2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Photo Courtesy: Maddie Kyler

Editorial content for the 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa is sponsored by Arena. For full Swimming World coverage, check out our coverage page

One more night at the races is ahead at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa at the Skyline Aquatic Center. Hit refresh for the latest coverage.

Women’s 200 IM

Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu captured her third win of the Arena Pro Swim Series with a strong effort in the women’s 200-meter IM.

Hosszu hit the wall in 2:11.40 for the title, just a second off her third-ranked season best of 2:10.36 from the Speedo Flanders Cup. That’s a strong time considering she has battled a stomach illness this weekend in Mesa.

California’s Caitlin Leverenz, who is looking to catch up to Elizabeth Beisel in the series rankings, took second in 2:12.59, while Hurricane’s Katie Hoff raced her way to third-place money in 2:13.82.

SwimMAC’s Kirsty Coventry managed to take fourth overall in 2:14.32 with Louisville’s Tanja Kylliainen earning fifth in 2:15.93.

Mission Viejo’s Katie McLaughlin (2:18.09), Vien Nguyen (2:19.85) and Grand Canyon’s Hannah Kastigar (2:21.03) closed out the rest of the finale.

SoFlo’s Alia Atkinson won the B final out of lane 1 with a time of 2:17.28. Regan Barney of Nitro placed second in 2:20.02.

Men’s 200 IM

Ryan Lochte emerged victorious from a loaded men’s 200-meter IM finale with a near season best at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Lochte clocked a winning effort of 1:58.70, just off his eighth-ranked time of 1:58.57 from the BHP Super Series. That’s his first win of the meet after a pair of silvers so far here in Mesa.

Conor Dwyer, the series leaders, piled on some more podium points with a silver-winning time of 1:59.04 to rank 13th in the world.

Superstar Michael Phelps moved to just outside the top 20 in the world with a third-place effort of 2:00.01.

Uvis Kalnins (2:02.50), Matt Josa (2:04.19), Louisville’s Carlos Claverie (2:05.45), SwimMAC’s Marko Blazevski (2:05.58) and NBAC’s Austin Surhoff (2:05.64) rounded out the rest of the finale.

Simon Frank topped the B final in a time of 2:05.56, while NBAC’s Alpkan Ornek took second in the consolation heat in 2:06.03.

Women’s 200 back

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kirsty Coventry, currently training at SwimMAC during a career resurgence, demonstrated why she’s amazing in the women’s 200-meter back at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Coventry threw down a 2:12.05, coming from behind at the touch, to pick up the win. She won this event at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and is looking for more on her Road to Rio for Zimbabwe.

Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu collected her second medal of the night with a time of 2:12.14, while Scottsdale’s Taylor Ruck rounded out the top three in a 2:12.28.

HMST’s Erin Earley wound up fourth in 2:13.75 with Virginia’s Courtney Bartholomew taking fifth in 2:13.99.

Grand Canyon’s Iryna Glavnyk led at the 150-meter mark but fell apart down the stretch with a sixth-place 2:14.34.

Tucson Ford’s Bonnie Brandon (2:15.32) and Carolina Colorado (2:19.92) also competed in the finale.

Elizabeth Beisel, who could watch her large series lead shrink with Caitlin Leverenz making a charge here in Mesa, took out some frustration on the 200 back B final with a 2:12.95 for the win. Scarlet’s Matea Samardzic was a distant second with a 2:16.19.

Men’s 200 back

Arkady Vyatchanin, the former Russian Olympian who now swims for Serbia, easily claimed the men’s 200-meter backstroke title at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Vyatchanin vaulted to seventh in the world rankings with a sizzling time of 1:56.95, just ahead of Matt Grevers’ 1:57.43 from the Austin stop of the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

SwimMAC’s Tyler Clary picked up more podium points with a second-place time of 1:58.45 to take 17th in the world rankings.

California’s Jacob Pebley clinched third overall in 1:59.98, while Connor Green finished fourth in 2:02.25.

SMST’s Bryce Mefford (2:04.24), Santa Clara’s Eric Ress (2:04.46), Venezuela’s Lander Hendrickx (2:04.90) and Luis Rojas (2:08.01) also put up times in the championship finale.

Paul Le touched out West Virginia’s Jay Hickey, 2:05.47 to 2:05.55, for the B final win in the 200 back.

Women’s 100 free

SwimMAC’s Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace raced her way to 16th in the world in the 100 free to win at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Vanderpool-Wallace popped a winning time of 54.18 tonight to move into the top 20 in the world.

This event was decimated with five of the top 20 qualifiers scratching tonight’s finals, including the top two seeds in Natalie Coughlin and Simone Manuel.

NBAC’s Allison Schmitt hit the wall second with a time of 55.35, while Canyons’ Abbey Weitzeil wound up third in 55.59.

Tucson Ford’s Margo Geer took fourth in 55.61 with SMU’s Nina Rangelova earning fifth in 55.69.

Mission Viejo’s Katie McLaughlin (55.70), SwimAtlanta’s Amanda Weir (55.85) and SMU’s Isabella Arcila (56.44) comprised the rest of the A final this evening.

Louisville’s Andrea Kneppers topped the B final in 56.22 with Stanzi Moseley taking second in 56.31.

Men’s 100 free

Michael Phelps called it “just a 100” this afternoon, but he sure didn’t approach it that way as he captured the men’s 100-meter free title at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Phelps threw down a sizzling 49.72 to touchout longtime rival Ryan Lochte, who placed second overall in 49.77. They both still have plenty of time to drop to catch up to the top 20 times in the world currently anchored by Calum Jarvis’ 48.93.

Conor Dwyer snagged more podium points with a third-place effort of 50.02, while Venezuela’s Emmanuel Vanluchene touched fourth in 50.22.

Renzo Tjon A Joe (50.26), NYAC’s Josh Schneider (50.34), Tucson Ford’s Matt Grevers (50.73) and SwimMAC’s Tim Phillips (50.73) placed fifth through eighth.

Scottsdale’s Ryan Hoffer earned the B final win in a time of 50.82, while AJAX’s Javier Acevedo touched just behind in 50.90 for second. Chris Szekely (50.93) and Frank Dyer (50.95) also had a shot at the end.

Women’s 800 free

NCAP’s Katie Ledecky was out under world-record pace at the 500-meter mark before settling in for a conservative time to win the women’s 800-meter free at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

Ledecky clocked in with an 8:13.02. That’s not as fast as her world-leading 8:11.21 from the Austin stop of the Arena Pro Swim Series, but was more than enough for victory tonight.

That’s Ledecky’s fourth win in freestyle this week, having won the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 free here in Mesa.

NBAC’s Lotte Friis hit the wall second tonight in 8:31.65 to move to 16th in the world. Chile’s Kristel Kobrich captured third overall in 8:41.06.

Tucson Ford’s Tjasa Oder (8:48.28), The FISH’s Madelyn Donohoe (8:51.93), Guatemala’s Valerie Guest (8:51.98), Vien Nguyen (8:52.74) and Kirsten Jacobsen (8:53.69) also made their way into the top eight in the timed final event.

Men’s 1500 free

The Woodlands’ Michael McBroom collected his second title of the meet with an easy win in the men’s 1500-meter free at the Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa.

McBroom put up a time of 15:09.20 for the win to move to 16th in the world in the metric mile.

Mission Viejo’s Nick Norman placed a distant second in 15:29.39 with Louisville’s Marcelo Acosta taking third overall in 15:37.04.

Club Wolverine’s Michael Klueh (15:40.19), Mission Viejo’s Daniel O’Connor (15:43.77), Tucson Ford’s Ty Fowler (15:49.48), Chile’s Felipe Tapia (15:52.36) and Seminole’s Mateo De Angulo (15:57.32) finished in the top eight in the timed final event.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

Women’s 200 IM
Men’s 200 IM
Women’s 200 back
Men’s 200 back
Women’s 100 free
Men’s 100 free
Women’s 800 free
Men’s 1500 free
Women’s 400 medley relay
Men’s 400 medley relay

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