quinn Carrozza (2:01.55) post the two fastest times. The final will feature four Olympians including Canadians Barbara Jardin and Alexa Komarnycky, who tackled a hard double swimming the 400 IM beforehand and 400 freestyle specialist Chloe Sutton.

Four members of the 4×200 Freestyle relay team that won gold in London. Ryan Lochte, Michael Klueh, Ricky Berens and Charlie Houchin (who swam in the prelims in London) will be battling it out in the 200 freestyle final tonight. Berens posted the top time of the  morning going 1:50.92.

In the 200 backstroke Missy Franklin, who will have a tough double this evening, swimming both the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke, cruised into the final with the top time of 2:10.66.

The mens 200 backstroke will see a battle between the 100 and 200 backstroke Olympic champions. Matt Grevers qualified first in a time of 2:06.81 just ahead of Tyler Clary who posted a time of 2:06.87.

It should be a tight race this evening with less than a second separating the field in the women’s 50 freestyle. Canadian Victoria Poon qualified first in a time of 26.01 followed closely by Amanda Weir who finished in a time of 26.03.

With five Olympians qualifying for the final in the 50 freestyle, the sprint freestyle events continue to be the highlight of the meet. Jimmy Feigen leads the pack with a 22.30 and will be challenged by fellow Olympians Matt Grevers, Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin and Garrett Weber-Gale.