18&U Spring Cup – Des Moines Day 1: Cox and Matheson Hit Wave II Cuts

2021 TYR 18&Under Spring Cup – Des Moines Site

• April 29-May 2nd
• Wellmark YMCA, Des Moines, IA
• LCM (50m)
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results on MeetMobile

The 2021 TYR Spring Cup kicked off at each of the 4 sites (Des Moines, Irvine, Orlando, Richmond) last night, featuring timed finals of the women’s 800 free and men’s 1500 free. At the Des Moines Site, it was Austin Swim Club 15-year-old Jillian Cox who took the women’s 800 free.

Cox swam an 8:42.59, getting her hand on the wall 6 seconds ahead of runner-up Ashley Strouse from Scottsdale Aquatic Club (8:48.37). The swim for Cox was a personal best by 1.51 seconds, beating her previous best of 8:44.20, which she swam in July of 2019, when she was 13 years old. In 2020, she was 8:45.17 at her fastest. Most importantly, Cox’s 8:42.59 marks a U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II cut. As things stand heading into Friday’s racing, Cox has one other Olympic Trials cut, the 400 free, where she also has a Wave II cut. She’ll also be racing the 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, and 1500 free this weekend.

Scottsdale Aquatic Club 18-year-old Daniel Matheson put on a dominant performance in the men’s 1500 free. A USC recruit, Matheson tore to a 15:33.69, touching as the only swimmer in the field under 16:00. The swim was a personal best for Matheson, coming under his previous best of 15:35.76, which he swam in November of 2020. He even-split the race, swimming 7:46.55 on the first 750, and 7:47.14 on the 2nd 750. As was the case with Cox in the women’s 800, Matheson already had the Olympic Trials Wave I cut in the event, and his swim last night marked a Wave II standard. Matheson also has Wave I cuts in the 400 free and 800 free, and he will be swimming both, as well as the 200 fly and 400 IM this weekend.