2016 Jr Pan Pacs Day 4 Prelims: Cartwright, Hoffer Set Up Heated 50 FR Battle

2016 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday August 24th-Saturday August 27th
• Maui, Hawaii, United States of America
• Prelims – 9 am local (3pm EDT)
• Finals – 5 pm local (11 pm EDT)
• Psych Sheets and Live Results

On Day 4 of the 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Team USA’s Ryan Hoffer landed a new personal best time in the men’s 50 freestyle prelims. Hoffer clocked a 22.73 this morning, but will go into finals as the second seed to Australia’s Jack Cartwright, who won the 100 and 200 freestyles earlier in the meet. Each will have a teammate in the race who will also be in contention for the win, as Australia’s Vincent Dai (22.82) is the 3rd seed for tonight, and the USA’s Jack Franzman (22.84) sits 4th.

The Australian men came out on top in every event of today’s preliminary session, as they also had the fastest swimmers in the 200 breast and 200 IM. Louis Townsend topped the men’s 200 IM field with his 2:03.25, while Matthew Wilson claimed 1st seed for the 200 breast final in 2:12.70.

On the women’s side, Team USA’s Zoe Bartel has set herself up for a possible sweep of the breaststroke events. Bartel won the 100 breast on Thursday, and goes into tonight’s 200 breast final as the top seed with her 2:26.70 from prelims. To win tonight, she’ll have to beat 2nd seed Allie Raab (2:27.76), her USA teammate who was a close 2nd in the 100 breast.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey will look for another podium finish in tonight’s 200 IM final, as she was the bronze medalist in the 400 IM on Thursday. She heads into tonight as the top seed in 2:14.65, shaping up a good battle with the USA’s Alex Walsh, who was narrowly behind this morning with a 2:14.87.

In the women’s 50 free, Team USA’s Anya Goeders and New Zealand’s Gabrielle Fa’Amausili were both 25-low, separated by a nail to take the top 2 seeds. Goeders got her hand on the wall a bit faster, clocking a 25.24 to Fa’Amausili’s 25.26. Also in the 25-low range was Goeders’ teammate Marta Ciesla, who posted a 25.45 for 3rd seed.

Notably, Isabel Ivey, the 100 free champ, will swim in the B-final as she was the 3rd fastest American in 25.52.