Minnesota Invitational: Texas Surge Leads to Looming Butterfly Showdown

ncaa-minnesota-invitational-GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 20: Olivia Bray of the Texas Longhorns competes in the preliminary heats of the Women's 200 Yard Butterfly during the Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on March 20, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Olivia Bray. Photo Courtesy: Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

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.

More meet coverage

 

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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
==================================================================
    Name                 Year School               Seed    Prelims        
==================================================================
                      === 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  
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  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
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x