Pan Pacific Championships, Night Two Finals: Women’s 100 free
For not the first time in this Olympic quad, a women’s race broke cleanly along American vs. Australian lines.
In the sprint freestyle, it’s advantage Aussies this time around.
Meg Harris picked up the win in 52.60 seconds, outtouching Gretchen Walsh in the final meters of the women’s 100 freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships Wednesday night. Harris’ countrywoman Olivia Wunsch also got the better of American Simone Manuel for third in 52.98, with Manuel in 53.13.
“I just gave it everything I had going out, and it was enough to win it,” Harris said.
Fifth went to Taylor Ruck in 53.16, with B final winner Torri Huske .01 quicker. Kayla Sanchez, the Canadian-born Philippines swimmer, was sixth in 53.46 at the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine, California.
The final was a tad confusing. Walsh was dead last off the blocks with a reaction time of 0.78 seconds. The disadvantage to Harris was .07, to Wunsch .15. Walsh also pushed the 15 meter underwater close, just barely getting her head up in time. She was still first at the midway point at 24.97, under world record pace. Harris was second and lurking.
Harris had the fastest final 50 in the field in 27.26, with Walsh’s 27.81 just sixth to touch in 52.78.
The confusion led to Harris, who didn’t know she had won until Wunsch let her know. So the celebration together was an easy choice.
“I saw her time before I saw mine,” Harris said of Wunsch. “So I got to celebrate with her. She’s the one who told me I won. It’s the next step toward LA. This is going to be one hell of a race in LA, and especially this relay.”
Wunsch was fifth at the midway point, but her 27.42 coming home was third in the field to rally to 52.98. Manuel was fourth.
Walsh admitted that the 100 free hurt coming home. But she’s happy to make her first senior podium in the event, an indication of her ability to extend beyond the 50s. Being behind Harris is something she can live with.
“Having her there to push me is great,” Walsh said. “And we’ve raced many, many times. So familiar competitors and great friends so I was just glad that I stuck with her and still was able to get pretty close in the end, even when I couldn’t feel my legs.”
In the B final, Huske was strong for the first 75 meters, enough to hold off countrywoman Rylee Erisman. Huske went 53.15, with Erisman in 53.35.
None of the times touched the bleeding edge of the event. Only new world record holder Marrit Steenbergen (51.68) and Anna Moesch (51.88) have been under 52 seconds this year. Moesch was not selected to this Pan Pacs team last summer and has been a fast riser since then.
