The 2026 Sun Devil Open, a swimming extravaganza held at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe, Arizona, has provided a platform for emerging talents and seasoned veterans alike to showcase their prowess in the pool. Among the standout performances, Andy Dobrzanski's 1:00.49 in the 100 breaststroke is particularly noteworthy. This time not only marks a new personal best for Dobrzanski but also highlights the competitive nature of the event.
Dobrzanski's achievement is all the more impressive given that it shaved half a second off his previous best of 1:01.03, achieved at the same meet last year. This swim would have earned him a spot in the 'A' final at the United States Nationals, where he would have finished 7th overall. It's a testament to his dedication and the competitive spirit of the event.
In contrast, the women's 100 breaststroke was won by Carrie Kramer of the University of Arizona, who clocked a time of 1:12.19. This was a full second faster than her previous best of 1:13.38, set last May. The race was a display of the competitive edge in women's swimming, with Kramer emerging victorious.
Another standout performance came from Adam Chaney, who won the men's 50 backstroke in 25.09. This was one of his fastest performances ever in the event, despite his lifetime best of 24.75 from last year in June. Chaney's performance was a testament to his resilience and the competitive spirit of the meet.
However, Chaney's triumph was short-lived in the 100 backstroke final, where he was disqualified after the video showed him finishing just ahead of Alex Desangles, from the University of Arizona. Desangles touched in 55.19, while Chaney's lifetime best is 53.08 from the 2024 Olympic Trials, and Desangles has a best of 54.09 from June of 2025. This disqualification raises questions about the fairness of the judging process and the importance of video evidence in such cases.
On the women's side, Marie Wattel and Julia Ullmann both picked up their second individual event wins of the meet. Wattel won the women's 200 freestyle with a time of 2:00.11, more than two seconds ahead of her teammate Grace Lindberg, who finished in 2:02.34. Wattel's best stands at 1:58.83 from June of 2023, while Lindberg dropped two tenths from her previous best of 2:02.69, set in June.
In the women's 100 fly, Julia Ullmann swam 59.78 to come out ahead of the rest of the field by more than a second. Her swim was just off her lifetime best of 59.32, which she set in June of 2024. These performances underscore the depth of talent in women's swimming and the competitive spirit that drives athletes to push their limits.
Other individual event winners included Emma Harvey (UN) in the women's 50 back with a time of 28.78, Eleaunah Phillips (SUN) in the women's 400 IM with a time of 4:57.75, Reece Grady (SUN) in the men's 400 IM with a time of 4:26.96, Filip Senc-Samardzic (SUN) in the men's 100 fly with a time of 54.19, Grant House (SUN) in the men's 200 free with a time of 1:48.60, and Gerda Szilagyi (SUN) in the women's 100 back with a time of 1:02.78.
In conclusion, the 2026 Sun Devil Open has been a showcase of swimming excellence, with athletes pushing the boundaries of their capabilities and the competitive spirit of the event. As we reflect on the performances, it's clear that the meet has provided a platform for emerging talents and seasoned veterans alike to shine. The future of swimming looks bright, with these athletes leading the way.
