The Week That Was: Intense Racing Highlights Busy Fall

Photo Courtesy: Madeline Olson

This week featured top tier racing at the national, collegiate, and masters levels across the country, including the much anticipated first stop on the Arena Pro Swim Series. Take a look below to see the top five headlines we’re recapping on this edition of The Week That Was.

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5 – CSCAA First Division II and III Polls of 2015-2016 Season

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

In addition to it’s updated Division I rankings, this week the CSCAA also released its first 2015-2016 Top 25 ranking of Division II and Division III schools. Queens University of Charlotte led all men’s and women’s programs in Division II, while Emory (women) and Kenyon (men) landed the top spot in the Division III poll. The CSCAA also included regional rankings for Division III schools in addition to the national Top 25. With NCAA action well underway across all divisions, these polls are an early indicator of which teams and swimmers to watch for as we move towards the winter invitationals in December.

The Week That Was #4 – David Guthrie, Texas Lonestars Take Down Masters World Records

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week saw some incredible masters swimming down in Shenandoah, Texas from David Guthrie and the Texas Lonestars. Guthrie left the weekend with three short-course meter world records in the 55-59 breaststroke events, sweeping the 50 (30.41), 100 (1:07.25), and 200 (2:27.00). And while he breezed by each of the previous records that had stood since 2009, look for Guthrie to take those records even lower in the future. He holds all three marks in the 50-54 age group with times of 29.84 in the 50, 1:04.54 in the 100 and 2:21.65 in the 200 breast. In addition to Guthrie’s records, the Texas Lonestar women took down a total of five relay world records, including the 200 free, 400 free, and 800 free relays from the 240-279 age group in addition to the 200 medley and 400 medley relays from the 200-239 age group.

The Week That Was #3 – Texas/UNC Dual Meet Highlights Increased College Action

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Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

This weekend featured a particularly close meet between the Texas Longhorns and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. While the Texas men emerged victorious over UNC 160-132, the Longhorn women fell to the Tar Heels in a close 154-146 dual. On the men’s side Joseph Schooling and Jack Conger posted some nation leading times in the 100 fly (46.73) and 200 (1:44.12) fly respectively en route to a decisive win. For the women, this meet was wire to wire all the way to the last relay, which UNC clinched en route to their victory. Joanna Evans, Madisyn Cox, and Olivia Anderson had some great racing for the Longhorns, but at the end of the day it wasn’t enough to overcome the Tar Heels, whose top end talent and relay wins clinched the win.

The Week That Was #2 – Hour of Power for The Ted Mullin Fund

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Photo Courtesy: Sarah Rubinstein

While college action was in full swing this week, a national event across the NCAA was a reminder of what can be accomplished through collaboration and teamwork. On Tuesday November 10th, nearly 200 teams across the country came together to raise money for the Ted Mullin Fund by participating in the Hour of Power. Teams divide themselves into relays of 8-10 swimmers and race all out 50’s for an hour, all while attempting to stay on the same lap. The event is in memory of Ted Mullin, a Carleton College swimmer who passed away from synovial sarcoma in 2006. Donations through the Fund support sarcoma research and the introduction of new therapies for treatment of sarcoma at The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. To learn more about the Ted Mullin Fund and to make a donation, visit their homepage.

The Week That Was #1 – Ledecky, Dwyer Arena Pro Swim Leaders After Series Kicks Off In Minneapolis

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Photo Courtesy: Madeline Olson

This weekend was significant not only as the first stop in the 2015-2016 Arena Pro Swim Series, but as one of the first major long course competitions on U.S. soil as we move into the Olympic year. And the weekend did not disappoint, as it featured some top flight racing from several US National Team members and Olympians, including superstars Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Missy Franklin. Ledecky and Dwyer sit at the top of the leaderboard as we move toward the next Arena Pro Swim stop in Austin this January. For complete coverage of the Minneapolis Pro Swim including all results, athlete interviews, and session recaps, head to Swimming World’s Event Landing Page.

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