After some big opening night swims, the Art Adamson Invite in College Station, Texas is set to field further exciting clashes Friday, most notably a battle of high-ranking 400 IMers.
In the Olympic year, the annual Texas A&M invite is featuring a unique format – long course meters for morning prelims and short course yards in the evening finals.
In the 400 meter IM this morning, three of the top swimmers in the meet set up a short course yards showdown tonight. Texas A&M sophomore Bethany Galat is the top seed a 4:44.82, with standout Stanford freshman Ella Eastin going 4:45.10 for second.
A ways back, but clearly a threat tonight, is A&M freshman Sydney Pickrem, one of the top Canadian IMers internationally.
On the men’s side, Utah’s Bence Kiraly is looking to add to his 500 free win last night. In the 200 free, he was 1:50.82 to blow out the field for the top spot heading into finals.
Another great battle should come in the 100 breast. Stanford’s defending NCAA champ Sarah Haase is the top qualifier at 1:09.30, but Galat (1:09.53) is right b ehind, along with SMU’s Tara-Lynn Nicholas (1:09.58).
Stanford’s Janet Hu leads the women’s 100 back at 1:01.24, followed closely by A&M’s Lisa Bratton (1:01.61) – both are sophomores.
And a Utah-LSU showdown is set up in the men’s 400 IM, where 500 free runner-up Kristian Kron leads 200 IM champ Brandon Goldman 4:28.92 to 4:29.48.
A few strong marks for Stanford women in finals on night two…
200 Med Relay – 1;35.92 – would have placed 3rd at 2015 NCAAs
Ella Eastin, 4:01.04 for 400IM. Her mark would have comfortably won 2015 NCAAs – 7th fastest NCAA performer all-time.