2017 arena Pro Series Indy: Li, Flickinger Post Top Times at Day One finals

Photo Courtesy: Caroline Kosciusko

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The first night of finals at the 2017 arena Pro Series in Indianapolis proved to be a fast night as China’s Li Zhuhao and Athens Bulldog’s Hali Flickinger rocketed up to first in the world rankings for 2017.

Also back in the action was Cal’s Nathan Adrian picking up the win in the men’s 100 free.

Day One Final Results

Events:

Women’s 100 Free
Men’s 100 Free
Women’s 200 Breast
Men’s 200 Breast
Women’s 100 Fly
Men’s 100 Fly
Women’s 400 Free
Men’s 400 Free

Women’s 100 free

Cardinal’s Mallory Comerford upset touched out China’s Zhu Menghui to win the women’s 100 free at the Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Indianapolis. Comerford posted a time of 53.91, just ahead of Zhu’s 53.93. Comerford came from behind with a quick 27.53 split to get her hand on the wall, and her time lowers her best time of 54.40 from the morning prelims by almost a half-second.

Italy’s Federica Pellegrini finished third in 54.47, while co-Olympic gold medalist Penny Oleksiak finished fourth in 54.69.

Also competing in the final were Canada’s Sandrine Mainville (54.84), Cardinal’s Kelsi Worrell (55.08), Canada’s Kayla Sanchez (55.14) and Great Britain’s Freya Anderson (55.53)

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Men’s 100 Free

Nathan Adrian of Cal marked his return to competition in gold medal fashion, with a top showing in the men’s 100 free. Adrian posted the only sub-49 second time at a 48.66.

Grabbing second was Great Britain’s Duncan Scott with a time of 49.33, followed by Cardinal’s Joao de Lucca’s 49.60.

Jacob Pebley, also of Cal, picked up fourth overall with a 49.76, followed closely by the Italian duo of Luca Dotto (49.79) and Filippo Magnini (49.80).

Indiana’s Ali Khalafalla finished seventh with a 50.03, just ahead of Bruno Fratus, swimming unattached, and his time of 50.06.

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Women’s 200 Breast

Chloe Tutton of Great Britain swam ahead of the competition in the women’s 200 breast. Tutton touched in a final time of 2:23.89 for first, a time that currently stands as the second fastest for the 2017 long course season.

Mary-Sophie Harvey finished second overall with a 2:26.60, holding off a charging Melanie Margalis. Margalis settled for third and a time of 2:26.80.

Iceland’s Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir picked up a fourth place finish with a time of 2:27.57, while Club Wolverin’s Miranda Tucker turned in a 2:27.64 for fifth.

New York Athletic Club’s Breeja Larson (2:28.36), Molly Hannis (2:29.00), and Molly Renshaw (2:29.51) completed the heat.

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Men’s 200 Breast

Josh Prenot of Cal battled for the title in the men’s 200 breast, moving up from an initial third place turn at the first 50 meter mark. Prenot slowly gained on leader Nic Fink to push past in the final 50 meters and claim the title with a time of 2:09.93. Prenot’s time moves him to fourth in the world rankings for 2017.

Fink, who led throughout the first 150 meters of the race, settled for second and a final time of 2:10.62, while Cody Miller of Badger Swim Club picked up third with a 2:11.94.

Kevin Cordes, swimming unattached, grabbed fourth with a time of 2:12.11, followed by Great Britain’s Ross Murdoch and his time of 2:13.08.

Italy’s Lucz Pizzini (2:13.91), Great Britain’s Andrew Willis (2:15.84), and Miguel de lara Ojeda (2:16.05) were sixth through eighth.

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Women’s 100 Fly

Kendyl Stewart jumped to an early lead in the women’s 100 fly, turning first at the 50 meter mark with a 27.31 split. Stewart led a field of talented flyers, but was unable to hold off a charging Kelsi Worrell in the final stretch. Worrell touched first with a time of 58.10 over Stewart’s 58.32.

Rebecca Smith grabbed third overall with a time of 58.98, while Aliena Schmidtke picked up fourth with a time of 59.06.

China’s Lin Xintong posted a 59.34 for fifth overall, just ahead of Katerine Savard and her time of 59.43.

Athens Bulldog’s Hali Flickinger and NCAP’s Cassidy Bayer rounded out the top eight with times of 59.76 and 1:00.13 respectively.

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Men’s 100 Fly

Li Zhuhao of China soared to the top of the world rankings in the 100 fly, leading the men’s race from start to finish. The young Chinaman touched in a final time of 51.34 to be the first athlete beneath the 52-second mark in 2017.

Japan’s Daiya Seto grabbed second overall with a time of 52.43, followed by a tie between Race Pace’s Michael Andrew and Seth Stubblefield. The two Americans delivered matching times of 53.95 for third.

Duncan Scott of Great Britain posted a close 53.99 for fifth, while Tim Phillips picked up sixth overall with a 54.63.

Andrew Abruzzo completed the scorers with a 54.83 finish for seventh.

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Women’s 400 Free

Hali Flickinger of Athens Bulldogs returned to the pool shortly after the 100 fly to post the top time in the women’s 400 free. Flickinger delivered a 4:08.52, finishing ahead of the competition by 2.29 seconds. Her time also moves her to the top of the world rankings for 2017, just ahead of Ashley Twichell’s 4:08.99 from the Austin stop of the Pro Series in January.

Jazmin Carlin of Great Britain took second overall with a time of 4:10.81, followed by Twichell and her time of 4:12.85.

Japan’s Aya Takano posted a final time of 4:14.12 for fourth, while Emma Nordin turned in a 4:14.66 for fifth.

Great Britain’s Hannah Miley (4:15.93), Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello (4:19.21), and Vien Nguyen (4:19.34) rounded out the top eight.

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Men’s 400 Free

It was a race to the finish in the men’s 400 free at Zane Grothe and James Guy battled for victory. Grothe pushed past Guy in the final 50 meters to claim victory with a time of 3:48.14 over Guy’s 3:48.52. The duo move to third and fourth respectively in the world rankings for 2017.

Max Litchfield and Stephen Milne, both of Great Britain, posted third and fourth place finishes of 3:50.13 and 3:50.30 respectively.

Andrew Abruzzo grabbed fifth with a time of 3:52.05, followed by Great Britain’s Timothy Shuttleworth (3:54.40) and Nicholas Grainer (3:55.72).

Japan’s Fumiya Hidaka took eighth overall with a 3:56.21.

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