• Press Release

Katie Grimes picked up her third win of the meet and Abbey Weitzel won two sprints on night three of the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville on Friday. The long course meter competition takes place through Saturday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. 

Grimes’ victory came in the 200m butterfly (2:09.58). 

“I really enjoy the event,” Grimes said. “It’s something I wish I was a little bit better at. I’m trying to get myself to a point where I can contend for a team in that race. I’m under 2:10 for the first time so I’m excited about the result.” 

Weitzeil’s victories came in the 50m freestyle (24.74) and the 50m butterfly (26.50). 

“Racing 50s of stroke are super fun and we don’t get to do them often,” Weitzeil said after the butterfly. “Getting up and racing, doing something different for the nervous system is always good.” 

On the men’s side, David Curtiss won the 50m freestyle with a time of 21.97. Hunter Armstrong won the 100m backstroke, clocking a 52.68. 

“The mindset going in was focusing on the details, nailing everything Coach (Braden) Holloway had me focus on through practice,” Curtiss said. “It was about executing and that’s what I did.” 

Katie Ledecky picked up her second win of the meet in Friday’s 400m freestyle (4:00.20). Bella Sims (4:08.83) and Grimes (4:09.47) finished second and third, respectively. 

“The 400 free is a really fast event internationally right now,” Ledecky said. “I know I need to be on my game. Each time I race it at a meet like this, I try to learn something and build off each race.” 

Competition in Knoxville concludes on Saturday with prelims at 9 a.m. ET and finals at 6 p.m. ET.