Paige Madden Tops 800 Free at TYR Pro Championships
Many of the top American swimmers who did not qualify (or in some cases, attempt to qualify) for the World Championships are racing this week in Irvine, Calif., at the TYR Pro Championships. The next three days will feature prelims-finals racing following the NCAA Championships schedule and including relays, and the meet kicked off Friday night with the 800 freestyle and 800 free relay.
Paige Madden, a finalist in the 400 free at the 2021 Olympics and member of the silver-medal-winning 800 free relay at those Games, began the meet with a win in the women’s 800 free. Madden, a 24-year-old University of Virginia alum now representing the New York Athletic Club, finished in 8:32.46. Athens Bulldog’s Rachel Stege placed second in 8:34.75, with TAC Titans’ Caroline Pennington third (8:41.10).
The men’s 800 free went to an Australian visitor as Matthew Galea came in first in 7:50.25, followed by Sun Devil’s Daniel Matheson (7:52.34) and Wolfpack Elite’s Will Gallant (7:54.75).
In the women’s 800 free relay, the Wisconsin Aquatics team of Abby Carlson, Phoebe Bacon, Abby Wanezek and Beata Nelson took the win in 8:01.99. Bacon and Nelson plus Alto Swim Club swimmers Aurora Roghair and Lillie Nordmann each recorded sub-2:00 splits.
Australia’s men got the win in their relay in 7:12.75 behind Maximillian Giuliani, Thomas Hauck, William Petric and Galea. Giuliani led off in 1:46.26, which was just one hundredth off Kai Taylor’s winning time in the 200 free from Australian Trials last month, a race where Giuliani finished eight. The Aussies held off a charge from Athens Bulldog Swim Club, which had Jake Magahey posting a swift 1:46.35 split coming home.