U.S. Open: Purdue Men, Nation’s Capital Women Top Relays on Opening Night
The annual U.S. Open has returned to the Greensboro Aquatic Center in its traditional week-after-Thanksgiving slot, although the meet is being held in an unusual short course yards format. Three full days of racing will follow the NCAA Championships event schedule while relays kicked off the meet Wednesday evening.
On the men’s side, Purdue swept both the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. The team of Idris Muhammad, Ray Whitaker, Brady Samuels and Dominic Mazurek posted a time of 1:26.69 to win the medley relay, less than a second ahead of the Loyola Maryland “A” team (1:27.54), with the Loyola “B” team third (1:28.07).
Later on, Samuels swam the leadoff leg of the Boilermakers’ winning 800 free relay, with his split of 1:34.06 by far the quickest in the field. Samuels, Blake Rowe, Walker Mattice and Andy Kelly produced a time of 6:26.46, beating the rest of the field by four-and-a-half seconds. The University of Utah team took second in 6:30.99, well ahead of Nation’s Capital (6:37.46).
For the women, Nation’s Capital won both relays, beginning with Gwyn Frick, Caroline Agee, Sadie Buckley and Alyssa Sagle posting a time of 1:41.53 to win the 200 medley by a quarter-second. It was a close race the entire way, with Sagle splitting 22.96 coming home to pull ahead of Queens anchor Libby Livesay. Queens took second in 1:41.77, followed by Fresno Stae (1:42.07).
NCAP was the only team to enter the women’s 800 free relay, with Buckley, Emma Signa, Sagle and Agee combining for a time of 7:23.62.
While most well-known U.S. swimmers are either already in Europe as they prepare for next week’s Short Course World Championships or continuing a post-Olympic break from competition, two Olympians are scheduled to compete at the U.S. Open: two-time Olympic relay swimmer Drew Kibler and Tokyo Olympic backstroker Rhyan White.