The socially distanced 2020 US Open continued Friday afternoon as the central time zone cluster of San Antonio, Huntsville and Des Moines saw some of the usual suspects perform well on day two.
Virginia commit Gretchen Walsh swam a new best time in the 50 free with a 24.65, getting under her 24.71 previous best. The time puts her seventh in the world for 2020 and third in the US behind world champion Simone Manuel (24.56) and Erika Brown (24.57). She will be a freshman at Virginia next fall. Arkansas’s Emily Barclay won the Des Moines region at 25.25, while 17-year-old Kyanh Truong won the San Antonio region at 26.16.
From San Antonio, last year’s national champ Madisyn Cox won the 200 IM with a 2:10.49, the fastest time thus far on the day as she was not far off her best time of 2:09.0 that she swam earlier this year before the pandemic. In Des Moines, Regan Smith swam a 2:15.20 in winning her region ahead of Wisconsin freshman Phoebe Bacon (2:16.05) as 17-year-old Letitia Sim won the Huntsville region at 2:16.68.
Texas pro Joanna Evans won the 400 free in San Antonio with a solid 4:11.28 as the second fastest time on the day from the central time zone came from Arkansas’s Peyton Palsha (4:15.91) in Des Moines, while Alabama junior Kensey McMahon won the Huntsville region at 4:16.14.
On the men’s side of things, the best swim from this cluster came from Ryan Held in the 50 free, winning at 22.35. He was off his best of 21.8 but it was a good start of the season for him as he chases what would be his second Olympic berth next year. Gus Borges won the Des Moines region at 22.75 while Auburn grad Luis Martinez finished second behind Held in Huntsville at 22.86. The San Antonio men have not swum yet and the Texas swimmers are expected to challenge these times.
In the 400 free, McKendree’s Fabio Dalu had the fastest 400 free out of Des Moines with a 3:58.46 while Tennessee grad Marc Hinawi won from Huntsville at 4:01.21.
Tennessee transfer Kayky Mota won the 200 IM from Huntsville at 2:05.21 ahead of Dynamo’s Owen MacDonald (2:06.24).
