Cordes Breaks Three Records On Day Four Of World Team Trials

By Sharon Robb

July 1, 2017—Kevin Cordes swept the breaststroke events after breaking the American, U.S. Open and meet records in the 100-meter breaststroke Friday night at the Phillips 66 National Championships and World Team Trials on at Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Cordes, swimming unattached, won the event in 58.74 lowering Cody Miller’s American record of 58.87 and Adam Peaty’s U.S. Open record of 58.86. He also broke his own meet record of 58.94.

“I’m just happy that I get the chance to swim it again and represent the U.S. at the World Championships,” Cordes said.

“I think I’ll take everything I learned from this meet, the good and the bad, and work through it the next couple of weeks, get ready and get excited again.”

Cordes, who also won the 200-meter breaststroke, is now ranked second in the world.

Cordes is being coached by Sergio Lopez, now coaching at Auburn. Cordes had travelled to Singapore to train with Lopez when he was coaching the Singapore national team before getting the Auburn job.

“What a great meet for Kevin Cordes,” Lopez posted on his Facebook page. “I am very proud of Kevin for staying the course and being able to stay calm through this meet.

“Personally, I am very thankful that he is trusting the process and allowing me to learn as we move forward. Also very thankful to my boss Brett Hawke for giving us this chance to be part of the amazing Auburn family.

“Kevin took three good steps forward to Tokyo 2020 and a good boost of confidence for the next challenge in a couple of weeks at FINA Worlds in Budapest.”

Coral Springs Swim Club’s Alex Evdokimov of Louisville was eighth in the B Final in 1:02.39 after going 1:01.82 in prelims. He was the highest Florida Gold Coast finisher.

Other Friday winners were:

Katie Ledecky won the 400-meter freestyle in 3:58.44, the third fastest time ever and meet and U.S. Open records

Zane Grothe, training in Indiana, won the men’s 400-meter freestyle in 3:44.43.

Lilly King added the 100-meter breaststroke win to her 50- and 200-meter breaststroke victories in a meet record 1:04.95.

Kathleen Baker won her second event, the 100-meter backstroke in a U.S. open and course record-breaking time of 58.57, breaking Missy Franklins’ records of 58.67 set in 2013.

Fan favorite and veteran Olympian Matt Grevers, 32, knocked off Ryan Murphy to win the 100-meter backstroke in 52.71. Murphy was 0.31 seconds behind in 53.02.

The winners of each event qualify for worlds with runners-up also likely to make the team through a selection process.

The five day meet concludes on Saturday. Saturday’s events are: women’s 1500 meter freestyle, men’s 800-meter freestyle, women’s and men’s 200-meter individual medley and 50-meter freestyles. NBC is broadcasting a tape-delay show on Sunday, 1-3 p.m., with Rowdy Gaines.

FLORIDA GOLD COAST RESULTS

Women’s 400-meter freestyle: 52. Mary Smutny, AquaKids Sharks 4:19.86.

Men’s 400-meter freestyle: 57. Luke Smutny, AquaKids Sharks 4:02.82.

Women’s 100-meter breaststroke: 21. Emily Kopas, Michigan 1:10.34.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke: 12. Alex Evdokimov, Coral Springs Swim Club 1:01.82; B Final, 8. Alex Evdokimov 1:02.39.

FRIDAY RESULTS

Women’s 400-meter freestyle: 1. Katie Ledecky, Stanford 3:58.44, meet, U.S. Open records, 2. Leah Smith, Cavaliers 4:03.77, 3. Sierra Schmidt, Club Wolverine 4:07.92.

Men’s 400-meter freestyle: 1. Zane Grothe, Badger 3:44.43, 2. Clark Smith, Texas 3:45.91, 3. Townley Haas, Nova Aquatic 3:46.41.

Women’s 100-meter breaststroke: 1. Lilly King, Indiana 1:04.95, 2. Katie Meili, New York Athletic Club 1:05.51, 3. Bethany Galat, Texas A&M 1:06.72.

Men’s 100-meter breaststroke: 1. Kevin Cordes, Unattached 58.74, meet, U.S. Open, American records, 2. Cody Miller, Badger 59.11, 3. Nicolas Fink, Athens Bulldogs 59.40.

Women’s 100-meter backstroke: 1. Kathleen Baker, TE 58.57, 2. Olivia Smoliga, Athens Bulldogs 59.17, 3. Hannah Stevens, UMIZ 59.74.

Men’s 100-meter backstroke: 1. Matt Grevers, Tucson Ford 52.71, 2. Ryan Murphy, Cal Aquatics 53.02, 3. Justin Ress, Wolfpack 53.38.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

Donahue Comes Up Short At U.S. Olympic Trials; SOFLO’s Golding Competes In Second Event On Tuesday

By Sharon Robb

June 27, 2016—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Claire Donahue gave it all she had but fell short in her first attempt at making her second Olympic team Monday night at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.

Swimming in Lane One, Donahue went out fast with the field in the opening 50 meters but was unable to maintain her sprinter speed in the back half of the race.

Donahue, 27, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist making her third Trials appearance, finished fifth in 58.81 at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. Her prelim time was 59.61 and semifinal time was 58.76.

Donahue has another shot when she competes in the opening round of the 200-meter butterfly on Wednesday morning.

Former University of Miami swimmer Kelsi Worrell, who transferred to University of Louisville, won the 100 butterfly and became the Cardinals’ first American Olympian in the program’s history.

Worrell, the American short course record holder, won in a lifetime-best 56.48, bettering her previous best by 4/10ths of a second. It was the second fastest time in the world this year and fifth-fastest all-time.

Vollmer, 28, defending Olympic gold medalist, American record holder, and new mother, was second in 57.21.

Vollmer and Worrell were one-two at the turn, but Worrell had a great turn off the wall and blew past Vollmer down the stretch. Even more amazing is Worrell, the oldest of six siblings, was 37th in 2012.

“This is a dream come true,” Worrell said. “I am in shock for sure. I was not expecting that to happen.”

WOMEN’S 400-METER FREESTYLE:

With the crowd on its’ feet, Katie Ledecky, 19, on world record pace for most of the race, fell short of breaking her own record but won the race and trip to Rio. Ledecky finished in 3:58.98 and Leah Smith was second in a best time 4:00.65, dropping two seconds.

“My coach just told me to go, just race, get up there and go,” Ledecky said. “I couldn’t be happier, I am so happy for Leah. We are going to crush it in Rio.”

Among Ledecky’s incredible credentials is the fact she is 15-for-15 in races for gold medals.

MEN’S 100-METER BREASTSTROKE:

The lights flickered and dimmed as the swimmers took off, but it didn’t seem to bother Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller, two more first-time Olympians. Cordes, who has been working with legendary coach Sergio Lopez in Singapore and training trip at South Florida Aquatic Club, won in 59.18. Miller was second in 59.26.

“I can’t believe it happened, I am so thankful,” Cordes said. “This is a dream come true. I have been working at it for a long time.”

Also in the breaststroke final, teenager Michael Andrew again lowered his national age group and world junior record with a fourth place finish in 59.82.

In the 200-meter freestyle semifinals, Ryan Lochte was third behind Connor Dwyer and Clark Smith in his heat and earned the fifth seed overall in 1:47.58.

Lochte, who missed a berth in the 400 IM on Sunday, had some incredible underwaters to compensate for a pulled groin which he had a pain shot for before he raced.

Dwyer, who is already on the team in the 400 freestyle, earned the top seed in 1:46.96. Jack Conger is the second seed in 1:47.15.

American short course record holder Lilly King earned the top seed for tonight’s 100-meter breaststroke final in 1:05.94. 2012 Olympian Breeja Larson was ninth in 1:07.62 and missed the final.

In the men’s 100-meter backstroke, David Plummer is the top seed for tonight’s final in 52.12, the fastest time in the world this year. Lochte won his semifinal race in 52.28 and is seeded second.

Olivia Smoglia is the No. 1 seed in the 100-meter backstroke in a best time 59.16. Michigan’s Clara Smiddy, longtime Florida Gold Coast swimmer for AquaKids Sharks, is fifth seed in 1:00.11 ahead of Olympic backstroke gold medalist Missy Franklin, seventh in 1:00.45 and 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin in 1:00.46. Former St. Andrew’s swimmer Tasija Karosas missed making finals, placing tenth in 1:00.79. “I didn’t expect to make semis let alone finals,” Smiddy said. “I just wanted to come in and go best times, enjoy the moment and have fun.”

SOFLO’s Kathleen Golding will compete in the 200-meter individual medley prelims on Tuesday, her second event of the Trials.

Tuesday’s events are women’s 200-meter freestyle prelim and semifinal; men’s 200-meter butterfly prelim and semifinal; women’s 200-meter individual medley prelims and semifinal; men’s 200-meter freestyle final; men’s 100-meter backstroke final; and women’s 100-meter breaststroke final.

NBC is broadcasting finals every night at 8 p.m. EST. USA swimming is live streaming prelims and finals at usaswimming.org.

MONDAY FINAL RESULTS

WOMEN

100-meter butterfly: 1. Kelsi Worrell, Louisville 56.48, 2. Dana Vollmer, Cal Aquatics 57.21, 3. Kendyl Stewart, NCA 58.22; FLORIDA GOLD COAST: 6. Claire Donahue, SOFLO 58.81, 35. Harper Bruens, Tenn/BRSC 1:00.28; 54. Jessica Nava, Pine Crest Swimming 1:00.78, 78. Angela Algee, Hurricanes Swimming 1:01.22

400-meter freestyle: 1. Katie Ledecky, Nation’s Capital 3:58.98, 2. Leah Smith, Cavaliers 4:00.65, 3. Cierra Runge, North Baltimore 4:07.04; FLORIDA GOLD COAST: 47. Megan Moroney, CAV/St. Andrew’s 4:16.91, 95. Niki Urquidi, Gulliver 4:24.57, 98. Casey Francis, PSU/Pine Crest 4:26.20.

MEN

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Kevin Cordes, Foxcatcher 59.18, 2. Cody Miller, Badger 59.26, 3. Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics 59.81; FLORIDA GOLD COAST: 10. Alex Evdokimov, CSSC 1:01.14/12. 1:01.14; 61. Kile Aukerman, SOFLO 1:03.00, best time.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

California Wins Team Title, Cordes Breaks Second American Record, Murphy Wins Second Title At NCAA Championships

By Sharon Robb

March 29, 2014

The University of California Bears came to swim Saturday night at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

By the third event on the final night of competition, the Bears knew the title was theirs.

Headed into the championship finals at the University of Texas’ Lee and Joe Jamail Swimming Center, only six points separated leader Texas and California but that all changed quickly after the first two events.

After a perfect dual-meet season and second consecutive conference title, California won its third team title in four years and fifth overall in the program’s history with 468.5 points.

Texas was second with 417.5 followed by Florida with 387 and defending champion Michigan fourth with 310. Florida State under first year coach Frankie Bradley finished 14th with 105 and University of Miami was 25th with 26 points, all in diving.

Cal had seven swimmers in the “A” finals and two in consolations. Texas had five in the “A” finals and five in consolations.

California freshman Ryan Murphy, 18, swept the backstroke events winning his second NCAA title in the 200-yard backstroke in an NCAA record 1:37.35, all but clinching the national title.

The Bolles alum and race favorite led from the start and was ahead of American record pace by half a second until the final five yards. Murphy also re-broke his 17-18 national age group record of 1:38.15.

Cal teammate Jacob Pedley was fourth in 1:39.59. Murphy and Pedley earned 35 points for the Bears. After the backstroke and mile, the Bears led Texas, 364.54-349.5.

“It’s all about the team title,” Murphy said. “We did everything we could do to contribute to the team. It was a great start to the evening. I hope we can keep rolling. It would be awesome if we did make a difference for the team title in this race.”

Arizona’s Kevin Cordes stole a little of California’s thunder with his second American record of the meet.

Cordes won the 200-yard breaststroke in an American, NCAA and U.S. Open record 1:48.66, breaking the record by 2/100ths of a second.

It was Cordes 11th American short course record in the last two years.

After the first 50, Cordes was a second ahead of American record pace, taking five strokes per 25. With clean walls and perfect streamline, he built a three-body length lead over some of the best breaststrokers in the world.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Cordes said. “It hasn’t really set in yet. I just go out there every day and try to improve. It’s just about different strategies, learning to swim and execute.”

After the breaststroke, Cal had a 412.5-370.5 lead.

In other championship races:

1,650-yard freestyle: Defending champion Connor Jaeger of Michigan led from wire-to-wire to win in a pool record 14:29.27. Cal senior Jeremy Bagshaw, who swam in an earlier heat, finished second in 14:39 to score 17 points for the Bears in their title run. After the event, California led Texas by 11, 329.5-318.5. Florida sophomore Arthur Frayler was third in 14:43.08.

100-yard freestyle: Brazilian Joao De Lucca of Louisville fought off fellow Brazilian Marcelo Chierighini of Auburn to win in 41.70. He is the first swimmer to sweep the 100 and 200 freestyle titles since Gustavo Borges accomplished the feat in 1995. Florida State senior and Florida Gold Coast swimmer Paul Murray was 20th in 42.70. Chierighini had broken the pool record in prelims in 41.52. Cal’s lead was 385.5-365.5 over Texas.

200-yard butterfly: South African Dylan Bosch, a sophomore at Michigan, knocked off Florida’s Marcin Cieslak to win in an NCAA and U.S. Open record of 1:39.33. Cieslak was second in 1:40.19. Florida State junior Connor Knight, a Florida Gold Coast swimmer, won the “B” final in 1:42.25.

“I had a pretty good feeling I could get it,” Bosch said. “This is the fastest meet in the world. It is crazy. I always thought I had a chance to get the record. I wanted to do it for my teammates. We all train together so well. Records are there to be broken. Just to be in the books and written into history is a great feeling.”

10-meter platform diving: Defending champion Nick McCrory of Duke nailed his final dive to make history as the only diver ever to win four consecutive NCAA platform titles. The Olympic bronze medalist finished with 454.85 that included a 10 on his final dive. Rafael Quintero of Arizona was second with 452.40 points.

“I was up there doing the math in my head what scores I had to average, I knew it was a tall order,” said McCrory, who scratched from 3-meter with an injury. “I tried to do my best. It was better than I thought when I hit the water. For me this is huge. I couldn’t ask for a better way to go out at Duke.”

400-yard freestyle relay: With two freshmen duking it out on the anchor leg for Auburn and N.C. State, Auburn, led by freshman Kyle Darmody knocked off a stacked field to win the final event of the night in a meet record 2:48.33. Cal was second in 2:49.48 and N.C. State, with freshman Areas Schiellerup on anchor leg, was third in 2:49.50.

In all, 56 schools and 270 participants—235 swimmers and 35 divers—competed in the three-day meet.

For those who would like to again watch the NCAA Men and Women Swimming and Diving Championships, ESPNU is re-broadcasting the women’s meet on April 2 at 9 p.m., April 3 at 11 p.m. and April 11 at 10 p.m. The men’s meet will be re-broadcast on April 9 at 8 p.m., April 10 at two times, 1 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Cordes Breaks NCAA, American U.S. Open Records On Day 2 Of NCAA Men’s Championships

Written by Sharon Robb

March 29, 2013

Kevin Cordes, a sophomore at Arizona, broke the NCAA, American, and U.S. Open records in the 100-yard breaststroke Friday night at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

Cordes has been working with Matt Grevers, Eric Hansen and other members of the Arizona coaching staff and it showed in front of a near-capacity crowd on its feet cheering him home.

Cordes won his first NCAA title in a record time of 50.74. His splits were 23.87 and 26.87. It was the third time this season Cordes improved his own American record. He had first lowered it in morning prelims in 50.93.

Michigan continues to lead the team standings headed in Saturday’s third and final day of competition. The Wolverines have 336 points, ahead of California with 301.5 and Arizona with 234.5. Florida jumped to fifth with 196.5 points.

In the biggest upset of the night, David Nolan knocked off two-time defending champion Tom Shields to win the 100-yard backstroke in 44.99. Shields was second in 45.21.

Stanford’s Tom Kremer broke a 26-year-old national age group record in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:33.07. Troy Dalbey held the record in 1:33.28. Kremer, a freshman, finished third in the “A” final. Kremer has dual citizenship but competes for Israel internationally. Joao De Lucca of Louisville won in 1:31.51.

Michigan won its first NCAA event title in the 200-yard medley in 1:22.27 with Miguel Ortiz, Bruno Ortiz, Sean Fletcher and Zach Turk. The old record of 1:22.36 was held by Auburn. Since the Ortiz brothers are citizens of Spain, Japan and Brazil the Wolverines could not be credited with an American record.

Florida qualified seven swimmers for finals, including two into the “A” finals. Sophomore Carlos Omana of Miami, the top Florida Gold Coast finisher, just missed the finals in the 400-yard individual medley finishing 17th in 3:45.87 and was first alternate. Florida teammate Sebastien Rousseau was disqualified in the IM for the back to breast turn.

Stanford’s Kris Ipsen defended his 3-meter diving title with a come-from-behind victory. Ipsen overtook leader Nick McCrory of Duke on the final dive to win with 450.60 points.

In the final event of the evening, Florida knocked off Michigan to win the 800-yard freestyle relay in 6:13.27 with freshman Pawel Werner, Sebastian Rousseau, Marcin Cieslak and Dan Wallace.

On Thursday’s opening night, Vlad Morozov had a 17.86 50-yard freestyle split on the 200-yard freestyle relay. It was the first time any swimmer has split under 18 seconds in a 50 freestyle in any kind of suit at any level. Even more amazing was that it was on USC’s third relay leg.

While being interviewed by local TV stations during the NCAA, USA Swimming national team director Frank Busch supported merging the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I meets and keeping them in Indianapolis.

“I believe Indianapolis should be the Omaha of college swimming,” said Busch, referring to the College World Series annually held in Omaha, Nebraska. “I believe the meet should be combined and the meet should be at Indianapolis every year.”

FRIDAY RESULTS

TEAM TOTALS: 1. Michigan 336, 2. California 301.5, 3. Arizone 234.5, 4. Southern California 212, 5. Florida 196.5, 6. Texas 192, 7. Stanford 169, 8. Auburn 167.5, 9. Indiana 151, 10. Georgia 106, 17. Louisville 44, 19. Florida State.

200-yard medley relay:

1.Michigan 1:22.27, 2. California 1:23.17, 3. Arizona 1:23.23, 10. Florida State 1:25.80, 13. Florida 1:26.02.

400-yard individual medley:

1.Chase Kalisz, Georgia 3:38.05, 2. Michael Weiss, Wisconsin 3:39.61, 3. Dan Wallace, Florida 3:39.87, 17. Carlos Omana, Florida 3:45.87, Sebastian Rousseau, Florida, DQ.

100-yard butterfly:

1.Tom Shields, California 44.59, 2. Marcin Cieslak, Florida 45.35, 3. Sean Fletcher, Michigan 45.54.

200-yard freestyle:

1.Joao De Lucca, Louisville 1:31.51, 2. Dimitry Colupaev, Southern Cal 1:32.74, 3. Tom Kremer, Stanford 1:33.07.

100-yard breaststroke

1.Kevin Cordes, Arizona 50.74, 2. Kevin Steel, Arizona 51.69, 3. Richard Funk, Michigan 51.84, 32. Renato Prono, Tennessee 54.14.

100-yard backstroke:

1.David Nolan, Stanford 44.99, 2. Tom Shields, California 45.21, 3. Eric Ress, Indiana 45.31.

3-meter springboard diving:

1.Kris Ipsen, Stanford 450.60, 2. Nick McCrory, Duke 440.40, 3. Darian Schmidt, Indiana 425.50.

800-yard freestyle relay:

1.Florida 6:13.27 (Pawel Werner, Sebastien Rousseau, Marcin Cieslak, Dan Wallace), 2. Michigan 6:15.54, 3. Southern California 6:15.94.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Arizona Breaks Two American Records On Day Two Of NCAA Swimming And Diving Championships

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

March 24, 2012

University of California at Berkeley is in the driver’s seat to defend its title at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday night in Federal Way, Wash.

The Golden Bears lead with 379.5 points while Texas is second with 343.5 points. Florida is seventh with 125, Louisville ninth with 110 and Florida State 20^th with 25 points.

Arizona freshman Kevin Cordes broke the American record in prelims and went on to win the 100-yard breaststroke. Seeded in 51.76, he broke the record in 51.32, breaking the previous mark of 51.35 set in 2010 by Northwestern’s Michael Alexandrov. Cordes went on to win in 51.71.

“It was good,” Cordes said. “The American record was my goal and I thought I would get it out of the way in prelims and bring it home. I’d like to carry this momentum into the 200 breaststroke. It’s a different race but I think I can handle it.”

Arizona also set an American record in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:23.53, bettering the previous record of 1:12.97 by Texas in 1:23.97. Winning relay members were sophomore Mitchell Friedemann, Cordes, junior Giles Smith and senior Adam Small.

Also in the relay, Florida Gold Coast’s Lake Lytal Lightning swimmer Brendon Andrews led off Louisville’s 200-yard medley relay that finished seven in 1:25.92. His split was 21.71.

Arizona senior Austen Thompson won the 400-yard individual medley in 3:39.15. Florida freshman Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez was seventh in 3:45.12, earning his first All-American honor.

California’s Thomas Shields won the 100-yard backstroke coming from behind in the last 25 yards to win in 44.86 ahead of Stanford freshman David Nolan in 45.53.

Dax Hill of Texas won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:32.51. The junior edged Dimitri Colupaev of Southern California in 1:32.91.

Hill was also a member of Texas’ 800-yard freestyle relay that won in 6:15.55 with Clay Youngquist, Kip Darmody and Neil Caskey just ahead of California in 6:15.70.

Calfornia junior Thomas Shields won the 100-yard butterfly in 44.76. University of Florida’s Marcin Cieslak took a bronze in the 100-yard butterfly in a career-best 45.86, the second-fastest time in Florida history.

In the men’s 3-meter springboard diving, Stanford freshman Kris Ipsen nailed his final dive for 86.70 points to knock off Texas’ Drew Livingston. He finished with 469.20 to give Stanford its first ever title in the event. Livingston was second with 454.25.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

 http://www.swim4soflo.com