Longhorn Invite Day 2 Finals: Stadden Nails 2:07.28 BK, Cox Puts Up 1:57.38 FR

2021 LONGHORN ELITE INVITE

• May 20-23, 2021
• Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center
• Austin, TX
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Packet
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Start Times (US CT): Prelims 10AM, Finals 5:30PM
• Wave I & II Trials Cuts
• Day 1 Prelims Recap
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap

The second day of the 2021 Longhorn Elite Classic featured many shifts in the top 8 US rankings, creating new storylines heading into the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Last night, the finals of the women’s and men’s 200 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 50 free, and 800 free.

Winning an additional two events in Austin was Katie Ledecky, winning both the 200 free (1:55.47) and the 800 free (8:13.78). Placing second behind Ledecky in the 200 distance was Madisyn Cox, swimming a season best of 1:57.38. Rounding out the sub-2:00 evening swims were Brooke Forde (1:58.51) and Izzy Ivey (1:59.04). Bahamian Joanna Evans won the B-final at 2:00.11, who owns a 1:58.43 season best, a FINA Olympic B cut.

Cox now boosts up to No. 3 in the nation at this point in the season behind Ledecky’s 1:54.40 season best and No. 2 Olivia Smoliga (1:57.04). There are now eight U.S. women under 1:58 in-season in May 2021. At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Cox placed 4th in both the 200 IM and 400 IM. The top 6 finishers in the Trials final qualify for the Olympic relay.

2020-2021 US Rankings: Women’s 200 FR LCM

1. Katie Ledecky, 1:54.40 – 2021 PSS Mission Viejo
2. Olivia Smoliga, 1:57.04 – 2021 Atlanta Classic
3. Madisyn Cox, 1:57.38 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**
4. Paige Madden, 1:57.47 – 2021 PSS Indy
5. Katie McLaughlin, 1:57.48 – 2021 PSS San Antonio
6. Allison Schmitt, 1:57.59 – 2021 PSS Indy
7. Emma Nordin, 1:57.68 – 2021 PSS Indy
8. Leah Smith, 1:57.81 – 2021 PSS Indy

Rounding out the top three women’s 800 free times behind Ledecky were Isabel Gormley (8:51.87) and Morgan Tankersley (8:54.58). In the men’s 800 free, Club North’s Evan Holt (8:41.79) held off Aggie Max Hardt (8:43.22) by 1.43s for the win.

After becoming the 6th-fastest American all-time in the men’s 400 IM, 19-year-old Carson Foster hit a near-personal best in the 200 free, swimming a sub-1:48 season best of 1:47.59. Placing second and third in the event with sub-1:49 efforts were Drew Kibler (1:48.04) and Townley Haas (1:48.49). Foster’s swim, which was just off his 1:47.47 lifetime best from 2019 World Jrs, moved him into the Olympic relay conversation at No. 7.

2020-2021 US Rankings: Men’s 200 FR LCM

1. Kieran Smith, 1:46.30 – 2021 Atlanta Classic
2. Andrew Seliskar, 1:47.01 – 2021 PSS San Antonio
3. Jake Magahey, 1:47.30 – 2021 Atlanta Classic
4. Patrick Callan, 1:47.38 – 2020 U.S. Open Indy
5. Caeleb Dressel, 1:47.42 – 2021 Atlanta Classic
6. Julian Hill, 1:47.58 – 2021 SUN April Meet
7. Carson Foster, 1:47.59 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**
8. Grant House, 1:47.69 – 2021 PSS Indy

Entering the women’s 200 backstroke Olympic conversation at this point in 2021 was Isabelle Stadden, dropping another 0.65s from her morning PB to hit 2:07.28. Stadden now jumps Lisa Bratton (2:07.91, 2019) and Hayley McGregory (2:07.69, 2008) for the 10th-fastest American all-time in this event. In the 2020-2021 U.S. season rankings, Stadden now ranks 4th behind Rhyan White (2:07.07).

2020-2021 US Rankings: Women’s 200 BK LCM

1. Phoebe Bacon (18), 2:06.84 – 2021 PSS Indy
2. Regan Smith, 2:06.90 – 2021 PSS Indy
3. Rhyan White, 2:07.07 – 2021 Altanta Classic
4. Isabelle Stadden (18), 2:07.28 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**
5. Kathleen Baker, 2:07.54 – 2021 PSS San Antonio

Improving his 200 back season best to 1:56.81 to remain No. 2 in the U.S. was Shaine Casas, who distanced himself from runner-up Austin Katz (1:58.78) during the first 100. Placing a narrow third was Italian native Johannes Calloni, registering a time of 1:59.00. Katz’s sub-2:00 season best bumps him up to No. 5 in the nation this season. At the 2016 Trials final, Katz placed fifth at 17 years old with a 1:57.20.

2020-2021 US Rankings: Men’s 200 BK LCM

1. Ryan Murphy, 1:56.06 – 2021 PSS San Antonio
2. Shaine Casas, 1:56.81 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**
3. Bryce Mefford, 1:58.16 – 2021 Atlanta Classic
4. Daniel Carr, 1:58.44 – 2021 PSS Mission Viejo
5. Austin Katz, 1:58.78 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**

Pulling away from Allie Raab (2:28.68) in the women’s 200 breast final was German Anna Elendt, touching in a solid mid-season effort of 2:26.85. On the men’s side, Will Licon led Daniel Roy at the first 50 by nearly a full second before Roy changed paces during the middle 100. On the last 50, Licon couldn’t catch Roy, with the pair touching at the wall three-tenths apart, 2:09.48 to 2:09.78. Roy remains the fastest American in the 200 breast this season with his 2:08.89 from the 2020 Stanford Invite while Licon is the 4th American to break 2:10 thus far this season, ranking 3rd.

2020-2021 US Rankings: Men’s 200 BR LCM

1. Daniel Roy, 2:08.89 – 2020 Stanford Invite
2. Nic Fink, 2:09.73 – 2021 PSS Mission Viejo
3. Will Licon, 2:09.78 – 2021 Longhorn Elite Classic**
4. Andrew Wilson, 2:09.83 – 2020 U.S. Open Greensboro
5. Cody Miller, 2:10.22 – 2020 U.S. Open Indy

Touching in just 0.04s her off season best was Simone Manuel in the women’s 50 free, touching the wall at 24.74. Manuel is currently No. 6 this season at 24.70 from the 2020 Stanford Invite. Rounding out the top three times were Anya Goeders (25.17) and Chloe Stepanek (25.62). In the men’s 50 free, Bulgarian Koko Bratanov held off Drew Kibler by 0.21s for the win, both hitting season bests 22.24 to 22.45.