The 2021 Minnesota Invitational continued on Friday from Minneapolis as some of the top college swimmers and teams squared off.
The Friday prelims session kicked off with a showdown of six of the top butterflyers in the NCAA, setting up for a possible epic final.
Minnesota Invitational: Women’s 100 Butterfly
With NCAA and Olympic champion Maggie MacNeil, of Michigan, in the field, it was a pair of Texas swimmers who took the top spots in the 100 butterfly.
Texas sophomore Emma Sticklen took the top seed in 50.76, a 2-second drop from her seed time. Fellow sophomore Olivia Bray took the second spot in 51.19.
MacNeil was third in 51.27, just ahead of Cal’s Isabel Ivey (51.81) doing her first of two events on the day.
Texas junior Kelly Pash was fifth at 51.95, ahead of Michigan’s Olivia Carter, the defending 200 butterfly NCAA champion, who finished in 52.09.
The NCAA record is 49.26 set by USC’s Louise Hansson, and with this group pushing each other, the record could be within striking distance for the final.
Event 15 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Sticklen, Emma SO Texas 52.91 50.76
2 Bray, Olivia SO Texas 53.07 51.19
3 MacNeil, Maggie SR Michigan 51.22 51.27
4 Ivey, Isabel SR California 53.05 51.81
5 Pash, Kelly JR Texas 52.72 51.95
6 Carter, Olivia SR Michigan 53.53 52.09
7 Heimstead, Julia JR Arizona 54.36 52.76
8 McConagha, Mackenzie FR Wisconsin 54.18 52.79
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9 Jump, Mallory JR Wisconsin 54.12 52.81
10 Kragh, Mia FR California 53.53 52.86
11 Garcia, Elise SR California 55.02 52.96
12 Cook, Lizzy FR California 54.39 53.18
13 Carr, Abigail FR Harvard 55.59 53.24
14 Kaufmann, Noelle SO Michigan 55.68 53.27
15 Sim, Letitia FR Michigan 53.82 53.34
16 Klinker, Rachel JR California 55.23 53.42
Minnesota Invitational: Men’s 100 Butterfly
Texas sophomore Zachary Van Zandt dropped more than three seconds from his seed time to take the top spot in the 100 butterfly. He touched the wall in 45.60, to edge the field.
Harvard junior Umitcan Gures took the second seed in 45.79, ahead of a third-place tie between Alvin Jiang of Texas and Gal Cohen Groumi who each finished in 45.87.
Event 16 Men 100 Yard Butterfly
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Van Zandt, Zachary SO Texas 48.91 45.60
2 Gures, Umitcan JR Harvard 46.94 45.79
3 Jiang, Alvin SR Texas 47.65 45.87
3 Cohen Groumi, Gal FR Michigan 46.50 45.87
5 Grimm, Anthony FR Texas 49.40 46.09
6 Farris, Dean SR Harvard NT 46.17
7 Szabados, Bence SO Michigan 47.32 46.44
8 Rose, Dare SO California 48.07 46.46
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9 Artmann, Sam JR Texas 48.42 46.87
9 Johnson, Jake SR Harvard 49.07 46.87
11 Crane, Cole JR Texas 49.21 46.91
12 Jensen, Matt SO California 49.35 47.07
13 Seeliger, Bjorn SO California NT 47.11
14 Harder, Ethan JR Texas 49.32 47.12
15 Taner, Brooks SR Arizona 50.03 47.13
16 Santana, Brendan Arizona 49.95 47.16
Minnesota Invitational: Women’s 400 IM
Michigan sophomore Kathryn Ackerman dropped a stunning five seconds from her seed time to take the top seed in the women’s 400 IM. Ackerman touched the wall in 4:07.38, three seconds ahead of the field.
Minnesota sophomore Megan VanBerkom took the second seed in 4:10.38, ahed of Cal’s Alicia Wilson (4:11.49).
Event 17 Women 400 Yard IM
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Ackerman, Kathryn SO Michigan 4:12.33 4:07.38
2 Van Berkom, Megan SO Minnesota 4:20.20 4:10.38
3 Wilson, Alicia SR California 4:22.00 4:11.49
4 McEnroe, Annika FR California 4:22.48 4:13.61
5 Polonsky, Leah FR California 4:17.04 4:13.66
6 Pasadyn, Felicia SR Harvard 4:19.19 4:13.82
7 Pfeifer, Evie SR Texas 4:16.22 4:14.80
8 DiMeco, Sarah JR California 4:24.30 4:17.02
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9 Cavanagh, Erin FR Harvard 4:25.09 4:17.23
10 Donan, Claire SO Michigan 4:22.19 4:18.54
11 McClintock, Katie FR Wisconsin NT 4:19.45
12 Hazlett, Kate SO Harvard 4:30.99 4:20.38
13 McMurray, Olivia FR Texas 4:19.63 4:20.53
14 Sims, Kaitlynn JR Michigan NT 4:20.82
15 Fiorilli, Ashlyn SO California 4:36.79 4:21.06
16 Butler, Rachel JR Minnesota 4:25.22 4:21.16
Minnesota Invitational: Men’s 400 IM
The Foster brothers were in full force in the 400 IM, pushing each other to the top two seeds in the event. Carson Foster took the top seed in 3:38.68 to hold off his brother Jake Foster (3:40.69).
Carson’s time is five seconds off the NCAA record set by Chase Kalisz.
Arizona’s Brooks Fail took the third spot in 3:41.99, followed by Cal’s Sean Grieshop (3:43.01).
Event 18 Men 400 Yard IM
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Foster, Carson SO Texas 3:40.12 3:38.68
2 Foster, Jake JR Texas 3:45.90 3:40.69
3 Fail, Brooks Arizona 3:46.22 3:41.99
4 Grieshop, Sean SR California 3:56.11 3:43.01
5 Daigle, Jared SR Michigan 3:52.22 3:43.33
6 Vines, Braden SR Texas 3:58.24 3:44.24
7 Aman, Caleb SR Wisconsin NT 3:44.79
8 Jhong, Chris SR California 4:00.95 3:48.03
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9 Johnston, David SO Texas 3:48.35 3:48.42
10 Roberts, Will California 3:52.28 3:48.64
11 Louser, Jason JR California 4:09.41 3:50.49
12 Koustik, Andrew SR Texas 3:59.14 3:51.35
13 Kopp, Tyler SO California 4:04.49 3:51.66
14 Carman, Colter SR Texas 4:00.49 3:51.97
15 Hand, Jake JR Arizona 3:55.08 3:53.00
16 Heasley, Ethan SO Texas 3:56.20 3:53.75
Minnesota Invitational: Women’s 200 Free
After swimming the 100 butterfly, Cal’s Isabel Ivey competed in the 200 free. She put together a strong race and took the top seed in 1:44.44.
Ivey dropped nearly a second from her seed time and continued her strong double.
Cal teammate Robin Neumann took the second seed in 1:45.74, followed by Ayla Spitz (1:45.84), giving the Golden Bears the top three seeds heading into finals.
Wisconsin’s Lillie Hosack was fourth (1:46.25) ahead of Texas’ Kelly Pash (1:46.46), also swimming her second event of the day.
Event 19 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Ivey, Isabel SR California 1:45.27 1:44.44
2 Neumann, Robin California 1:47.61 1:45.74
3 Spitz, Ayla JR California 1:47.26 1:45.84
4 Hosack, Lillie SR Wisconsin 1:49.90 1:46.25
5 Pash, Kelly JR Texas 1:45.88 1:46.46
6 Carlson, Abby FR Wisconsin 1:48.56 1:46.60
7 Kudryashova, Sophia JR Michigan 1:52.78 1:46.81
8 Motekaitis, Mia JR California 1:50.44 1:46.82
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9 Leibel, Kyla JR Texas 1:48.86 1:46.86
10 Glass, Megan JR Michigan 1:48.88 1:47.07
11 Tang, Katii JR Michigan 1:52.15 1:47.21
12 Gantriis, Emily SO California 1:51.18 1:47.49
13 Davidson, Emma JR California 1:49.68 1:47.62
14 Cook, Lizzy FR California 1:50.43 1:47.68
15 Mortensen, Amalie JR Arizona 1:48.07 1:47.75
16 Treydte, Casslyn SR Arizona 1:51.35 1:47.91
Minnesota Invitational: Men’s 200 Free
Michigan senior Patrick Callan, who made the Tokyo Olympics as a relay swimmer, dropped three seconds to take the top seed in the 200 free.
Callan touched the wall in 1:33.09, just ahead of Cal freshman Gabriel Jett (1:33.25).
Texas freshman Luke Hobson also had a strong swim in 1:33.59 to take the third seed, ahead of teammates Peter Larson (1:33.87) and Coby Carrozza (1:33.97).
Event 20 Men 200 Yard Freestyle
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Callan, Patrick SR Michigan 1:36.56 1:33.09
2 Jett, Gabriel FR California 1:35.30 1:33.25
3 Hobson, Luke FR Texas 1:36.61 1:33.59
4 Larson, Peter JR Texas 1:37.84 1:33.87
5 Carrozza, Coby SO Texas 1:36.11 1:33.97
6 Namir, Daniel Arizona 1:37.79 1:34.13
7 Mitchell, Jake SO Michigan 1:37.35 1:34.25
8 Ingram, Hunter SR Arizona 1:41.04 1:34.46
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9 Kibler, Drew SR Texas 1:36.12 1:34.86
10 Hanson, Robin FR California 1:35.70 1:35.10
11 Soloveychik, Bar FR Minnesota 1:39.20 1:35.75
12 Alexy, Jack FR California 1:41.85 1:36.07
13 Newmark, Jake SO Wisconsin 1:37.52 1:36.24
14 Rose, Dare SO California NT 1:36.52
15 Unalmis, Bora SR Michigan 1:39.97 1:36.84
16 Holt, Evan SO Arizona 1:42.05 1:36.92
Minnesota Invitational: Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Texas sophomore Anna Elendt led a field of close swimmers in the 100 breaststroke. She took the top seed in 58.78 to hold off Arizona senior Jade Neser (59.83).
Michigan freshman Letitia Sim was next in 1:00.01, holding off Cal’s Ema Rajic (1:00.31) and Leah Polonsky (1:00.85).
Event 21 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Elendt, Anna SO Texas 59.33 58.78
2 Neser, Jade SR Arizona 1:00.84 59.83
3 Sim, Letitia FR Michigan 59.77 1:00.01
4 Rajic, Ema SR California 59.72 1:00.31
5 Polonsky, Leah FR California 1:01.93 1:00.85
6 Lezer, Emma JR Minnesota 1:02.30 1:01.12
7 Silvestri, Jenna SR Wisconsin 1:04.11 1:01.58
8 Jump, Mallory JR Wisconsin 1:03.80 1:01.75
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9 Ward, Maddie California 1:04.30 1:01.77
10 Hanley, Channing FR Texas 1:03.32 1:01.84
11 Moore, Elizabeth JR Wisconsin 1:03.26 1:02.19
12 Urkiel, Molly SO Minnesota 1:05.94 1:02.28
13 Andrews, Ellie FR Texas 1:01.40 1:02.29
14 Dennis, Holley SO Minnesota 1:05.12 1:02.78
14 Eisenhauer, Victoria SO Harvard 1:05.15 1:02.78
16 Davidson, Emma JR California 1:05.56 1:02.95
Minnesota Invitational: Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Texas junior Caspar Corbeau dropped nearly two seconds from his seed time to take the top spot in 51.07.
He was just a tenth ahead of Minnesota NCAA champion Max McHugh, who finished 51.18.
Cal senior Reece Whitley took the third seed in 51.52, setting up what could be a thrilling showdown between the trio.
Event 22 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Corbeau, Caspar JR Texas 52.82 51.07
2 McHugh, Max SR Minnesota 52.73 51.18
3 Whitley, Reece SR California 52.90 51.52
4 Myhre, Will JR Wisconsin 53.74 52.29
5 Bell, Liam JR California 52.49 52.36
6 Chan, Will SR Michigan 52.14 52.62
7 Foote, Ryan SR Arizona 54.98 53.08
8 Hunter, Mason SR Michigan 55.79 53.11
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9 Scheinfeld, Charlie SR Texas 54.60 53.15
10 Degrado, Paul JR Texas 55.95 53.24
11 Louser, Jason JR California 54.47 53.48
12 Simpson, Jared JR Harvard 54.82 53.56
13 Wells, Ty Arizona 57.78 53.86
14 Fouts, Eli SR Wisconsin 54.75 53.98
15 Fusti-Molnar, Adam FR Texas 56.90 54.15
16 Couchon, Andrew SR Texas 55.61 54.21
Minnesota Invitational: Women’s 100 Backstroke
Texas continued to stack the finals, taking the top two seeds int he 100 backstroke. Sophomore Olivia Bray, swimming in her second event of the day, took the top seed in 51.72.
Teammate Julia Cook took the second spot in 51.95, as did Cal’s Isabelle Stadden, who tied for the second seed.
Arizona’s Aria Bernal took the fourth spot in 52.15, followed by Emma Sticklen (52.27) and Wisconsin sophomore Phoebe Bacon, Olympian in the 200 back, who finished in 52.78.
Event 23 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Bray, Olivia SO Texas 52.78 51.72
2 Cook, Julia SR Texas 53.14 51.95
2 Stadden, Isabelle SO California 53.00 51.95
4 Bernal, Aria Arizona 54.66 52.15
5 Sticklen, Emma SO Texas 53.01 52.27
6 Bacon, Phoebe SO Wisconsin 54.00 52.78
7 Schoof, Kaylyn SO Wisconsin 54.87 52.91
8 McConagha, Mackenzie FR Wisconsin NT 52.96
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9 Chung, Casey SO Michigan 54.83 53.26
10 Newman, Mara SR Wisconsin 55.46 53.35
11 Spitz, Ayla JR California 55.04 53.55
12 Rodriguez Rivero, Pau SO Minnesota 55.73 54.10
13 Cook, Emily SR Minnesota 54.73 54.11
14 Venter, Mariella JR Michigan 56.78 54.27
14 Kaufmann, Noelle SO Michigan 56.27 54.27
16 Motekaitis, Mia JR California 56.98 54.45
Minnesota Invitational: Men’s 100 Backstroke
Cal’s Daniel Carr dropped a stunning three seconds from his seed time to take the top spot in the 100 backstroke. He touched the wall in 45.97 to hold off Texas senior Cameron Auchinachie (46.01).
Cal teammate Destin Lasco took the third spot (46.15) areas of Michigan’s Wyatt Davis (46.24).
Event 24 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
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Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Carr, Daniel SR California 48.86 45.97
2 Auchinachie, Cameron SR Texas 47.10 46.01
3 Lasco, Destin SO California 47.45 46.15
4 Davis, Wyatt SO Michigan 49.29 46.24
5 Grimm, Anthony FR Texas 48.13 46.40
6 Jiang, Alvin SR Texas 47.26 46.82
7 O'Connor, Chris SO Texas 49.18 46.97
8 Park, Jason SR Texas 48.11 47.36
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9 Grant, Gunner SO Harvard 48.45 47.54
10 Aaronson, Nadav JR Michigan 50.80 47.60
11 Krueger, Danny SR Texas 48.24 47.62
12 Storms, Eric SR Michigan 49.59 47.63
13 Harder, Ethan JR Texas 48.66 47.65
14 Quarterman, Nathan FR Texas 48.63 47.71
15 Coen, Ty Arizona 53.14 47.79
16 Nixdorf, Drew JR Wisconsin 50.18 47.81