Hubert Kos, Summer McIntosh, Simone Manuel Post Impressive Doubles at Longhorn Elite Invite
Two of the world’s best swimmers claimed a pair of first-place finishes Saturday while competing at their training base for the Longhorn Elite Invite. Both Summer McIntosh and Hubert Kos came in first in the 200 butterfly, Kos recording a lifetime best in the process, and then came back for another first-place finish. Veteran sprinter Simone Manuel also had a pair of top finishes.
Kos swam a time of 1:55.11 in the men’s event, almost 3.5 seconds ahead of training partners Cooper Lucas (1:58.52) and Tyler Ray (1:58.54). Kos took almost a second off his previous best of 1:56.07. The 23-year-old Hungarian has positioned himself to add the 200 fly to his lineup at future international competitions.
Kos was back in the pool less than 30 minutes later to take the win in one of his better events, the 100 backstroke. He touched in 53.76 to defeat Joe Hayburn (54.09) and Jack Wilkening (54.62).
McIntosh, meanwhile, out-dueled training partner Regan Smith in the 200 fly. These two swimmers won gold and silver, respectively, at both the Paris Olympics and last year’s World Championships. McIntosh finished in 2:04.06 as she tunes up for a likely run at the world record at next month’s Canadian Trials. She finished just 0.18 off the mark in her win last year in Singapore. McIntosh returned to the pool for an easy win in the 400 free, an event in which she already holds the global mark. McIntosh clocked 4:01.13 to easily out-pace a field led by Jillian Cox (4:13.10).
Smith, meanwhile, grabbed second in the 200 fly with a strong time of 2:04.73, faster than she went in last year’s Worlds final and faster than the lifetime best of any other active swimmer. Smith also swam a tough double, returning to the pool minutes later to win the 100 back in 58.01.
Manuel snared wins in two 50-meter events. She won the 50 free in 24.82, well clear of Erin Gemmell (25.59), and she added a win in the 50 fly in 26.85. In the men’s sprint events, Chris Guiliano went 22.39 for the top spot in freestyle while Shaine Casas paced the butterfly field in 23.37.
Anna Elendt and Campbell McKean both had their second breaststroke wins in as many days. Elendt won the women’s 200 breast in 2:25.76 while McKean clocked 2:13.14 in the men’s event. The men’s 400 free went to Rex Maurer in 3:48.93, with Luke Hobson placing second (3:52.57).