McKenzie Siroky Leads Strong Day for Team USA at Mare Nostrum Stop in Barcelona
Following a dominant showing in the 50-meter breaststroke at the Monaco leg of the Mare Nostrum Series, the United States’ McKenzie Siroky has now earned back-to-back triumphs in the 100 breaststroke during the tour, her second victory earned on Saturday in Barcelona. A University of Tennessee standout, Siroky clocked a time of 1:06.20 to move to No. 4 in the world rankings.
During the open leg of the series, Siroky easily maneuvered through five rounds of the 50 breaststroke, and she has maintained that momentum in Canet and Barcelona. In her most-recent victory, Siroky split 30.94 for her outgoing lap and came home in 35.26. She was followed in second place by Canada’s Alexanne Lepage, who checked in with a time of 1:06.78. Belarus’ Alina Zmushka was third in 1:06.84 while Russia’s Evgeniia Chikunova, the world-record holder in the 200 breaststroke, was fourth in 1:06.93.
On the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Siroky has emerged as a threat to nail down a berth to a home Games. More, with the retirement of Lilly King, Siroky has bolstered the United States with quality depth.
While Siroky walked away with a win in the 100 breaststroke, Team USA received a first-place finish from Quintin McCarty in the men’s 50 freestyle. The winner of that event in Monaco, McCarty clocked 21.70 to edge Serbia’s Andrej Barna, who went 21.78. Meanwhile, Patrick Sammon contributed to the American surge by defeating his foes in the 200 freestyle. Sammon was timed in 1:46.22, nearly two seconds ahead of Italian Carlos D’Ambrosio (1:48.02).
Erika Fairweather Claims 400 Freestyle Title
New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather turned in an impressive outing in the final of the 400 freestyle, as the 2024 world champion in the event came out on top in 4:01.75. Fairweather had company during her eight laps in the form of Argentina’s Agostina Hein, who was the runnerup in 4:02.99. Italian Simona Quadarella was third in 4:06.27.
Fairweather recently set a national record in the 200 freestyle and her form has looked strong as she prepares for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Caspar Corbeau Strong in 200 Breaststroke
The Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau put together a come-from-behind victory in the men’s 200 breaststroke, as he ran down Russia’s Kirill Prigoda on the last lap. At the final turn, Corbeau faced a .07 deficit to Prigoda, but a strong finish propelled the Dutchman to the wall in 2:08.50. Prigoda placed second in 2:09.56, his closing length of 33.73 more than a second slower than the 32.60 capper by Corbeau.
Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk and Canadian Taylor Ruck engaged in a tight battle in the women’s 50 butterfly, with Vanotterdijk escaping with the win in 25.88. That effort was a tenth quicker than Ruck, who touched in 25.98.
Ilya Kharun Stands Atop Podium
Edged by Hungarian Kristof Milak in the 100 butterfly in Canet, Ilya Kharun bested the field in the event in Barcelona as the only athlete to go under 52 seconds. Kharun put together a performance of 51.50, which was comfortably ahead of South African Chad le Clos, who went 52.27. Kharun built a .79 advantage over le Clos during the opening 50 meters and that early speed proved to be the difference.
Kharun will not compete internationally this summer while completing his sporting nationality switch from Canada to the United States. Kharun was a double bronze medalist in the butterfly events at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but announced earlier this year that he would change his representation to the United States.
In Other Action…
The runnerup in the 50 backstroke during the Canet stop, Canadian Ingrid Wilm moved up a step on the podium with an easy victory in the one-lap dash. Wilm was the lone swimmer to break the 28-second barrier, as her time of 27.58 was nearly a half-second clear of the 28.04 by American Leah Shackley, who won the 50 back at the Monaco leg. Shackley (2:09.74) was also second to a Canadian swimmer in the 200 backstroke, which was won by Madison Kryger in 2:09.53.
Another Canadian win was supplied by Mary-Sophie Harvey, who took the 200 individual medley in 2:09.45.
Sweden’s Victor Johansson was convincing winner in the 800 freestyle, as his mark of 7:49.43 was good for a five-second triumph over Romanian Andrei Theodor Proca (7:54.84), who last week set a national record in the 1500 freestyle. In the men’s 50 breaststroke, South African Michael Houlie led the way in 26.77, a swim that supplied an edge of Russia’s Ivan Kozhakin (26.88).
Hungarian Gabor Zombori cruised to the title in the men’s 400 individual medley behind a time of 4:17.14 while Russia’s Miron Lifintsev prevailed in the men’s 100 backstroke in 53.72. The home crowd had something to cheer about when Spain’s Laura Cabanes Garzas won the women’s 200 butterfly in 2:08.38.
