Vlad Morozov Churns Out Sub-22 Second 50 Free At Speedo Grand Challenge

Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia Dalberto/Lapresse

Vlad Morozov posted his third swim under 22 seconds in the 50 freestyle this year, winning the event at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine as he prepares to swim for Russia in a home world championships. The meet features a four-person championship final that often produces some exciting races.

Morozov, currently ranked as the second-fastest man in the world with a 21.65 behind Florent Manaudou’s 21.57, blazed to a 21.95 in the event today. Perhaps the swim was a response to Manaudou’s 21.97 yesterday in France as the two set up for what could be a first long course individual world title for either of them. Nikita Lobintsev, Morozov’s Russian teammate at the Trojan Swim Club, was second with a 22.22, while David Nolan was third in a 22.72 as he swims in his first meet as a postgraduate swimmer.

Nolan posted the fastest time in the men’s 100 butterfly, but he did it in the B final with a 53.51. Carl Weigley officially won the event with a 53.56 in the championship final, beating out the 53.74 from Long Gutierrez.

Ryan Murphy continued his dominance in the 200 backstroke as he prepares for his first long course world championships, winning in Irvine with a 1:57.20. He’s been just a bit faster this year, with a 1:56.91 to his credit from the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin. The California Golden Bears went 1-2-3 in the four-man final, as Jacob Pebley was second with a 1:59.40 and Connor Green was third with a 2:02.29. Thomas Smith of the Aquazots was fourth with a 2:02.95.

Kendyl Stewart, the reigning long course national champion in the 100 fly, won tonight with a 58.68, not that far off the winning time of 57.98 that she posted to win at nationals last summer. Kelly Naze and Felicia Lee also broke 1:00 in the championship final with times of 59.54 and 59.93, respectively. Eva Merrell made her second championship final of the meet, and the 15-year-old from Aquazots posted a 1:00.46 to get close to her lifetime best of 1:00.11 from last summer’s nationals. Farida Osman also broke 1:00 tonight with a 59.31 to win the B final.

The women’s 200 free was a great race between Elizabeth Pelton and Simone Manuel as the two swam stroke-for-stroke through the entire race. Pelton never relinquished the lead, wining with a 1:5886 to Manuel’s 1:59.11. Rachael Acker of Cal was third with a 2:01.85 while Roadrunner Aquatics’ Stanzi Moseley was fourth with a 2:02.31. Lia Neal of Stanford won the B final with a 2:00.66.

Pelton got her first win of the meet with a 2:12.25 in the 200 back after posting a 2:11.59 in prelims. Pelton had to put in some work in the back half of the race to pass Hannah Weiss, who couldn’t hold off Pelton and was second with a 2:13.55. Melanie Klaren was third with a 2:15.71 while Tara Halsted took fourth in 2:20.19. Ally Howe won the B final with a 2:15.58.

Max Williamson swept the IM events with a five-second victory in the 400 IM with a 4:21.19. Adam Hinshaw was second with a 4:26.19, while Curtis Ogren took third with a 4:32.21. Also winning both IM events was Maya DiRado, who claimed the longer IM with a 4:40.61 after tying with Caitlin Leverenz in yesterday’s 200 IM final. With Leverenz skipping the 400 IM in Irvine, DiRado won by nearly 11 seconds over Celina Li’s 4:51.27. Eryn Weldon was third with a 4:55.65 and Tara Halsted took fourth with a 4:55.72.

Cristian Quintero closed out the session with a 3:53.63 to win the 400 freestyle. He was just six tenths ahead of Lobintsev at 200 meters but kicked into another gear to win by four seconds over Lobintsev’s 3:57.40. Liam Egan took third with a 3:58.08 while 16-year-old Jared Graham of Penguin Aquatics rounded out the four-man final with a 4:00.09, dropping his lifetime best by more than four seconds.

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