2013 Minneapolis Grand Prix: Day 1 Finals Real-Time Recaps

The 2013 Minneapolis Grand Prix is about to begin, and award the first prize money of the 2013-2014 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.

Day 1 prelims recap.
Minneapolis Grand Prix Live Results.
Minneapolis Grand Prix Live Stream, beginning at 6PM U.S. Central Time.

The first day of events will see finals in the 200 free, the 100 breast, the 100 fly, and the 400 IM.

We’ll update recaps as the events happen, so check back frequently. They are running through the A and B finals of each event, and then will run through the meet after a short break to finish the C and D finals.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – FINAL

Megan Romano, who is finishing her final semester at Georgia before deciding where she’ll train as a post-grad, took the first title of the night in the women’s 200 free. She was a 1:45.29, which is a touch faster than she was mid-season in 2012, when she was still an NCAA swimmer. This shows that now without some of the special strains of being an NCAA athlete, she’s in solid shape coming through November.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Kiera Janzen took 2nd in 1:45.43 and Tori Simenec was 3rd in 1:46.02. The Gophers are about the first team to have their mid-season rest this year, so rankings are going to change a lot in the next 10 days, but for now Janzen sits 2nd in the NCAA this season in the 200 free, and Simenec 4th.

The Golden Gophers took the 2-6 spots, with Janzen and Simenec being followed by Lauren Votava (1:46.49), Jessica Plant (1:46.71) and Madeline Hoch (1:47.77).

Kaitlyn Albertoli from SCAT won the B-Final in 1:47.47.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – FINAL

No U.S. Open Record, but Frenchman Yannick Agnel came within 6-tenths of a second of the fastest ever time in the 200 yard freestyle with a 1:31.90 in Minneapolis. That moves the defending Olympic and World Champion to 6th on the all-time list – one spot ahead of Michael Phelps (though Phelps surely would have been higher had he swum collegiately).

Conor Dwyer wasn’t far behind him in 1:32.09, which is only three-tenths shy of his lifetime best. Given that it’s only November, that’s a fantastic sign for him after a real breakout summer individually.

Russians Nikita Lobintsev (1:33.45) and Alexander Sukhorukov (1:34.05), both training with Trojan, took 3rd and 4th places in 1:33.45 and 1:34.05.

South African Drian Towsend, who had a great prelims swim, slid to 5th in finals in 1:34.93.

Australian Ned McKendry won the B Final in 1:36.42.

W0men’s 100 Breaststroke – FINAL

Haley Spencer, the silver medalist at the 2013 NCAA Championships, led at the 50, and held onto her last two laps to win the women’s 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:00.26. Kierra Smith, a current Minnesota Golden Gopher, was second place at 1:00.33. This meet serves as Minnesota’s big mid-season meet. Laura Day finished in third place, touching the wall at 1:02.44.

Isabella Goldsmith won the B Final with a time of 1:03.72.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – FINAL

American BJ Johnson won the men’s 100 breaststroke in a time of 52.58 against a very diverse field. Eetu Karvonen, the NCAA Division II 200 breaststroke record holder, finished just behind Johnson, touching in second place with a time of 52.73. Olympian Mike Alexanderov snook in for third place at 52.90, just ahead of NCAA Champion, Carlos Almeida, from Lousiville at 52.98.

Connor McHugh won the B Final at 54.08. Jacob Molacek starts his high school season next week, and even though his time would not have counted had he beat the record, he was within striking distance of the National High School Record time, touching at 54.15.

Women’s 100 Butterfly – FINAL

2012 Olympian from Western Kentucky, Claire Donohue, picks up her first grand prix win of the season. She was the only swimmer to dip under 52 seconds, finishing with a 51.80. Rebecca Weiland was second with her time of 52.47, followed by Megan Kingsley at 54.08. Weiland currently has the fastest time in the nation with her 100 butterfly time. Kingsley is a member of the national team and has committed to swim at the University of Georgia next year.

Annie Ochitwa won the B Final with, touching the wall at 54.87.

Men’s 100 Butterfly – FINAL

Brazilian superstar, Cesar Cielo, improved his best 100 fly time, 46.23 from 2008, to win the event today with a 46.19. Adam Brown was second place with his 46.66, and Dan Lester finished third at 46.95.

NBAC’s Yannick Agnel won the B-final with a 48.21. Indie Swimming’s Michael Andrew also broke the 13-14 NAG record in this event, touching the wall with his time of 48.78.

 Women’s 400 IM – FINAL

2012 Olympian and former Cal Bear, Caitlin Leverenz, took control of the 400 IM during the breaststroke leg of the race to pull ahead, winning the race almost five seconds ahead of the second place finisher, 17 year old Megan Kingsley.  Leverenz touched the wall in 4:07.06, followed by Kingsley’s 4:11.94.

Minnesota freshman, Breanne Siwicki, dropped to a 4:13.40 to finish third. That time is the fifth fastest collegiate time in the nation this season. Her teammate, Hailey Szews, finished fourth in 4:15.73, adding the 13th fastest collegiate time in the nation this year.

Elizabeth Zeiger won the B Final with her time of 4:20.20.

Men’s 400 IM – FINAL

After an impressive second place finish in the 200 free, Conor Dwyer, dropped a 3:40.03 to win the men’s 400 IM. He was within three seconds of his lifetime best of 3:37.75 from 2011. Former Texas Longhorn, Michael McBroom, finished second behind Dwyer in 3:47.66. The third place finisher was Guillermo Blanco, a junior from Purdue University. He clocked a time of 3:48.26, which is the new nation leading collegiate time in the 400 IM. Minnesota freshman, Jakub Maly, finished fourth with a 3:48.94. His time will stand as the third fastest collegiate time in the nation this season.

Danny Conway, another Purdue swimmer, won the B final with a season best time, 3:54.48.