Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Speedo Summer Championships Kick Off With New Top American Time, Two Relay Records
The 2021 Speedo Summer Championships kicked off today in Greensboro, N.C. and Irvine, Calif. The competition featured dozens of U.S. National Junior Team members, personal bests and two relay records.
Here are some of the highlights from the meet’s first finals session:
Julian Blasts the 200m Butterfly (Irvine)
In the first men’s event in Irvine, U.S. National Team member Trenton Julian (Glendale, Calif./Rose Bowl Aquatics) threw down an incredible 1:54.71. The swim was more than four-and-a-half seconds faster than the runner-up and beat Julian’s previous personal best of 1:55.32, which was set in the A Final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming this past June. It was the first time in his career that he has broken the 1:55 mark.
“I had a good idea what I wanted to do after Trials because it was a somewhat disappointing swim for me,” Julian said. “I’m really happy with how I kept that in control & didn’t let that emotion control me that first 100 but I still came back and swam my race.”
Julian’s performance makes him the fastest U.S. swimmer in the event this year.
SwimMAC Carolina Sets National Age Group Record (Greensboro)
Over in Greensboro, the SwimMAC Carolina men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team of Tim Connery, Logan Zucker, Cam Abaqueta and Baylor Nelson combined for a 3:21.91, setting a new 17-18 National Age Group record. The time shaved over a full second off the previous mark of 3:23.01, which was set by Dynamo Swim Club in 2019.
“It means a lot because we have been swimming together for so long,” Connery said. “To finally see us all together, at the best we’ll ever be for this team in that relay and the last relay we are ever going to swim together — it’s a really good moment.”
Host Club Captures Three Titles and Southern California Record (Irvine)
Irvine Novaquatics, the host of the west competition, burst through on the competition’s opening day. Three individuals from Irvine Novaquatics posted top-3 performances: Teagan O’Dell (first, women’s 100m freestyle, 55.82), Ella Ristic (third, women’s 100m freestyle, 56.40), Jesse Novak (first, men’s 100m freestyle, 49.46). The team then capped off the night with a first-place finish in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, where their 3:19.61 was good for a new Local Swimming Committee record and was the only time under 3:23 in the field.
Weinstein Continues Momentum (Greensboro)
At 14 years old, Claire Weinstein was the second-youngest athlete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming field this past June. The young distance freestyler continued to impress, this time in a close finish in the 800m freestyle in the East field.
Weinstein added another strong swim in the event to her resume, touching first in 8:36.46, just three one-hundredths ahead of Cavan Gormsen (Wantagh, N.Y./Long Island Aquatic Club).
“In the 800 I don’t usually have a plan; I usually base it off the people I’m racing,” Weinstein said. “I tried to get out in front and see if I could keep it up. Usually when I go my best times in my 800, I go out fast and almost die, but not really. Try to keep it the whole way.”
Competition continues through August 7.
Here are some of the highlights from the meet’s first finals session:
Julian Blasts the 200m Butterfly (Irvine)
In the first men’s event in Irvine, U.S. National Team member Trenton Julian (Glendale, Calif./Rose Bowl Aquatics) threw down an incredible 1:54.71. The swim was more than four-and-a-half seconds faster than the runner-up and beat Julian’s previous personal best of 1:55.32, which was set in the A Final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming this past June. It was the first time in his career that he has broken the 1:55 mark.
“I had a good idea what I wanted to do after Trials because it was a somewhat disappointing swim for me,” Julian said. “I’m really happy with how I kept that in control & didn’t let that emotion control me that first 100 but I still came back and swam my race.”
Julian’s performance makes him the fastest U.S. swimmer in the event this year.
SwimMAC Carolina Sets National Age Group Record (Greensboro)
Over in Greensboro, the SwimMAC Carolina men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team of Tim Connery, Logan Zucker, Cam Abaqueta and Baylor Nelson combined for a 3:21.91, setting a new 17-18 National Age Group record. The time shaved over a full second off the previous mark of 3:23.01, which was set by Dynamo Swim Club in 2019.
“It means a lot because we have been swimming together for so long,” Connery said. “To finally see us all together, at the best we’ll ever be for this team in that relay and the last relay we are ever going to swim together — it’s a really good moment.”
Host Club Captures Three Titles and Southern California Record (Irvine)
Irvine Novaquatics, the host of the west competition, burst through on the competition’s opening day. Three individuals from Irvine Novaquatics posted top-3 performances: Teagan O’Dell (first, women’s 100m freestyle, 55.82), Ella Ristic (third, women’s 100m freestyle, 56.40), Jesse Novak (first, men’s 100m freestyle, 49.46). The team then capped off the night with a first-place finish in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, where their 3:19.61 was good for a new Local Swimming Committee record and was the only time under 3:23 in the field.
Weinstein Continues Momentum (Greensboro)
At 14 years old, Claire Weinstein was the second-youngest athlete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming field this past June. The young distance freestyler continued to impress, this time in a close finish in the 800m freestyle in the East field.
Weinstein added another strong swim in the event to her resume, touching first in 8:36.46, just three one-hundredths ahead of Cavan Gormsen (Wantagh, N.Y./Long Island Aquatic Club).
“In the 800 I don’t usually have a plan; I usually base it off the people I’m racing,” Weinstein said. “I tried to get out in front and see if I could keep it up. Usually when I go my best times in my 800, I go out fast and almost die, but not really. Try to keep it the whole way.”
Competition continues through August 7.