Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Grimes Opens 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville with 800 Free Title
Katie Grimes opened the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville on Wednesday with an 800-meter freestyle victory. The long course meter competition takes place through Saturday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
The women’s event saw the Sandpiper of Nevada’s trio of Grimes, Claire Weinstein and Bella Sims fill out the top three. Grimes’ 8:27.73 bested the field by nearly five seconds ahead of Weinstein’s 8:32.60 and Sims’ 8:34.04.
“Usually, my first swim of the meet feels rocky, so I’m looking to change that, and I think that swim was an okay start to the meet,” Grimes said. “I was a little slower than where I wanted to be but that (time) was right around where I was just before Worlds last summer, so I think it’s okay for now.”
The swim marks Grimes’ first long course 800 free since the Phillips 66 International Team Trials in April 2022.
The men’s event went to Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, who touched in 7:53.10. Hafnaoui edged out Bobby Finke (7:56.97) for silver and Charlie Clark (7:58.16) for bronze.
Competition resumes Thursday with an exciting queue of intriguing events, including a men’s 200 free matchup of Kieran Smith and Drew Kibler as well as a women’s 50 back field highlighted by Regan Smith, Kylie Masse, Katharine Berkoff, Olivia Smoliga and more.
Prelims begin at 9 a.m. ET on www.usaswimming.org/watch while finals will be streamed on Peacock beginning at 6 p.m. ET.