Anna Moesch Dials Up 50 Freestyle Best of 24.27 at AP Race London International
The fourth edition of AP Race London International began on Saturday, with action unfolding over three days at the London Aquatics Centre. The meet debuted in 2023 and has routinely attracted premier athletes, particularly from Great Britain. Of course, namesake Adam Peaty will be in action in the breaststroke events, while the United States has sent a strong contingent to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Here is a recap of Day One competition.
Anna Moesch Delivers Huge PR in 50 Freestyle
Coming off a spectacular collegiate season, in which she helped the University of Virginia to a sixth consecutive NCAA team title, Anna Moesch is now flourishing in the long-course pool. Moesch delivered a massive personal best in the 50-meter freestyle on Saturday, winning the event in a meet record of 24.27. That time easily bettered her previous best of 24.59, recorded earlier this month at the Fort Lauderdale Open.
Moesch is better known for her prowess in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, so a huge PR in the 50 freestyle is a positive indicator for what might come in her prime events. As Moesch moved to No. 2 in the world for the 2026 season, she easily defeated Czechia’s Barbora Janickova (24.74) and Great Britain’s Theodora Taylor (24.89).
With her new best time, Moesch is now the No. 9 American performer in history. She was also the freestyle anchor of an American 400 medley relay that was timed in 3:56.78, with Charlotte Crush on backstroke, Piper Enge on breaststroke and Audrey Derivaux handling the butterfly.
In the men’s 50 freestyle, the United States’ Jonny Kulow and Ireland’s Thomas Fannon were the lone athletes to break the 22-second barrier. Kulow grabbed the win in 21.91, with Fannon right behind in 21.98. Great Britain’s Matt Richards picked up third place in 22.16.
Adam Peaty Comes Through
The namesake athlete of the meet, Adam Peaty ended Day One individual competition by winning the 50 breaststroke in 26.79, one of two performances under the 27-second barrier. Peaty was followed in second place by American Alexei Avakov, who touched in 26.99. Third place was secured by British youngster Filip Nowacki, who went 27.31.
Peaty will be back in action on Sunday, when he contests the 100 breaststroke.
German Distance Dominance
The current depth of distance swimming in Germany is downright superb, and that fact was on display in the 1500 freestyle, where teenager Johannes Liebmann led a top-three sweep for his nation. Preparing for this summer’s European Championships, Liebmann took top honors in the 30-lap event with a mark of 14:45.56. That time handed the 19-year-old a comfortable margin over Florian Wellbrock (14:50.58) and Oliver Klemet (14:53.43), his training partners in Magdeburg. The United States’ Ryan Erisman was fourth, going 14:59.30.
The German tandem of Isabel Gose and Linda Roth produced a one-two finish in the opening event of the Night One session, with Gose claiming victory in the women’s 400 freestyle. Gose, a multi-time medalist on the international stage, earned the victory in 4:06.08, less than a second clear of Roth, who checked in at 4:06.89. Third place went to Great Britain’s Freya Colbert in 4:08.13.
British Women Excel
A three-time British champion in the event, Keanna Macinnes edged rising American star Audrey Derivaux for the title in the 200 butterfly. Macinnes, bound for the Commonwealth Games later this summer, earned her first-place finish in a time of 2:07.10, with Derivaux following in 2:07.41. A University of Texas commit, Derivaux was the top seed heading into the final, as she went 2:07.80 in prelims.
In the 50 backstroke, Lauren Cox surged to an easy win, as she was the lone athlete in the field to break the 28-second barrier. Cox touched the wall in 27.54, which supplied the veteran with a .65 margin over runnerup Tessa Giele (28.19) of the Netherlands.
Breaststroker Angharad Evans was in a class of her own in the 200-meter distance, prevailing in a time of 2:21.81. That mark was more than five seconds faster than runnerup Lena Ludwig (2:26.99). Evans currently ranks No. 1 in the world for 2026, off a 2:19.70 effort from the British Champs in April.
In Other Action…
Part of the University of Virginia contingent at the meet, David King picked up the narrowest of triumphs in the 200 backstroke, clipping Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank by .01. King registered a swim of 1:58.36, with Greenbank following in 1:58.37. They were joined under 2:00 by Britain’s Cameron Brooker, who went 1:59.40.
Britain’s Ed Mildred (51.58) cruised to first place in the men’s 100 butterfly while American Michael Hochwalt (4:16.20) topped Great Britain’s Max Litchfield (4:16.78) in the 400 individual medley.
