Art Adamson Invitational: Brooks Curry Shows More Speed; USC Wraps Up Dominant Meet
Just a few months removed from earning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, LSU’s Brooks Curry has put together a strong start to the collegiate campaign. On Friday night, while racing at the Art Adamson Invitational, Curry claimed a first-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. Curry turned in a time of 42.30 to defeat Southern California’s Nikola Miljenic, who touched in 42.60. Miljenic clocked 42.25 in the prelims.
After earning a surprise spot on the Team USA roster for the Tokyo Games, Curry handled the leadoff leg on the American 400 freestyle relay during the preliminary heats. When the United States won the final the next morning, Curry earned his gold medal. Clearly, he has carried the momentum from his breakthrough international moment into the college season. Curry won the 50 free on the first night of the Art Adamson Invitational.
USC put on a show in the women’s 200 breaststroke, where the Trojans occupied the top-four spots. Kaitlyn Dobler was the victor, as her time of 2:06.56 topped the 2:07.61 of Isabelle Odgers. Third place went to Calypso Sheridan (2:08.78) and fourth was taken by Nicole Pavlopoulou (2:11.86).
USC’s Laticia Transom produced the only sub-48 mark of the night, going 47.76 for nearly a second decision over LSU’s Katarina Milutinovich, who checked in at 48.71. Meanwhile, the Trojans’ Ben Dillard beat the field in the 200 breaststroke, on the strength of a swim of 1:52.44, and Alexei Sancov was dominant in the 200 butterfly with a 1:41.81 outing. Transom also helped USC win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:16.03. She was joined in the winning squad by Marta Ciesla, Anicka Delgado and Dobler.
USC also claimed first place in the men’s 400 freestyle relay, where Sancov and Miljenic were joined by Max Saunders and Trent Pellini for a time of 2:51.33.
The final session opened with a spectacular duel between USC teammates Aela Janvier and Jade Hannah in the 200 backstroke. Hannah led throughout the race, until Janvier closed the gap on the last 50 and touched in 1:53.98, to the 1:53.99 of Hannah. The men’s race went to Southern Cal’s Vaggelis Makrygiannis in 1:41.82.
Southern Cal’s Makenna Turner prevailed in the women’s 200 butterfly, going 1:57.32, and teammate Victor Johansson won the men’s 1650 freestyle in 14:55.21.