Agnel pulls into tie with Dwyer in overall Grand Prix standings, Romano still leads women

With two of the six stops completed on the Arena Grand Prix circuit, Yannick Agnel has pulled into a tie with Conor Dwyer atop the series points standings. Megan Romano maintains her lead on the women’s side, although Caitlin Leverenz and Katie Ledecky have narrowed the gap significantly.

Dwyer and Agnel have both earned $2700 over the course of the circuit, while Romano has taken in $2450.

The “money-earned” statistic also doubles as a series points standings. Each event pays out $500 to the winner $300 to second place and $100 to third, with each of those earnings counting as a corresponding point value – 5 points for first, 3 for second and 1 for third.

In addition to the prize money itself, the top male and female finishers in series points at the end of the circuit will win a 1-year lease of a brand-new BMW. If that’s not incentive to win the points, we’re not sure what would be.

Dwyer and Romano both led the standings after the Grand Prix circuit’s first stop in Minneapolis last fall and did enough in Austin to maintain the top spot even though neither of them were the big money winners at the second stop.

Yannick Agnel and Katie Ledecky earned that distinction, taking in a combined $3100 over three days in Texas. Agnel won three races (the 200, 400 and 1500 frees) and took second in one (the 100 free) for $1800 and 18 series points. Ledecky earned $1300 with two wins (400 free, 800 free) and a second place (200 free).

Of course, some athletes did not accept their prize money to maintain amateurism status, as is the case for current college swimmers or those who plan to swim in the NCAA down the road. That’s why this list is of money-earners, not money-takers. If the top finisher in the points standings can’t accept the BMW prize, it will go to the next swimmer down the list.

Caitlin Leverenz also made a big charge over the weekend, winning $1000 after taking in $1100 in Minneapolis. She sits second on the women’s side, just three points behind Romano. Ledecky is tied for third despite not competing at the first Grand Prix event.

Austin Grand Prix Top Money-earners

Women

1. Katie Ledecky          $1300

2. Caitlin Leverenz      $1000

2. Hilary Caldwell        $1000

4.  Audrey Lacroix      $800

4. Allison Schmitt        $800

Men

1. Yannick Agnel              $1800

2. Conor Dwyer                $1100

3. Nathan Adrian             $1000

3. Ross Murdoch             $1000

5. Michael McBroom     $600

5. Ous Mellouli                 $600

5. Tom Shields                  $600

5. Ryan Murphy               $600

Overall Grand Prix Points Standings

Women

1. Megan Romano        24.5

2. Caitlin Leverenz      21

3. Katie Ledecky          13

3. Kiera Janzen             13

3. Kierra Smith             13

6. Hilary Caldwell       10

7. Haley Spencer          8

7. Claire Donahue        8

7. Tess Behrens            8

7. Allison Schmitt       8

7. Audrey Lacroix      8

Men

1. Conor Dwyer                   27

1. Yannick Agnel                27

3. Michael McBroom       14

4. Cesar Cielo                      13

5. BJ Johnson                     13

6. Arkady Vyatchanin     12

7. Adam Brown                   11

8. Tom Luchsinger            10

8. Nathan Adrian               10

8. Ross Murdoch                10