Two Meet Records Fall In Second Prelims Session Of 2018 Pan Pacific Championships

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Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

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The second session of the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships will continue after a first day of fast swims at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Tokyo. The meet runs from Aug 9-14 and features the following federations: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Cook Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, New Zealand, Oman, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Thailand and the United States of America.

The second day of prelims saw two new meet record in the 100 backstroke, with Kylie Masse and Ryan Murphy both smashing the old records to set season bests and lead all qualifiers for tonight’s finals. Simone Manuel also led an incredibly tight field in the women’s 100 free, which should be an exciting event to kick off the second night of finals at Pan Pacs. Check out the recap below for all event results.

Heat Sheets/Live Results

Live Timing

Women’s 100 Free

Simone Manuel led all qualifiers in the women’s 100 free with a 53.23. Just behind her was Australian Cate Campbell in 53.27, who just last night became the first woman to swim under 51 seconds on a 100 free relay split.

Mallory Comerford was the second American and third overall qualifier in 53.35, while Canadian Taylor Ruck was just a few more hundredths back in fourth (53.34). Australian Shayna Jack was fifth in 53.61 to give the Aussies two in the A final.

Aussie Emma McKeon was sixth in 53.97, but because of the two country limit in the A final will not be in the top heat tonight. Canadian Kayla Sanchez tied with American Margo Geer (54.02) for the seventh spot out of finals, although Geer will also be in the B final with McKeon.

Kelsi Worrell also got her meet underway with a 54.09 swim in prelims, while Katie McLaughlin continued her strong meet with a best time of 54.14. Notably, Japanese record holder and last night’s silver medalist in the 200 free, Rikako Ikee, was tied with McLaughlin in 10th this morning. She will sneak into the A final due to the two athletes per country limit.

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Men’s 100 Free

The United States’ Zach Apple pulled off another unexpected number one seed in the 100 free in prelims, putting up the top time of 48.03. Just behind him was Caeleb Dressel in 48.13, which is the fastest the Florida sprinter has been this season.

Locked out of the A final in third was American Blake Pieroni (48.21). Australian Olympic gold medalist Kyle Chalmers was the fastest non-American qualifier this morning, just behind Pieroni in 48.23. Joining him in the A final will be Pedro Spajari of Brazil (48.38), who was sandwiched between Chalmers and another Aussie, Jack Cartwright (48.43).

Marcelo Chierighini was the second Brazilian in with a 48.43. The A final will be rounded out with Japanese teammates Katsumi Nakamura (48.56) and Shinri Shioura (48.68). Notably, American Nathan Adrian was 8th in 48.56, but will not make the A final as he was the fourth fastest American.

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Women’s 200 Butterfly

The Americans went 1-2 in the prelims of the 200 fly, with Hali Flickinger leading the way in 2:07.05. That was a more controlled morning swim than her U.S. Open record setting 200 fly in the prelims at U.S. Nationals a couple weeks ago, but was more than enough to get her the top seed here.

In second was Katie Drabot in 2:08.40. That was also about a second and a half off her morning swim from Nationals. Drabot and Flickinger were the only swimmers under 2:09 in the field.

Qualifying third and fourth were Japan’s Sachi Mochida (2:09.47) and Suzuka Hasegawa (2:09.73). Australian Laura Taylor was fifth in 2:09.88, and was followed by two Canadians: Danielle Hanus (2:11.61) and Mabel Zavaros (2:12.97).

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Men’s 200 Butterfly

Jack Conger led all qualifiers through the heats of the 200 fly, finishing in a season best 1:55.18. That is .03 than his swim at Nationals that tied him for third at that meet. American Zach Harting, who was second ahead of Conger at Nationals, was second again in prelims with a 1:55.28.

In third and within striking distance was Japan’s Daiya Seto in 1:55.57, while Brazil’s Leonardo De Deus was also under 1:56 to finish fourth in 1:55.99. Yuya Yajima was fifth in 1:56.16 to put two Japanese swimmers in the A final.

American Justin Wright, who was the national champion in this event just two weeks ago, was about two seconds off his season best from that meet to finish sixth here and be forced into the B final as the third American. The rest of the top 8 will include Canada’s Mack Darragh (1:57.10), Australia’s David Morgan (1:57.12), and New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt (1:57.36).

Notably, American Chase Kalisz, who was last night’s gold medalist in the 400 IM, had a rough prelims swim of 1:58.91 to miss a spot in the A final.

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Women’s 100 Backstroke

Canadian Kylie Masse pulled off somewhat of an upset to set a new championship record in the 100 backstroke and lead all qualifiers ahead of world record holder Kathleen Baker. Masse broke the old Pan Pacs record of 58.84, formerly held by Australian Emily Seebohm, with her top time of 58.29.

Just behind her was Baker in 58.41, which was just 4-tenths off of her world record from a couple weeks ago. Seebohm, who broke her own record in an earlier heat, was third in 58.79. American Regan Smith was fourth through the heats in 59.27, followed closely by Japan’s Natsumi Sakai (59.45).

Olivia Smoliga was the third American in 59.47, and will be swimming in the B final tonight. The second Australian in the A final will be Kaylee McKeown (59.91), while Japan’s Anna Konishi (1:00.30) and Canada’s Kennedy Goss (1:00.93) will also be in the top 8.

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Men’s 100 Backstroke

American Ryan Murphy followed up Kylie Masse’s Championship record with one of his own, breaking Matt Grever’s previous record of 52.91 with a 52.19. That’s a big season best for Murphy, and only 3-tenths off of his world record from the Rio Olympics.

Qualifying second was Grevers, over a second back from Murphy in 53.27. Hometown swimmer Ryosuke Irie was third in 53.68.

American Michael Andrew, who is swimming this as a bonus event in Tokyo, was third fourth here in 53.69, which beats his best time from 2015 by more than a second. Tied with him was another American, Justin Ress, with Australian Mitch Larkin qualifying as the next swimmer through although he was back in sixth with a 53.73.

Canadian Marcus Thormeyer (53.88) will also be in tonight’s A final, as will teammate Javier Acevedo (54.13).

Notably, Americans had six swimmers in the top 10 in this event, with Jacob Pebley (53.96) and Austin Katz (54.17) locked out in eighth and tenth.

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