2019 MINNESOTA INVITATIONAL
- Wed. Dec. 4 – Sun. Dec. 8, 2019
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center / University of Minnesota / Minneapolis, MN
- Wed. Timed finals 6 PM
- Thu.-Sat. Prelims 10 AM / Finals 6 PM / Diving 12 Noon
- Short course yards (SCY) format Wed.-Sat. (LCM format Sunday)
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream (days 2-4)
- Live results
- Also on Meet Mobile. Search “Minnesota Invite 2019”
The 2019 Minnesota Invitational has been full of fireworks through 2 days of competition, with success by Texas transfers emerging as the top storyline on the men’s side and Abbey Weitzeil‘s all-time best swim in the 50 yard free stealing the show for the women.
The Texas transfers will be on top display in the men’s 100 fly, with Maxime Rooney, Chris Staka, and yesterday’s 43-second relay split Alvin Jiang all scheduled to race. As for Weitzeil, she has a potential for 3 events in finals: the 200 free, 100 fly, and a 200 free relay. That’s a long session if she does all 3, but look for another historic 50 free on that session-ending relay.
WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 4:03.62
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 4:17.30
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 4:10.00
- Alicia Wilson (Cal) – 4:07.51
- Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 4:08.58
- Sarah Darcel (Cal) – 4:09.26
Alicia Wilson may not have a ton of experience swimming the short course yards version of the 400 IM, but she’s sure learning in a hurry. Tonight she knocked another 1.27s off her personal best, set this in the morning’s prelims, to win by over a second. That should move Wilson to #7 in the nation so far this season.
Evie Pfeifer of Texas and Sarah Darcel of Cal battled down the final 100, with Pfeifer coming out on top, 4:o8.58 to 4:09.26. Both of those times are under last year’s NCAA invite time, and put both roughly in the top 16 times this season.
MEN’S 400 IM – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 3:39.16
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 3:51.46
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 3:43.42
- Trenton Julian (Cal) – 3:40.05
- Braden Vines (Texas) – 3:40.09
- Jake Foster (Texas) – 3:40.71
We looked to be in for a great race this evening after Cal’s Trenton Julian, and Texas teammates Braden Vines and Jake Foster, put up three of the four fastest times this season in this morning’s prelims. Sure, enough, the trio did not disappoint.
Julian jumped out to an early lead, with Arizona’s Etay Gurevich 2nd after the fly leg. But Foster moved into 2nd on the backstroke leg, and by the halfway mark, this morning’s top three were again leading the rest of the field. It was anyone’s race coming off the final wall, but Julian held on to win in 3:40.5. Vines was just a hair behind at 3:40.09, and Foster 3rd in 3:40.71.
That’s Julian’s 2nd-fastest time ever, behind only his 3:39.83 from last year’s NCAA finals, and Vines and Foster both scored lifetime bests. Those are three fastest times in the NCAA this season, with no one else under 3:42 yet. All three times would’ve made the A-final at last year’s NCAA finals.
Gurevich ended up 6th in 3:46.06, behind Tommy Cope (3:43.05), who won the B-final at last year’s NCAA, and Sean Grieshop (3:44.73) last year’s NCAA runner-up.
WOMEN’S 100 FLY – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 50.92
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 53.76
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 52.34
- Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 49.26
- Izzy Ivey (Cal) – 51.46
- Tevyn Waddell (Minnesota) – 52.20
Michigan sophomore Maggie MacNeil looked to be in great form as she went out in a blistering 23.27. Sure enough, she held it together in the second 50, tying the US Open and NCAA record set by USC’s Sophie Hansson at last year’s NCAAs.
MacNeil seemed to have that record in her sights last year, and she looked wholly locked in earlier this season when she went 49.57 at Michigan’s impromptu intrasquad meet.
Cal’s Izzy Ivey was 23nd in 51.46, followed by Minnesota’s Tevyn Waddell in 52.20. Both those times were also under last year’s invite time of 52.34.
MEN’S 100 FLY – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 45.05
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 47.43
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 45.90
- Maxime Rooney (Texas) – 44.83
- Alvin Jiang (Texas) – 44.93
- Ryan Hoffer (Cal) – 45.46
While Alvin Jiang drew a lot of attention last night with his 43.8 fly split, tonight Maxime Rooney reminded everyone that he’s no slouch at fly either, finishing just ahead of his Texas teammate to win 44.83 to 44.93.
That’s a new lifetime best for Rooney, passing his mark of 44.99 from last year’s NCAAs, and also puts him at the top the country so far this season. Jiang looked just a bit slow on the first 25, but quickly put his underwaters to work, appearing to run Rooney down on the last stretch before finishing a bit long on the final wall. Still, he shaved another 0.01s off his lifetime best after going 44.94 this morning.
Cal’s Ryan Hoffer finished 3rd with a 45.46, tying his 5th-fastest time ever. Rooney finished 4th in this event at the 2019 NCAA Championships, and Hoffer finished 7th.
Arizona’s Noah Reid also swam a lifetime best, finishing 4th with a time of 45.95 that’s just 0.05s slower than last year’s invite time.
WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 1:42.98
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 1:47.12
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 1:45.12
- Abbey Weitzeil (Cal) – 1:42.25
- Robin Neumann (Cal) – 1:44.05
- Hannah Burvill (Iowa) – 1:45.40
Abbey Weitzeil was out fast exactly like you’d expect a sprinter to be, and while some of the field closed on her, no one was able to move past her, as she won with a 1:42.25. That’s her 2nd-fastest time ever, as well as the 2nd-fastest time in the nation so far this season.
Cal teammate Robin Neumann knocked 0.44s off her prelims time to take 2nd in 1:44.05. Iowa’s Hannah Burvill added 0.48s from this morning, but her 1:45.40 was still good for 3rd. Those three ladies are still the only ones to today to clear last year’s NCAA invite time of 1:45.12.
Texas freshman Miranda Heckman had a big swim out of the B-final, taking exactly half a second off her lifetime best to win in 1:45.72.
MEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 1:32.05
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 1:36.32
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 1:34.21
- Drew Kibler (Texas) – 1:30.83
- Patrick Callan (Michigan) – 1:32.91
- Sam Pomajevich (Texas) – 1:33.13
Texas sophomore Drew Kibler also took his race out incredibly fast, flipping in 43.58 at the halfway mark, then splitting 23.50 and 23.75 on the back half to win in 1:30.83. That’s the fastest time in the nation this season and appears to move him to #6 all-time.
Michigan sophomore Patrick Callan also set a new lifetime best with his time 1:32.91, good for 2nd. Sam Pomajevich took 3rd in 1:33.13, just a bit off his time from this morning, and faster than his B-final time from the 2018 NCAA championships.
Texas freshman Peter Larson knocked a second off his lifetime best to take 4th in 1:33.65. That should punch his NCAA ticket, as it clears last year’s invite time by over half a second. Because sibling rivalries are fun, we’ll also note that Peter’s time was almost 1.4s faster than the 1:35.08 that older brother JohnThomas swam to win the B-final.
Arizona’s Daniel Namir took 5th in 1:34.17, just under last year’s invite time, although he even faster Wednesday when he led off Arizona’s relay in 1:33.82. Coming into this meet, his fastest time was a 1:34.80 from March’s Pac-12 Championships.
WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 58.60
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 1:01.84
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 59.93
- Miranda Tucker (Michigan) – 58.41
- Lindsey Kozelsky (Minnesota) – 58.66
- Ema Rajic (Cal) – 59.31
In a battle of seniors from schools starting with the letter “M,” Michigan’s Miranda Tucker held off Minnesota’s Lindsey Kozelsky, 58.41 to 58.66, to get her hand on the wall first. Those times put the duo at #2 and #3 in the nation, behind only Georgia’s Zoie Hartman (58.27).
Cal sophomore Ema Rajic put up her 2nd-fastest swim ever to take 3rd in 59.31.
MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 51.67
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 54.27
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 52.52
- Max McHugh (Minnesota) – 51.35
- Reece Whitley (Cal) – 51.50
- Jeremy Babinet (Michigan) – 51.63
This was every bit the race you’d expect from a field this loaded. Cal’s Reece Whitley was out in 24.11, with fellow sophomore star Max McHugh of Minnesota just behind in 24.24. McHugh ultimately couldn’t match his 50.74 from this morning, but he did have enough left in the tank to pass Whitley and win 51.35 to 51.50.
Michigan’s Jeremy Babinet knocked 0.27s off his prelims time to take 3rd in 51.53.
WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 50.93
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 53.94
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 52.46
- Izzy Ivey (Cal) – 51.08
- Claire Adams (Texas) – 51.29
- Julia Cook (Texas) – 51.67
Izzy Ivey held off Claire Adams down the stretch to win 51.08 to 51.29. That’s Ivey’s 2nd win of the meet after she tied Wilson for the 200 IM title yesterday. Ivey moves up to #4 in the NCAA this season, and Adams moves to #6. Teammate Julia Cook took 3rd in 51.67.
MEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut – 44.95
- 2020 NCAA “B” Cut – 47.77
- 2019 NCAA Invited Time – 46.06
- Austin Katz (Texas) – 44.93
- Ryan Harty (Texas) – 45.13
- Alvin Jiang (Texas) – 45.26
A mustache didn’t stop Longhorn Austin Katz from shaving 0.01s off his lifetime best, as he took the win this evening with a 44.93. Katz and teammate Ryan Harty both flipped at 21.64 at the halfway point, but Katz outsplit Harty by two-tenths of a second on the back half for the win. That time moves Katz to #3 in the NCAA this season.
Harty’s 2nd-place time of 45.13 was just 0.03s off his 45.10 from this morning that now puts him #4 in the nation. Jiang, meanwhile, was exactly 0.03s faster than he was this morning, and now sits at #5 after Katz leapfrogged over Harty and Katz.
Cal’s Daniel Carr took 4th with a 45.82. Katz, Harty, and Carr have all made a NCAA A-final in this event, while Jiang’s time tonight would’ve put him in the B-final at last year’s NCAAs.
Women’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut –1:28.43
- 202 NCAA “B” Cut –1:29.21
- Cal – 1:27.14
- Texas – 1:28.35
- Michigan – 1:28.50
Maggie MacNeil (21.80) and Daria Pyshnenko (21.98) staked the Wolverines to an early lead, but Cal had stayed in the hunt with a 22.18 leadoff by Izzy Ivey and 22.14 second leg by Eloise Riley. Maddie Murphy split 22.01 before handing it off to anchor Abbey Weitzeil, who blasted 20.81 anchor to give Cal a 1:27.14 victory. That’s the fastest time in the country by 0.06s, passing Tennessee.
The Longhorns got a 22.23 leadoff from Bridget Semenuk, then Julia Cook (22.04) Grace Ariola (22.07) and Claire Adams (22.01) split about as evenly as you’ll ever see as Texas touched 2nd in 1:28.35, tying Louisville for #7 in the nation. Both Cal and Texas cleared the NCAA ‘A’ time in the event.
Michigan ended up 3rd in 1:28.50 after splits of 22.09 and 22.63 by Miranda Tucker and Vanessa Krause, 22.63. Arizona just missed the NCAA ‘B’ cut, finishing 4th with a. time of 1:29.24.
Men’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals
- 2020 NCAA “A” Cut –1:17.17
- 202 NCAA “B” Cut –1:17.86
- Cal – 1:16.01
- Arizona – 1:16.66
- Michigan – 1:17.66
Well, that’s something you don’t see every day. Texas’s ‘A’ team touched 0.01s ahead of Cal, but shortly therefore, it was announced the Longhorn were disqualified for a “suit violation” with no further information immediately available.
Texas’ splits weren’t immediately available on the live results or Meet Mobile, but as one our commenters pointed out, Sam Kendricks does a great job of keeping fans updated on swimmers and splits. Drew Kibler (19.31), Maxime Rooney (18.79), Daniel Kreuger (18.80), and Caspar Corbeau (19.10) combined for a (now unofficial) time of 1:16.00.
UPDATE: Texas’ relay was disqualified because of a suit violation. The suits had one legally-sized manufacturers logo (Mizuno) and one USA Swimming logo. Per NCAA rules, suits may only have one post-construction institutional marking or logo that does not exceed 9 square inches, plus one manufacturers logo. The rules, however, explicitly disallow national flags and national team emblems on suits.
Cal got a 19.25 leadoff by Pawel Sendyk, a big 18.60 split by Ryan Hoffer, then Bryce Mefford (19.29) and Michael Jensen (18.87) brought it home for the Bears. With the Longhorns’ DQ, Cal now has the fastest time in the nation with their 1:16.01 and continue to look to be among the favorites to win this event come March.
Arizona finished 2nd in 1:16.66, #2 in the nation. Marin Ercegovic led off in 19.56, then each of the remaining three legs got faster from there: Tai Combs (19.28), Noah Reid (19.05), and Jack Anderson (18.77).
Miles Smachlo and Cam Peel each gave the Wolverines a 19.2 split, as Michigan’s time of 1:17.66 cleared the NCAA ‘B’ cut.
Will McHugh & Whitley please figure out how to race LCM.
what exactly was the logo violation? Whose suit and did it have a USA logo in addition to the suit logo and a longhorn logo?
Seems to me if DD were smart about it and really wanted to hurt Texas, he’d hold that in his back pocket until NCAA.
Otherwise why not go to a colleague (Eddie) and say “hey Eddie, don’t want to be a Richard but you guys have too many logos on your suits. Great swim, just don’t want the kids to lose out on something important over something trivial”.
That’s how you handle it.
Just so we’re all clear, there’s no evidence other than comments by some pro-Texas faithful that Durden reported the suit violation.
Not sure what to think about Dave Durden telling on the Texas men’s team for one of their swimmers have two logos. Yes I get that its against the rules but it also feels a lot like sore losing.
Is that really what happened? Just curious where that info came from since I don’t see it in the article.
Yes, I’m at the meet. USA swimming logo
What are the point of rules if they aren’t followed? This seems like a pretty simple rule…
More importantly, wth is the point of dq for a USA Swimming logo. Are they not in the USA? Does this offend the foreigners or something?
The point of most swimming rules is to ensure fair races, however I don’t see that this rule achieves that, and so don’t necessarily think that breaking it is the end of the world.
Bush league psych-out stuff. Laughable, man – ha ha.
Someone should ask Eddie if he knows Why Alex Coci was DQed at NCAAs in 2013 or 2014.
If true, that’s a disappointing move by the US Head Olympic coach.
Typical Durden style. He is just fighting the writing on the wall. Texas won’t make that mistake again and they are going to destroy everyone at NCAA’s. Durden should have learned by now not to “poke the horns”.
Expect nothing less. If he’d do it here, he’d do in in a meet that matters too.
It may sound silly but US got a relay dq for swimming out of order. One can argue those were the same 4guys so what’s the big deal. But that’s precisely why it is important to not take these rules as no big deal.
there are comments below that Texas won’t make that mistake again at NCAA. And if Texas end up on top, I hope they thank DD or whoever made the call for the lesson when DQ mean so much less besides a little disappointment from fans at a mid-season meet.
Has it been confirmed that Durden was the one who reported it? If so that’s both obnoxious and disappointing. It’s not like it’s NCAA’s and those points could be the difference maker in a team title. It’s a midseason invite & his relay easily made the A cut.
In high school my track coach got a relay team disqualified when he reported they were wearing the wrong color spandex. I was embarrassed by it.
It has not been confirmed.
It was a referee that noticed the suit infraction, I would know, I am on the deck. The swim swam comments never cease to amaze me of how everyone can point fingers. Grow up you texas and cal fans, it’s just an invitational, neither coach cares about the violation, both teams were laughing following the call.
Wow! Drew Kibler (Texas) – 1:30.83
Texas relay splits?
19.31 – Kibler
18.79 – Rooney
18.80 – Krueger
19.10 – Corbeau
The live results are not showing any splits for this meet, and Meet Mobile won’t show splits on a DQ’d swim. I’m planning on adding those in as soon as Minnesota publishes today’s results PDF.
I just went back and listened to the live stream. The commentator does a great job at saying names/times during the race. Comes in handy when a DQ happens
Good catch. Sam Kendricks is the best.
Chris Staka had been looking so good this season until the 100 back prelims swim where it all fell apart. I hope this is something he can get past. If I recall correctly, this happened to him a few times when he was at Alabama a couple years ago.
It was an issue in club swimming as well. The ability to swim in the morning will make or break his ability to travel to and score at NCAAs.
Why not show the top 8 instead of just the top 3?
Yes!