By Jason Tillotson.
Pros and collegiate stars clashed again as night three of the 2017 Texas Hall of Fame Invitational commenced in Austin. While no records were broken, many of the nation’s fastest times this year were surpassed tonight in the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
After winning last night’s 200 IM, graduated Longhorn Madisyn Cox took the win in the women’s 400 IM with her time of 4:02.95. Behind her was her undergraduate teammate Evie Pfeifer in 4:08.87. Arizona’s Daniela Georges took the third place position in a time of 4:10.64.
The men’s race saw Arizona Wildcat Nick Thorne blow away the field on the freestyle leg, solidifying himself as the only man to dip under 51 seconds on the last 100 yards. Thorne’s time was a solid 3:41.47, which is the fastest time in the nation so far this year. Longhorn Sam Stewart took second place in a time of 3:43.44. Third place went to last night’s 200 IM champ, Stanford’s Abrahm DeVine in 3:44.75.
USC’s Louise Hansson toppled over the rest of the women’s 100 butterfly A-final as she posted a time nearly a second and a half faster than the rest of the field. Hansson put together a 50.41 to mark herself at the fastest woman in the event so far this year, ahead of second place finisher Beata Nelson out of Wisconsin who swam a 51.88. Third place was awarded to Arizona’s Mackenzie Rumri who touched in 51.96.
The Joseph Schooling/Jack Conger rivalry was in full force tonight as the two Longhorn Olympians went head to head in the 100 butterfly. Schooling came out on top this time on his way to producing a 44.78, about a half second quicker than Conger’s 45.32. Schooling’s time makes him the fastest man in this event so far this season. Arizona State’s Andrew Porter earned third with his 45.75.
The Texas duo of Quinn Carrozza and Joanna Evans went 1-2 in the women’s 200 freestyle by posting times of 1:44.15 and 1:44.75, respectively. USC’s Tatum Wade turned in a 1:45.57 for third place.
Longhorn Townley Haas casually won the men’s 200 freestyle in a NCAA ‘A’ cut time of 1:32.40. Harvard’s Dean Farris edged ASU’s Cameron Craig in 1:33.27 to Craig’s 1:33.29.
The women’s 100 breaststroke saw USC’s Riley Scott earn the title of quickest woman in the entire nation so far this season with her 58.64. That time will certainly gain the attention of American record holder, Lilly King as that time bumps King down to number three in the nation. The only other swimmer under the one-minute mark was Cox in 59.22. Trojan Maggie Aroesty earned third in 1:00.02.
Texas post-grad training partners Andrew Wilson and Will Licon put on a show by going 1-2 in the men’s 100 breaststroke. Wilson was the victor with his 52.03, with Licon right behind in 52.20. Touching in 52.92 was Matt Anderson, taking third place overall.
After her second place finish in the 100 butterfly earlier in the session, Wisconsin’s Nelson was back for more in the 100 backstroke when she won the event in a swift 50.79. Touching second was Claire Adams out of Texas in 51.61. USC’s Hannah Weiss was nearly a second behind in 52.84 for third.
Matt Grevers proved his comeback is in full force by winning the men’s 100 backstroke tonight. Grevers used his veteran experience to post the only sub-45 time in the field with his 44.92. Florida natives, ASU freshman Zach Poti and Texas freshman Austin Katz, closely trailed Grevers in 45.43 and 45.48, respectively.
It was relay time yet again in Austin with the women’s 200 medley relay initiating the conclusion of the finals session. USC’s assembly of Weiss, Scott, Hansson and Marta Ciesla tied the NCAA ‘A’ standard with their production of a 1:36.89. Wisconsin’s foursome of Jess Unicomb, Marissa Berg, Nelson and Emmy Sehmann earned second with their time of 1:37.14. Third place was awarded to the Texas quartet of Claire Adams, Kennedy Lohman, Remedy Rule and Rebecca Millard who swam a 1:37.73.
The Texas men were safe on their starts tonight, after suffering a DQ in last night’s 400 medley relay, the Longhorns were able to piece together the star-studded squad of John Shebat, Schooling, Tate Jackson and Brett Ringgold to take the win in a 1:24.28. ASU earned a second place finish with their team of Poti, Christian Lorenz, Andrew Porter and Craig. Stanford chose the team of Ryan Dudzinski, Matt Anderson, Andrew Liang and Sam Perry. This squad earned them a third place finish and a NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 1:25.50.
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Yay Matt!❤️
Congratulations Matt