Saturday, August 12, 2023
U.S. Women Post Three Wins on Day Two of LEN European U23 Swimming Championships
The inaugural LEN European U23 Swimming Championships rolled into day two at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Center in Dublin, Ireland. USA Swimming women were in top form, posting three first-place finishes tonight. Additionally, the Americans took home three second-place finishes and one third-place finish in today’s action.
Athletes are listed below with their overall finish and time in the finals. The United States is one of three non-European nations competing at this event and are awarded ceremonial green medals if they place. Gold, silver and bronze medals are only awarded to LEN member nations, so only to the first, second and third-place European competitors in the race. However, the LEN athletes and non-LEN athletes are standing shoulder to shoulder in the ceremony to recognize their performances, in a strong display of international sportsmanship.
Emma Sticklen (Katy, Texas/Katy Aquatics/University of Texas) was the first-place finisher in the women’s 200m butterfly in a time of 2:08.50. She entered this race heavily favored as the reigning NCAA champion in the 200y butterfly event. Her qualification time was 2.56 faster than the next athlete. She won the event by 1.23.
“It feels really good,” Sticklen said. “The 200 fly is my baby, so I’m just really excited about it. I think (my underwaters) are really critical. I definitely use it to my advantage because I know that no one really does that in a 200 fly. I’ve gotten a lot better at the swimming part but have always kept the same underwater strategy. It’s just helped me so much.”
Shortly after, Isabelle Stadden (Blaine, Minn./California Aquatics) was the top finisher in the women’s 100m backstroke in a time of 59.27. Her time ranks as the seventh-fastest in the world this year.
“I think (yesterday’s second-place finish in the 50m backstroke) made me want it a little bit more,” Stadden said. “It was kind of an interesting one since I had three 100 backs going into it, and just got to fine-tune some things and give it my all tonight. The 200 (backstroke) has always been my baby so I’m just excited to get a go at that again.”
Justina Kozan (Brea, Calif./Mission Viejo Nadadores/USC) completed her individual medley sweep with her win in the women’s 400m event (4:40.97). Her time ranks as the ninth-fastest in the world this year.
“Feels pretty good,” Kozan said of her race. “It was a great race and I love the IM. I train a lot of freestyle and know I’m prepared for it, so when it comes down to freestyle, I’m not really nervous because I know I have the energy for it.”
Kaitlyn Dobler (Portland, Ore./Trojan Aquatics Swim Club/The Dolphins Portland) finished second in the women’s 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:06.70, just .01 behind gold medalist Mona McSharry of Ireland. Grace Cooper (Oswego, Ill./Delta Aquatics/University of Texas) finished second in the women’s 50m freestyle in a time of 24.84. Julia Dennis (Oxford, Miss./Shockwave Aquatics/University of Louisville) closed the night with her second-place finish in the women’s SKINS 50m freestyle in a time of 26.66.
Third-place finisher Rex Maurer (Pasadena, Calif./Rose Bowl Aquatics) set a new personal best in the men’s 400m freestyle with his time of 3:47.63.
Complete results from the LEN European U23 Swimming Championships can be found here.
Approximately 400 athletes from 42 federations are competing in over 1,100 races contested over the three-day event. USA Swimming is grateful to Swim Ireland and LEN (European Aquatics) for allowing American swimmers to compete alongside the Europeans in this meet for athletes under the age of 23.
Competition concludes tomorrow. A complete schedule of events can be found here. Prelims start at 4:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. local time) and finals start at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time). The competition can be viewed on the LEN YouTube channel.
Keep up with all the latest USA Swimming news by following @usaswimming on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check out our News Notebook which details programs, athletes and clubs that have made the headlines.
Athletes are listed below with their overall finish and time in the finals. The United States is one of three non-European nations competing at this event and are awarded ceremonial green medals if they place. Gold, silver and bronze medals are only awarded to LEN member nations, so only to the first, second and third-place European competitors in the race. However, the LEN athletes and non-LEN athletes are standing shoulder to shoulder in the ceremony to recognize their performances, in a strong display of international sportsmanship.
Emma Sticklen (Katy, Texas/Katy Aquatics/University of Texas) was the first-place finisher in the women’s 200m butterfly in a time of 2:08.50. She entered this race heavily favored as the reigning NCAA champion in the 200y butterfly event. Her qualification time was 2.56 faster than the next athlete. She won the event by 1.23.
“It feels really good,” Sticklen said. “The 200 fly is my baby, so I’m just really excited about it. I think (my underwaters) are really critical. I definitely use it to my advantage because I know that no one really does that in a 200 fly. I’ve gotten a lot better at the swimming part but have always kept the same underwater strategy. It’s just helped me so much.”
Shortly after, Isabelle Stadden (Blaine, Minn./California Aquatics) was the top finisher in the women’s 100m backstroke in a time of 59.27. Her time ranks as the seventh-fastest in the world this year.
“I think (yesterday’s second-place finish in the 50m backstroke) made me want it a little bit more,” Stadden said. “It was kind of an interesting one since I had three 100 backs going into it, and just got to fine-tune some things and give it my all tonight. The 200 (backstroke) has always been my baby so I’m just excited to get a go at that again.”
Justina Kozan (Brea, Calif./Mission Viejo Nadadores/USC) completed her individual medley sweep with her win in the women’s 400m event (4:40.97). Her time ranks as the ninth-fastest in the world this year.
“Feels pretty good,” Kozan said of her race. “It was a great race and I love the IM. I train a lot of freestyle and know I’m prepared for it, so when it comes down to freestyle, I’m not really nervous because I know I have the energy for it.”
Kaitlyn Dobler (Portland, Ore./Trojan Aquatics Swim Club/The Dolphins Portland) finished second in the women’s 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:06.70, just .01 behind gold medalist Mona McSharry of Ireland. Grace Cooper (Oswego, Ill./Delta Aquatics/University of Texas) finished second in the women’s 50m freestyle in a time of 24.84. Julia Dennis (Oxford, Miss./Shockwave Aquatics/University of Louisville) closed the night with her second-place finish in the women’s SKINS 50m freestyle in a time of 26.66.
Third-place finisher Rex Maurer (Pasadena, Calif./Rose Bowl Aquatics) set a new personal best in the men’s 400m freestyle with his time of 3:47.63.
Complete results from the LEN European U23 Swimming Championships can be found here.
Approximately 400 athletes from 42 federations are competing in over 1,100 races contested over the three-day event. USA Swimming is grateful to Swim Ireland and LEN (European Aquatics) for allowing American swimmers to compete alongside the Europeans in this meet for athletes under the age of 23.
Competition concludes tomorrow. A complete schedule of events can be found here. Prelims start at 4:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. local time) and finals start at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time). The competition can be viewed on the LEN YouTube channel.
Keep up with all the latest USA Swimming news by following @usaswimming on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check out our News Notebook which details programs, athletes and clubs that have made the headlines.