TYR Pro Series, Day Two Prelims: Katie Ledecky Notches Solid 400 Free in Prelims

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TYR Pro Series, Day Two Prelims: Katie Ledecky Notches Solid 400 Free in Prelims

Following an evening of distance racing, in which Katie Ledecky made her return to competitive waters after a year hiatus brought in by COVID-19, the USA Swimming TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio opened with preliminaries on Thursday morning. Competition was held in the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle. Here is a look at how the prelims unfolded in each of those events, which are being used as tuneups for this summer’s Olympic Trials.

Women’s 100 Freestyle

The reigning co-Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle, Simone Manuel returned to competition for the first time in a year by claiming the top seed in best event. Manuel comfortably posted a time of 54.36 to best the other two sub-55 efforts in the field, a 54.70 by Abbey Weitzeil and a 54.98 by Katie Ledecky. Look for Manuel to push for a sub-54 performance during the evening session.

For Ledecky, her showing in prelims was a sign that she is carrying solid speed to go with her always-present endurance. Following Ledecky in fourth place was Linnea Mack in 55.03. Competing in an event that is not one of her main disciplines, Regan Smith advancd to the final in 55.23.

Event 3  Women 100 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 51.71  7/23/2017 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
     American: A 52.04  7/26/2019 Simone Manuel, USA
    U.S. Open: O 52.54  7/25/2018 Simone Manuel, Stanford Swimmin
     Jr World: J 52.70  8/11/2016 Penny Oleksiak, CAN
     Pro Swim: P 53.12  2016      Sarah Sjostrom
                 55.56  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 56.29  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Simone Manuel    24 Alto Swim Club      52.04      54.36 q      
    r:+0.73  26.26        54.36 (28.10)
  2 Abbey Weitzeil   24 California Aquat    53.18      54.70 q      
    r:+0.67  26.17        54.70 (28.53)
  3 Katie Ledecky    23 Nation's Capital    55.17      54.98 q      
    r:+0.67  26.86        54.98 (28.12)
  4 Linnea Mack      25 Team Elite          54.78      55.03 q      
    r:+0.73  26.14        55.03 (28.89)
  5 Kathryn McLaugh  23 California Aquat    54.15      55.21 q      
    r:+0.70  26.98        55.21 (28.23)
  5 Olivia Smoliga   26 Athens Bulldog S    54.15      55.21 q      
    r:+0.68  26.58        55.21 (28.63)
  7 Regan Smith      19 Riptide             55.64      55.23 q      
    r:+0.72  26.79        55.23 (28.44)
  8 *Beryl Gastalde  26 Aggie Swim Club     53.40      55.29 q      
    r:+0.62  26.39        55.29 (28.90)

Men’s 100 Freestyle

One of the guys with a great deal to prove this summer is Maxime Rooney, whose opportunity to race for Texas at last year’s NCAA Championships was wiped out by the pandemic. Rooney had a stellar summer in 2019 and could be in line for an Olympic berth to Tokyo in several months. He topped the men’s 100 free field in San Antonio in 49.40, one of six swims under the 50-second barrier.

Blake Pieroni was right behind Rooney in 49.53 while Andrew Seliskar (49.74), Zach Apple (49.77) and Ryan Held (49.80) followed. Nathan Adrian, the Olympic champion from 2012, finished 10th in prelims and will race in the consolation final after a time of 50.25. He was matchd by Caeleb Dressel, the reigning world champion.

 Event 4  Men 100 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 46.91  7/30/2009 Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
     American: A 46.96  7/25/2019 Caeleb Dressel, USA
    U.S. Open: O 47.39  7/31/2019 Ryan Held, New York Athleti
     Jr World: J 47.57  10/30/2020Andrei Minakov, RUS
     Pro Swim: P 48.00  2016      Nathan Adrian
                 49.74  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 50.49  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Maxime Rooney    22 Pleasanton Seaha    47.61      49.40 q      
    r:+0.61  23.44        49.40 (25.96)
  2 Blake Pieroni    25 Sandpipers Of Ne    47.87      49.53 q      
    r:+0.64  23.90        49.53 (25.63)
  3 Andrew Seliskar  24 California Aquat    48.80      49.74 q      
    r:+0.61  23.75        49.74 (25.99)
  4 Zach Apple       23 Mission Viejo Na    47.69      49.77 q      
    r:+0.62  23.97        49.77 (25.80)
  5 Ryan Held        25 New York Athleti    47.39      49.80 q      
    r:+0.61  23.57        49.80 (26.23)
  6 Coleman Stewart  23 Wolfpack Elite      49.84      49.93 q      
    r:+0.61  24.04        49.93 (25.89)
  7 Justin Ress      23 Wolfpack Elite      49.18      50.00 q      
    r:+0.67  23.97        50.00 (26.03)
  8 Tate Jackson     24 Longhorn Aquatic    47.88      50.12 q      
    r:+0.71  23.97        50.12 (26.15)

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

Despite the absence of Olympic champion Lilly King from the field, the women’s 100 breaststroke featured a strong lineup, with Molly Hannis leading the morning performances with a 1:07.89 mark, the only effort under 1:08. Hannis had a strong International Swimming League campaign in late 2020 and will battle in the final with Annie Lazor, who came in at 1:08.02.

Well-known names occupied the third through sixth positions. Emily Escobedo, better known for her 200 breaststroke ability, was third in 1:09.05, followed by Madisyn Cox (1:09.50), Melanie Margalis (1:09.52) and Micah Sumrall (1:09.57).

 Event 5  Women 100 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World: W 1:04.13  7/25/2017 Lilly King, USA
     American: A 1:04.13  7/25/2017 Lilly King, USA
    U.S. Open: O 1:04.45  8/7/2009  Jessica Hardy, Trojan
     Jr World: J 1:05.39  8/20/2014 Ruta Meilutyte, LTU
     Pro Swim: P 1:05.57  2011      Rebecca Soni
                 1:09.55  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 1:10.99  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Molly Hannis     28 Tennessee Aquati  1:06.43    1:07.89 q      
    r:+0.69  32.30      1:07.89 (35.59)
  2 Annie Lazor      26 Mission Viejo Na  1:06.03    1:08.02 q      
    r:+0.69  31.92      1:08.02 (36.10)
  3 Emily Escobedo   25 Condors Swim Clu  1:07.11    1:09.05 q      
    r:+0.66  32.80      1:09.05 (36.25)
  4 Madisyn Cox      25 Longhorn Aquatic  1:07.30    1:09.50 q      
    r:+0.66  26.54      1:09.50 (42.96)
  5 Melanie Margali  29 Saint Petersburg  1:07.20    1:09.52 q      
    r:+0.65  32.92      1:09.52 (36.60)
  6 Micah Sumrall    30 Gamecock Aquatic  1:07.40    1:09.57 q      
    r:+0.70  33.07      1:09.57 (36.50)
  7 Letitia Sim      18 TNT Swimming      1:08.31    1:10.02 q      
    r:+0.66  33.06      1:10.02 (36.96)
  8 Eva Carlson      18 The Dolphins Por  1:10.81    1:10.74 q      
    r:+0.70  33.25      1:10.74 (37.49)

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

The search for a reliable 100 breaststroker for the American medley relay at this summer’s Olympic Games will be a major storyline over the next few months, particularly with Great Britain featuring Adam Peaty on that leg. As the 100 breaststroke concluded in San Antonio, Michael Andrew held the top seed for finals following a 1:00.23 showing.

Kevin Cordes (1:00.97) and Nic Fink (1:00.97) were also under 1:01. In finals, it would be a positive development if one of the athletes could clock a time in the 59-mid range or faster to provide some indication that a 58-second effort is manageable at the peak of competition in the summer.

 Event 6  Men 100 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World: W 56.88  7/21/2019 Adam Peaty, GBR
     American: A 58.64  7/23/2017 Kevin Cordes, USA
    U.S. Open: O 58.74  6/30/2017 Kevin Cordes/Jaoa Gomes, Unattached-SE
     Jr World: J 59.01  8/23/2017 Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA
     Pro Swim: P 58.86  2017      Adam Peaty
               1:01.97  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
               1:03.29  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Michael Andrew   21 Race Pace Club      59.14    1:00.23 q      
    r:+0.70  27.88      1:00.23 (32.35)
  2 Kevin Cordes     27 Athens Bulldog S  1:00.21    1:00.81 q      
    r:+0.71  22.47      1:00.81 (38.34)
  3 Nic Fink         27 Athens Bulldog S    59.94    1:00.97 q      
    r:+0.71  22.25      1:00.97 (38.72)
  4 Josh Prenot      27 California Aquat  1:00.76    1:01.83 q      
    r:+0.67  29.28      1:01.83 (32.55)
  5 *Rafal Kusto     21 NC State Univers  1:03.00    1:02.29 q      
    r:+0.65  29.12      1:02.29 (33.17)
  6 Will Licon       26 Longhorn Aquatic  1:00.68    1:02.35 q      
    r:+0.70  26.21      1:02.35 (36.14)
  7 Brandon Fischer  32 Livermore Aqua C    59.86    1:02.74 q      
    r:+0.71  29.06      1:02.74 (33.68)
  8 *Jacob Heidtman  26 Team Elite        1:03.04    1:02.80 q      
    r:+0.71  29.71      1:02.80 (33.09)

Women’s 200 Butterfly

It can be argued that Hali Flickinger, Regan Smith and Katie Drabot are the top-three favorites to represent Team USA in Tokyo in the 200 butterfly, and that’s exactly the order the women finished during prelims. Flickinger was easily the fastest of the bunch, as she pushed the pace in the morning and exited the pool with a time of 2:07.20.

Smith, the world-record holder in both backstroke events, was timed in 2:10.79, with Drabot just behind in 2:10.87. The 200 fly is likely Smith’s third event on her Olympic Trials program.

 Event 7  Women 200 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
        World: W 2:01.81  10/21/2009Zige Liu, CHN
     American: A 2:04.14  7/30/2009 Mary Descenza, USA
    U.S. Open: O 2:05.87  7/25/2018 Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldog-G
     Jr World: J 2:06.29  4/15/2017 Suzuka Hasegawa, JPN
     Pro Swim: P 2:06.11  3/5/2020  Hali Flickinger, Sun Devil Swimmi
                 2:12.56  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 2:14.59  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hali Flickinger  26 Sun Devil Swimmi  2:05.96    2:07.20 q      
    r:+0.72  28.89      1:00.68 (31.79)
        1:33.40 (32.72)     2:07.20 (33.80)
  2 Regan Smith      19 Riptide           2:06.39    2:10.79 q      
    r:+0.74  29.29      1:02.81 (33.52)
        1:36.40 (33.59)     2:10.79 (34.39)
  3 Katie Drabot     23 Alto Swim Club    2:06.59    2:10.87 q      
    r:+0.73  29.24      1:02.09 (32.85)
        1:35.74 (33.65)     2:10.87 (35.13)
  4 Leah Gingrich    31 Columbus Aquatic  2:09.84    2:11.19 q      
    r:+0.71  29.75      1:03.34 (33.59)
        1:37.15 (33.81)     2:11.19 (34.04)
  5 *Remedy Rule     24 Longhorn Aquatic  2:09.58    2:11.43 q      
    r:+0.66  29.46      1:02.54 (33.08)
        1:36.59 (34.05)     2:11.43 (34.84)
  6 Haley Anderson   29 Mission Viejo Na  2:12.88    2:11.60 q      
    r:+0.76  30.09      1:03.78 (33.69)
        1:37.71 (33.93)     2:11.60 (33.89)
  7 Lillie Nordmann  18 Alto Swim Club    2:07.43    2:13.84 q      
    r:+0.73  29.84      1:03.97 (34.13)
        1:38.21 (34.24)     2:13.84 (35.63)
  8 Tess Howley      16 Long Island Aqua  2:10.25    2:13.94 q      
    r:+0.71  30.47      1:03.84 (33.37)
        1:38.14 (34.30)     2:13.94 (35.80)

Men’s 200 Butterfly

It was a rather sluggish morning in the men’s 200 butterfly as Chase Kalisz was the lone swimmer to break two minutes, his 1:59.59 good for the top seed over the 2:00.00 of Zach Harting. Jay Litherland checked in at No. 3, with Zheng Quah going 2:00.92 and Jack Saunderson on 2:00.94.

Tom Shields and Caeleb Dressel also finished in the top eight with respective times of 2:01.55 and 2:01.62.

 Event 8  Men 200 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
        World: W 1:50.73  7/24/2019 Kristof Milak, HUN
     American: A 1:51.51  7/29/2009 Michael Phelps, USA
    U.S. Open: O 1:52.20  7/2/2008  Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
     Jr World: J 1:53.79  6/30/2017 Kristof Milak, HUN
     Pro Swim: P 1:53.84  6/14/2019 Gianluca Urlando, DART Swimming-SN
                 1:59.63  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 2:01.19  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Chase Kalisz     26 Athens Bulldog S  1:56.55    1:59.59 q      
    r:+0.72  26.26        57.24 (30.98)
        1:28.40 (31.16)     1:59.59 (31.19)
  2 Zach Harting     23 Cardinal Aquatic  1:55.26    2:00.00 q      
    r:+0.62  27.09        57.84 (30.75)
        1:28.62 (30.78)     2:00.00 (31.38)
  3 Jay Litherland   25 Dynamo Swim Club  1:57.99    2:00.61 q      
    r:+0.78  26.99        57.67 (30.68)
        1:28.69 (31.02)     2:00.61 (31.92)
  4 *Zheng Quah      24 California Aquat  1:56.61    2:00.92 q      
    r:+0.60  26.63        57.66 (31.03)
        1:29.05 (31.39)     2:00.92 (31.87)
  5 Jack Saunderson  23 Wolfpack Elite    1:57.81    2:00.94 q      
    r:+0.62  26.95        58.16 (31.21)
        1:29.00 (30.84)     2:00.94 (31.94)
  6 Tom Shields      29 California Aquat  1:56.12    2:01.55 q      
    r:+0.76  26.66        57.80 (31.14)
        1:28.98 (31.18)     2:01.55 (32.57)
  7 Caeleb Dressel   24 Gator Swim Club   1:56.29    2:01.62 q      
    r:+0.61  27.60        58.81 (31.21)
        1:30.27 (31.46)     2:01.62 (31.35)
  8 Raunak Khosla    20 Dynamo Swim Club  1:59.22    2:01.65 q      
    r:+0.68  27.40        58.48 (31.08)
        1:30.24 (31.76)     2:01.65 (31.41)

Women’s 400 Freestyle

After winning the 1500 freestyle on Wednesday night, Katie Ledecky moved into another one of her domains and put down an excellent prelim swim in the 400 freestyle. Earning the top seed by more than five seconds, Ledecky touched the wall in 4:04.72. Earlier in the session, she qualified third in the 100 freestyle.

Leah Smith, long the United States No. 2 in the distance ranks behind Ledecky, went 4:09.76 for the second seed, with Joanna Evans (4:10.65) and Katie McLaughlin (4:11.35) following.

 Event 9  Women 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 3:56.46  8/7/2016  Katie Ledecky, USA
     American: A 3:56.46  8/7/2016  Katie Ledecky, USA
    U.S. Open: O 3:57.94  5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
     Jr World: J 3:58.37  8/23/2014 Katie Ledecky, USA
     Pro Swim: P 3:57.94  5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky, Stanford Swimmin
                 4:13.28  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 4:16.89  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Katie Ledecky    23 Nation's Capital  3:59.28    4:04.72 q      
    r:+0.68  28.38        58.98 (30.60)
        1:29.54 (30.56)     2:00.56 (31.02)
        2:31.24 (30.68)     3:02.52 (31.28)
        3:33.67 (31.15)     4:04.72 (31.05)
  2 Leah Smith       25 Unattached        4:01.29    4:09.76 q      
    r:+0.68  28.82        59.79 (30.97)
        1:31.25 (31.46)     2:03.10 (31.85)
        2:34.93 (31.83)     3:06.95 (32.02)
        3:38.62 (31.67)     4:09.76 (31.14)
  3 *Joanna Evans    23 Longhorn Aquatic  4:11.06    4:10.65 q      
    r:+0.70  28.58        59.37 (30.79)
        1:30.52 (31.15)     2:02.24 (31.72)
        2:34.08 (31.84)     3:06.13 (32.05)
        3:38.83 (32.70)     4:10.65 (31.82)
  4 Kathryn McLaugh  23 California Aquat  4:12.79    4:11.35 q      
    r:+0.71  29.27      1:01.07 (31.80)
        1:33.14 (32.07)     2:04.96 (31.82)
        2:36.38 (31.42)     3:08.51 (32.13)
        3:40.49 (31.98)     4:11.35 (30.86)
  5 Emma Weyant      19 Sarasota Sharks   4:09.07    4:11.46 q      
    r:+0.74  29.48      1:00.63 (31.15)
        1:32.36 (31.73)     2:04.12 (31.76)
        2:36.06 (31.94)     3:08.15 (32.09)
        3:40.12 (31.97)     4:11.46 (31.34)
  6 Haley Anderson   29 Mission Viejo Na  4:07.77    4:11.65 q      
    r:+0.76  29.26      1:00.64 (31.38)
        1:32.30 (31.66)     2:04.23 (31.93)
        2:36.05 (31.82)     3:08.12 (32.07)
        3:40.28 (32.16)     4:11.65 (31.37)
  7 Ashley Twichell  31 TAC Titans        4:07.77    4:12.32 q      
    r:+0.75  29.92      1:01.47 (31.55)
        1:33.16 (31.69)     2:05.11 (31.95)
        2:36.79 (31.68)     3:09.01 (32.22)
        3:41.17 (32.16)     4:12.32 (31.15)
  8 Ally McHugh      23 Wisconsin Aquati  4:07.08    4:12.67 q      
    r:+0.78  29.70      1:01.18 (31.48)
        1:33.08 (31.90)     2:05.43 (32.35)
        2:37.36 (31.93)     3:09.46 (32.10)
        3:41.36 (31.90)     4:12.67 (31.31)

Men’s 400 Freestyle

Chris Wieser of DART took the top spot in the men’s 400 freestyle off of a prelim swim of 3:55.15, which was slightly faster than the 3:55.60 of Marwan El Kamash. Jordan Wilimovsky, coming off a win in the 1500 freestyle on Wednesday, qualified third in 3:55.98.

 Event 10  Men 400 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 3:40.07  7/26/2009 Paul Biederman, GER
     American: A 3:42.78  8/10/2008 Larsen Jensen, USA
    U.S. Open: O 3:43.53  6/29/2008 Larsen Jensen, Trojan
     Jr World: J 3:44.60  4/1/2014  Mack Horton, AUS
     Pro Swim: P 3:43.55  2016      Sun Yang
                 3:54.21  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 3:57.29  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Chris Wieser     25 DART Swimming     3:50.23    3:55.15 q      
    r:+0.63  26.63        55.71 (29.08)
        1:25.26 (29.55)     1:55.31 (30.05)
        2:25.10 (29.79)     2:55.95 (30.85)
        3:25.58 (29.63)     3:55.15 (29.57)
  2 *Marwan El Kama  27 Indiana Swim Clu  3:48.62    3:55.60 q      
    r:+0.73  26.64        56.22 (29.58)
        1:25.91 (29.69)     1:55.88 (29.97)
        2:25.69 (29.81)     2:55.91 (30.22)
        3:26.43 (30.52)     3:55.60 (29.17)
  3 Jordan Wilimovs  26 KSwim             3:50.63    3:55.98 q      
    r:+0.67  27.23        56.79 (29.56)
        1:26.43 (29.64)     1:56.56 (30.13)
        2:26.43 (29.87)     2:56.52 (30.09)
        3:26.45 (29.93)     3:55.98 (29.53)
  4 Will Gallant     19 Mission Viejo Na  3:53.61    3:57.49 q      
    r:+0.66  27.33        56.64 (29.31)
        1:26.35 (29.71)     1:56.67 (30.32)
        2:26.72 (30.05)     2:57.06 (30.34)
        3:27.36 (30.30)     3:57.49 (30.13)
  5 *Jacob Heidtman  26 Team Elite        3:53.60    3:58.06 q      
    r:+0.70  26.90        56.66 (29.76)
        1:26.57 (29.91)     1:56.94 (30.37)
        2:27.01 (30.07)     2:57.42 (30.41)
        3:27.84 (30.42)     3:58.06 (30.22)
  6 Liam Custer      16 Sarasota Sharks   3:58.14    3:58.59 q      
    r:+0.68  26.77        56.03 (29.26)
        1:25.67 (29.64)     1:55.66 (29.99)
        2:26.06 (30.40)     2:56.80 (30.74)
        3:27.86 (31.06)     3:58.59 (30.73)
  7 Sam Stewart      24 YMCA Hub Fins     4:02.13    4:02.31 q      
    r:+0.67  26.89        56.41 (29.52)
        1:26.99 (30.58)     1:57.85 (30.86)
        2:29.11 (31.26)     3:00.90 (31.79)
        3:31.99 (31.09)     4:02.31 (30.32)
  8 *Erge Gezmis     23 NC State Univers  3:54.01    4:02.32 q      
    r:+0.73  27.92        58.62 (30.70)
        1:28.82 (30.20)     1:59.94 (31.12)
        2:30.71 (30.77)     3:01.59 (30.88)
        3:32.17 (30.58)     4:02.32 (30.15)
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