The Toyota US Open, which is set to begin next week November 12 – 14, will be split across nine different sites in order to lessen travel for swimmers and coaches and participate safely in a less crowded environment while still racing in a competitive format. The psych sheet for Des Moines has been posted with Olympic hopefuls Regan Smith and Phoebe Bacon set to meet for the first time since January.
While the tentpole fall event has traditionally featured 700-800 athletes in one location, the multi-site Toyota US Open, which will consist of four-timed finals sessions and both a women’s and men’s flight per session, will allow for more than 1,800 athletes to compete asynchronously from coast to coast. All local, state and federal health guidelines will be strictly adhered to at each competition site and entry limits will reflect these local restrictions. Results from each site will be combined by USA Swimming and published in a comprehensive results report.
Bacon and Smith will race in the 100 back in Des Moines next week as they sat first and third in the world rankings for 2020. Both swimmers graduated in 2020 with Bacon starting her freshman year at Wisconsin this year with Smith staying at home in Minnesota before going to Stanford next year.
Some of Iowa’s best including the remaining Hawkeyes that stayed after the program was set to be cut after this season will be swimming at the meet, including Michigan’s Gus Borges and Missouri’s Nick Alexander.
Toyota US Open Des Moines
Notables:
- Nick Alexander
- Phoebe Bacon
- Gus Borges
- Hannah Burvill
- Micah Slaton
- Regan Smith
Toyota US Open sites:
- Beaverton, Oregon – Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center
- Des Moines, Iowa – Wellmark YMCA-The YMCA of Greater Des Moines
- Greensboro, North Carolina – Greensboro Aquatic Center
- Huntsville, Alabama – Huntsville Aquatics Center
- Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana University Natatorium
- Irvine, California – William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
- Richmond, Virginia – SwimRVA
- San Antonio, Texas – North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex
- Sarasota, Florida – Selby Aquatic Center
