Maya Dirado: I’m really glad I’m still swimming (Video)

^{Produced by Coleman Hodges / filmed by Morgan Priestley
Reported by Jared Anderson}

2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT SANTA CLARA

• Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5, 2016
• George F. Haines International Aquatic Center / Santa Clara, CA
• Prelims 9AM / Finals 5PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
• Meet Website
• Live Stream
• Psych Sheet
• Friday AM Heat Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Results also on Meet Mobile (‘2016 Arena Pro Swim Series’)

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS

Top 3:

1. Emma McKeon, AUS – 1:56.36
2. Bronte Barratt, AUS – 1:56.65
3. Maya DiRado, Stanford – 1:57.70

Australia’s top two entrants held their seeds in the night’s opening event, putting up twin 1:56s. Emma McKeon was 1:56.36 for the win – that’s a bit off her 1:54.8 from Australian Olympic Trials in April, but is a nice in-season time, considering she’s likely back into full training mode between Trials and the Olympics.

Bronte Barratt was second in 1:56.65, a great swim that’s only seven tenths off her season best.

American Maya DiRado broke up the Australian sweep, though, going 1:57.70 for third place. That’s a new lifetime-best for DiRado by seven tenths of a second, and could have some interesting ramifications for the U.S. Olympic relay picture.

DiRado will have some tough choices with her event lineup at U.S. Olympic Trials, and as she continues to improve in the 200 free, the choice between the 200 IM and 200 free on day 3 gets even more difficult. DiRado is likely the favorite in the IM, but making the top 6 in the 4×200 free relay would very likely net her an Olympic gold medal, as the U.S. is heavily favored to win the relay in Rio.

Australia’s Madison Wilson (1:58.45) and Jessica Ashwood (1:58.65) swept the next two spots in a huge event for the Aussies.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – FINALS

Top 3:

1. Noemie Thomas, CAN – 57.72
2. Emma McKeon, AUS – 58.31
3. Farida Osman, Cal – 59.13

Canada’s Noemie Thomas held her top seed, winning the women’s 100 fly in 57.72. The Cal Golden Bear beat out Australia’s Emma McKeon, who earned her second top-3 finish in just 3 events so far this weekend.

McKeon was 58.31.

Another Cal swimmer, Farida Osman, was 59.13 for third-place honors. Osman is one of Egypt’s top international threats this summer.

Also coming off the 200 free, Maya DiRado was 59.16 for Stanford, showing off her incredible versatility. Australia’s Madeline Groves was fifth in 59.22, and she, too, was swimming a tough double with the 200 free.