Katie Ledecky Clocks Lifetime Best During Day 1 Prelims of Arena Pro Swim Series

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AUSTIN – NCAP’s Katie Ledecky started off her 2015 long course campaign in a big way with a lifetime best and a pair of top times at the Arena Pro Swim Series here in Austin.

The women’s 100-meter free kicked off with a loaded finale that included a lifetime best from reigning Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year Katie Ledecky.

Ledecky threw down a 54.89 to lead qualifying, clearing her previous best time of 54.96 from last summer’s nationals as she continues to put a bit more focus on the 100 free.

The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu, fresh off an unreal 2014 FINA World Cup season and a dominant Indian Ocean Meet, took second in 54.93 with NYAC’s Megan Romano claiming third in 55.27.

Ledecky doubled up in the women’s 400-meter free with what is a pedestrian time for the distance queen. She clocked a pool record of 4:04.36 to set herself up for a potential second gold tonight.

That’s her 11th-best swim ever, as she’s already clocked four times under 4:00 including her world record of 3:58.37 from the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.

Hosszu picked up her second runner-up seed with a 4:10.75, while A&M’s Sarah Henry (4:13.67) and Bluefish’s Elizabeth Beisel (4:13.79) will give chase for the third spot on the podium.

Tucson Ford’s Matt Grevers followed with the only sub-50 of the morning in the men’s 100-meter free. He clocked a 49.70 to lead qualifying, while California Ryan Murphy took second in 50.08. Texas’ Joseph Schooling checked into third in 50.12.

They’ll have their hands full with Nathan Adrian, who cruised into finals with a sixth-place 50.28.

Notable A final misses were Ryan Lochte with a 14th-place 50.68 and Anthony Ervin with an 18th-place 51.08.

California’s Marina Urzainqui hit the wall in 2:28.76 to lead the way in the women’s 200-meter breast, while Aggie Breeja Larson clocked a time of 2:29.18. SwimMAC’s Micah Lawrence also cleared 2:30 with a third-place time of 2:29.97 with all three being capable of a whole lot more this evening.

California picked up another top seed in the 200 breaststrokes as Josh Prenot clocked a 2:15.15 to pace prelims for the men. NCAP’s Andrew Seliskar demolished his lifetime best in the event with a second-seeded 2:15.92. That swim smashed his 2:17.62 from last year’s edition of the then Arena Grand Prix here in Austin. Streamline’s Thiago Parravici earned third-place honors in 2:16.33.

Michael Andrew, the 15-year-old professional swimmer, put up a personal best with a sixth-seeded time of 2:17.73. That’s better than his 2:18.75 from a time trial at Juniors in December, and puts him another step closer to the 15-16 U.S. National Age Group record of 2:14.67 set by Matt Elliott in 2009.

Club Wolverine’s Connor Jaeger, who is the likely favorite tonight, could have his hands full after posting a 3:52.06 in prelims of the men’s 400-meter free. Conor Dwyer placed just behind with a time of 3:52.48 as he’ll be looking to press Jaeger in finals.

Club Wolverine’s Bobby Hurley (3:53.97) and The Woodlands’ Michael McBroom (3:54.08) picked up third and fourth behind the top two in the middle distance event.

Texas’ Jack Conger nearly cleared his personal best in the men’s 100-meter fly with a 52.64 to lead qualifying. That’s just off his 52.51 from the World University Games in 2013, which he should beat tonight during finals.

Seliskar remained on fire, nearly claiming his second lifetime best of the morning with a 53.09 for the second seed. That’s a bit shy of his 53.04 from the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, and is just his second time in the 53.0 range.

Texas’ Tripp Cooper (53.46) and Matt Ellis (53.66) finished third and fourth with Lochte securing a finale spot with a fifth-place 53.74.

California’s Noemie Thomas closed out prelims with a 58.70 to lead the women’s 100-meter fly qualifying. Meanwhile, Mission Viejo’s Katie McLaughlin touched second in 59.79 with NCAP’s Cassidy Bayer turning in a third-place 1:00.15 in prelims.

Arena Pro Swim Series – Austin

Scheduled Events

100 free
200 breast
400 free
100 fly
400 free relay

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