The 2026 Sun Devil Open kicked off with a bang, and it's safe to say that the meet is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle. The highlight of the opening night was undoubtedly the men's 50 freestyle final, where Adam Chaney emerged victorious with a time of 22.10. This was his fastest 50 freestyle since the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024, and it's a testament to his incredible speed and determination. What makes this performance even more impressive is the fact that Chaney was competing against some of the best swimmers in the country, including Jonny Kulow, who finished just behind him in second place with a time of 22.36. This was a half-second improvement from Kulow's previous performance in June of last summer, showing that he's also on an upward trajectory. Patrick Sammon took the bronze medal with a time of 22.84, and Ilya Kharun, who finished in sixth place with a time of 23.28, will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
But it wasn't just the men's events that were exciting. The women's 50 freestyle final was a closely contested affair, with Marie Wattel taking the gold medal with a time of 25.28. Wattel's best time stands at 24.54 from June of 2021, so this performance was a significant improvement. However, it's worth noting that Wattel's competition, Albane Cachot, was just a fraction of a second behind her in second place with a time of 25.51. Cachot's previous best was 25.31 from July of 2024, so it seems that Wattel's performance was a slight edge over her rival.
The women's 200 IM was won by Julia Ullmann of the SUN team with a time of 2:16.98, and the men's 200 IM was taken by JT Ewing of the SUN team with a time of 2:04.61. These victories further showcase the depth of talent at this meet, with swimmers from various teams and backgrounds showcasing their skills and determination.
One of the most impressive performances of the night, however, came from Paige Downey, a 17-year-old swimmer from the Gold Medal Swim Club. Downey won two events on night one of the meet, setting top times in the 400 free and 1500 free. In the 400, she swam a time of 4:16.58, just missing her lifetime best of 4:16.42, which she swam at last summer's National Championships. This was a close call, but Downey's performance was still impressive, and it's clear that she's a swimmer to watch in the future.
Downey's performance in the 1500 freestyle was equally as impressive. She won the event in 16:38.89, which was 16 seconds off her lifetime best of 16:22.67 from August of 2025. This was a significant improvement, and it's clear that Downey is a swimmer who is constantly pushing herself to new heights. Her commitment to Indiana for the fall is a testament to her dedication and determination, and it will be interesting to see how she performs in the future.
In conclusion, the 2026 Sun Devil Open has kicked off with a bang, and it's clear that this meet is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle. With swimmers like Adam Chaney, Paige Downey, and Marie Wattel showcasing their incredible speed and determination, it's sure to be a meet that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. The competition is fierce, and the performances are impressive, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the meet unfolds.
