TYR Pro Swim Series Mission Viejo: Claire Curzan Has Triple Chance on Final Day

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

TYR Pro Swim Series Mission Viejo: Claire Curzan Has Triple Chance on Final Day

Claire Curzan posted A-final times in three events on Saturday, the final prelims session of the TYR Pro Swim Series Mission Viejo stop.

Curzan finished fourth in the women’s 100 backstroke in 1:01.28. She was third in the 100 fly (59.24) and eighth in the 50 free. She might be more likely to scratch the latter in finals. Curzan won the 50 fly and 200 back Friday night.

Olivia Smoliga and Torri Huske are in a similar boat. Smoliga posted top times in the women’s 50 free and 100 back, third in the latter to start the session at the Marguerite Aquatic Center. Her 1:01.03 was just shy of a second behind Isabelle Stadden, who set the pace in 1:00.09. In between was Rhyan White (1:00.58).

To end the session, Smoliga tied Simone Manuel for fourth in the 50 free at 25.45. The leader in the morning in the sprint was unsurprisingly Abbey Weitzeil, who went 24.49. Kasia Wasick posted the second-best time of 24.98, with Huske third in 25.26. Huske also set the third-best time in the 200 IM at 2:15.68.

Elsewhere in the final day of competition in Mission Viejo, it’s setting up as another Cal backstroke battle. Hugo Gonzalez set the top prelims time in 54.36. Ryan Murphy was third in 54.74. Murphy shook a sluggish prelims swim Friday to end up finishing second at night in the 200 back.

The champion of the 200, Keaton Jones, set a best time in the morning at 54.93. It is good for the fifth seed, two tenths up on Hunter Armstrong. Justin Ress grabbed the second seed in 54.56, and Jack Dolan was fourth.

Tess Cieplucha led the 200 breast in prelims at 2:30.03, .03 up on Lilly King. The breaststroke queen has already mauled her way to the 50 and 100 meter titles this week. Piper Enge was third in 2:31.40, with Isabelle Odgers and Kaitlyn Dobler following.

Nic Fink finished fourth in prelims of the 200 breast but is lurking for another title. His 2:17.87 was well back of Jake Foster’s top seed of 2:13.56. Brandon Fischer was second, ahead of Andy Dobrzanski.

Kelly Pash, the least busy of the sprint group, posted the top time in the 100 fly at 58.81 seconds. She’ll have to fend off Huske (second in 59.03) and Curzan (59.24) in the finals, should both stick with it. Pash’s fellow Longhorn Dakota Luther was fourth.

Dare Rose led the way in the men’s 100 fly in 52.24 seconds to secure the top seed. It’ll be tight again, though, with Youssef Ramadan second in 52.26. Ramadan tied for the 50 fly crown with Ryan Held Friday night; Held scratched the 100 fly.

Jonny Kulow is the third seed in the 100 fly, ahead of Trenton Julian, who turned around and set the top time in the 200 IM at 2:02.99. That one is just head of another Arizona Stater in Grant House (2:03.28), one of five swimmers in the 2:03 range. That group includes Cal mates Destin Lasco and Rick Mihm, Indiana’s Luke Barr and Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson.

Held opted for the men’s 50 free, where he’s the second seed after a time of 22.22. He’s in a Golden Bear sandwich, with Bjorn Seeliger leading the way in 22.08 seconds and Jack Alexy third in 22.31. Arizona State’s Jack Dolan is fourth with Kulow fifth. Ress set the seventh-best time at 22.51.

Alicia Wilson led the field in the women’s 200 IM in 2:15.35. That’s four tenths up on Justina Kozan. Huske was third, Teagan O’Dell fourth and Pash sixth.

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