MEDIA COVERAGE
Live Results: Meet Mobile
Live Updates via X: @fresnostateswim
Meet Program: Speedo Grand Challenge
US Olympic Trials: Time Standards
World Aquatics: Time Standards
FRESNO, Calif.- Four Bulldogs will make their way down south to Irvine for the Speedo Grand Challenge hosted by Nova Aquatics at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center from May 24-26.
SPEEDO GRAND CHALLENGE
The Speedo Grand Challenge is a USA Swimming sanctioned meet, in a long-course prelims-finals format. The preliminary session will begin at 8:30 a.m. with finals set to start at 5:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. This meet is seeded in an A/B Flight format, where the B Flight will swim 30 minutes following the conclusion of the A Flight.
The top four qualifiers in each event advance to the Championship Final; there will be an "A" and "B" consolation final for the next 16 qualifying competitors. The finals of the 800 free will consist of a single Championship Final of the top 8 swimmers from the preliminary
heats. The order of competition for the finals session will be "B" consolation, "A" consolation and Championship final. The top 8 finalists in the 7-12 year old events advance to the Championship finals.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
With only 66 days till the Olympics games in Paris and less than a month out for countries to select their respected teams. The Speedo Grand Challenge grants another opportunity for swimmers to achieve an Olympic cut. This is one of the final chances for American based swimmers to earn their ticket trials, as the qualifying period closes on June 4, 2024 and US trials set for June 15-23, 2024 in Indianapolis. International swimmers are allowed a longer stretch of time to achieve a qualifying time standards as their qualifying period ends on Jun 23, 2024.
THE LINEUP
Julia Matney, Allie Byrne, Aliz and Laura Kalmar will represent the Bulldogs this weekend in Irvine.
Matney looks to grab cuts in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle
Bryne is looking to time in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
Matney sits just 1.2 seconds off of the US time standard in the 100 butterfly
Byrne sits just two seconds over the US time standard in the 100 breaststroke
International swimmers, Aliz and Laura Kalmar, will take another route to achieve their Olympic aspirations. Needing to earn a qualifying World Aquatics 'A' standard cut to represent Hungary in the Olympic games. Aliz is a second shy off of the Olympic consideration time in both of her breaststroke events, earning a confederation time opens the door for another chance at an automatic qualifying time at European championships in mid-June.
A LOOK BACK ON THE SEASON
This season was one for the books, with two of the four swimmers competing in Irvine adding their names to the record board.
Aliz Kalmar saw the 100 breaststroke program record fall three times this season, twice of which were broken at Mountain West Championship. Aliz also earned herself a MW Swimmer of the Week tab and an All-MW nod.
Laura Kalmar broke a seven-year Fresno State Aquatic Center record in the 1000 Freestyle with a time of 10:07.65 in the final home meet of the season
Matney and Byrne both saw personal and season best at Mountain West Championships in their respective events. Matney saw a sixth place finish in the 100 butterfly, along with a third place podium finish in the 200 freestyle relay.