This week, many of the sport’s top up-and-comers will compete within walking distance of Tampa Bay in the 2019 ISCA TYR International Senior Cup. Featuring three Olympic Trials qualifiers and numerous hopefuls, the Sunshine State presents a season finale-style competition, open to hundreds of swimmers from around the country and beyond.

Beginning with the timed final events on July 30, the championship offers a full-fledged prelim-final format through August 3 at the North Shore Aquatic Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. While swimmers look ahead to the 2020 Olympic push, the meet format reflects the recently completed FINA World Championships, including stroke 50s and mixed relays. 

Swimmers come from 18 different states, spanning the entire country, along with Canada and the Cayman Islands. The YMCA of the Triangle Area Swim Team, with 60 swimmers, boasts the largest contingent competing. Among the big names competing are Noah Bowers, Olivia Bray, and Khalil Fonder, who have all qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in Omaha. 

Bray, from the powerhouse Virginia Gators, is the top-seed in every race she is entered in. She boasts qualifying standard seed times in the 100 butterfly and backstroke. Committed to swim at the University of Texas, she is within striking distance of cuts in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle. Bray is a large favorite to win the female high point. Also from the Virginia Gators, Bowers is the favorite to claim the men’s highpoint award as he enters as top-seed in five different events plus three other medal seeds. The NC State commit looks to pick up new qualifying time in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 200 freestyle to add to the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. 

Gators teammate and current Arizona State Sundevil, Fonder leads the field in the 50 and 100 butterfly, his only current Olympic Trials cut. He is seeded in the thick of competition in the 50 and 100 freestyle and backstroke. 

Other swimmers to keep an eye on are also shooting to claim a spot in the Olympic Trials. Auburn Tiger Carly Cummings is top-seeded in five different events and has best times quicker than the current Olympic Trials standards. She is the biggest threat to Bray for highpoints.

Caroline Kulp is approaching qualifying times in multiple events while being seeded in the top-three in five events. She is joined by Elizabeth Boeckman, of Chelsea Piers, as an event top-seed close to making the trials. Aleksandra Olesiak, Katie Breault, Sydney Vanovermeiren, and Robin Chandler are other swimmers with seed times dangerously close to making the Olympic Trials on the women’s side.

For the men, David Quirie from Canada and Lucas Jackson of SNOW Swimming are top-seeded in multiple events. Seith Jackson, Samuel Oliver, and Caleb Kravitz are also seeded with the top spot each.

Reserved final swims for 16 and under swimmers feature an array of talent. Representing Nepean Kanata Barracudas, Megan Wheeler (15) ranks third in the 100 and 200 backstrokes. She sits as a top competitor in the 200 and 400 individual medleys as well. Qishuo Zhang (14) of the Virginia Gators has seeded second 800 and 1500 freestyles, along with in the top-ten for the 200 and 400. 

On the men’s side, 3 sixteen-year-old swimmers are positioned to place well in multiple events among others looking to steal a podium finish. Entered in eight events total, Nepean Kanata Barracudas’ Colton Milne leads the pack into the 200 breaststroke. He is also seeded in the top-five of the 50 and 100 breaststrokes. 

Kyle Brown of West Hartford Aquatic Team in Connecticut enters in the top-ten of four events, including fourth in the 200 individual medley. Chelsea Piers’ Tyler Sicignano is seeded fourth in the 200 butterfly in addition to three other high seeds.

Entries for relay events are dominated by two teams. For the men, with intriguing performances from Bowers and Fonder, the Virginia Gators lead the way in all five relay events. Chelsea Piers of Connecticut enters as the women’s top seed in four events, leaving the 800 freestyle relay to the Virginia Gators. 

Preliminary sessions begin at 8:30 A.M. EST and finals start at 5 P.M. EST with full streaming coverage on FloSwimming.