Simone Manuel’s 45.81 100 Free Split, 17-18 50 Free NAG Highlight Day One at Art Adamson Invite

Photo Credit: Delly Carr

COLLEGE STATION – A highlight reel split from Stanford’s Simone Manuel in the 400 medley relay stood out on the first night of finals at the Art Adamson Invitational at Texas A&M’s Student Recreation Center Natatorium.

Manuel rocketed to a 45.81 while anchoring Stanford’s 400 medley relay, which is believed to be the first sub-46 split by a woman in history. Texas A&M’s Sarah Henry also had a great night, winning two individual events in an action-packed first night of finals.

Stanford kicked off tonight’s action with a win in the women’s 200 free relay, as the foursome of Maddy Schaefer, Simone Manuel, Lia Neal and Janet Hu recorded a 1:27.25, a full two seconds under the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:29.49. Texas A&M’s Sammie Bosma, Bethany Galat, Kristin Malone and Beryl Gastaldello put together a 1:29.66 to finish second, while LSU’s Amber Carter, Leah Troskot, Danielle Stirrat and Caley Oquist touched third in 1:30.44.

On the men’s side, Stanford bested the competition with a 1:18.78, comfortably ahead of LSU’s Joao Victor Mescolote, Marco Gonzalez, Alex Linge and Frank Greeff (1:19.91). Grand Canyon University wrapped up third with a 1:20.06.

Texas A&M went 1-2 in the women’s 500 free, with Sarah Henry leading the way in 4:38.99, just off the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 4:36.45. Teammate Sarah Gibson took second in 4:43.46, while Stanford’s Julia Anderson rounded out the top three in 4:43.89.

Stanford’s Danny Thomson cruised to a four-second win in the men’s 500, topping the championship heat in 4:20.31, well under the B cut of 4:24.99. Teammates Drew Cosgarea (4:24.35) and Jimmy Yoder (4:25.09) touched second and third.

Shortly after winning the 500 free, Texas A&M’s Sarah Henry returned to the pool to post a second victory, this time in the 200 IM. Henry moved up from fifth to first in the event, dropping two seconds from her prelim time to win in 1:56.40. Teammate Bethany Galat challenged Henry the entire race and ended up second in 1:56.51. Sycerika McMahon, also from Texas A&M, pulled off a 1:57.27 to take third.

Stanford picked up another win in the men’s 200 IM, as Dave Nolan cracked 1:44 with a 1:43.24 for the victory. That’s just off the automatic qualifying time of 1:42.76 in the event. Teamamtes Max Williamson (1:45.69) and Tom Kremer (1:45.70) finished neck-and-neck in second and third.

Stanford freshman Simone Manuel nearly bettered her split from the 200 free relay earlier in the night with a flat-start time of 21.59 in the 50 free, comfortably under the automatic qualifying time of 21.90. Cardinal teammates Maddy Schaefer (21.93) and Janet Hu (22.08) finished in second and third. Manuel’s time also beat her 17-18 National Age Group record of 21.70 from earlier this year.

Two swimmers broke 20 in the men’s 50 free, led by Stanford’s Connor Black, who stopped the clock in 19.89. Grand Canyon’s Illya Glazunov finished .04 behind in 19.93, while Stanford’s Sam Perry finished just over the magical barrier in 20.07.

LSU’s Cassie Weil scored 352.00 points to top the women’s 3-meter diving competition ahead of teammate Alex Bettridge (317.25) and Stanford’s Kassidy Cook (313.65).

One of the best swims of the night came in the women’s 400 medley relay. Not only did the Stanford foursome of Ally Howe, Sarah Haase, Janet Hu and Simone Manuel completely blow through the automatic qualifying time of 3:34.25 with a 3:29.48, but Manuel threw down an anchor split of 45.81 (21.71/24.10) in the event. That’s believed to be the first sub-46 split by a woman; Georgia’s Megan Romano posted a 46.07 in the 400 medley relay at the 2012 NCAA Championships, which had stood as the previous best. Manuel holds the American record in the individual 100 free at 46.75, nearly a full second slower than her split.

Texas A&M’s Lisa Bratton, Sycerika McMahon, Beryl Gastaldello and Sammie Bosma touched second in 3:33.62, while the Stanford B relay of Maddy Schaefer, Heidi Poppe, Nicole Stafford and Lia Neal also posted an A cut with a 3:33.95 for third.

The Stanford men closed out a dominant first night with a sweep of the top two spots in the men’s relay. Dave Nolan, Daniel Le, Andrew Liang and Tom Kremer led the way in 3:10.52, with Patrick Conaton, Christian Brown, Gray Umbach and Sam Perry touching second in 3:13.34. LSU’s Logan Rysemus, Silas Dejean, Frank Greeff and Marco Gonzalez came in third with a 3:14.13.

Results: Art Adamson Invitational

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Josh
Josh
9 years ago

Margo Geer split a 45.98 at the 2012 NCAA championships.

Josh
Josh
9 years ago
Reply to  Josh

i correct myself. Margo Geer split 20.98 in a 50 free at the 2012 championships.

Andre Blackman
Andre Blackman
9 years ago

Go Simone! !!

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