2019 TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville: Manuel, Kalisz Cruise to Top Seeds

Photo Courtesy: Melissa Wolf

The final morning of the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville featured four individual events with USA Swimming superstars Simone Manuel and Chase Kalisz cruising to the top seeds in their respective events with Manuel on top in the 100 free and Kalisz in the 200 IM.

Women’s 200 IM

27-year-old Melanie Margalis cruised to the top spot in the 200 IM heats with a 2:15.21 as she is over a second ahead of 17-year-old Alex Walsh (2:16.27), who is ten years her junior. Walsh is one of the rising up and comers in the sport of swimming as she blitzed a 1:53.69 at the Winter Juniors in December and is only in her junior year. She will represent the United States at the Pan American Games this summer.

Tennessee’s Tess Cieplucha, who came home from a duel meet at the University of Virginia on Friday, finished in the third spot at 2:17.17.

Megan Kingsley (2:17.88), Danielle Hanus (2:17.97), Emily Overholt (2:18.09), Lisa Bratton (2:18.11) and Meaghan Raab (2:19.44) also qualified for the A-Final.

 Event 28  Women 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
        World: W 2:06.12  8/3/2015  Katinka Hosszu, HUN
     American: A 2:06.15  7/27/2009 Ariana Kukors, USA
    U.S. Open: O 2:08.32  7/29/2018 Kathleen Baker, Team Elite-NC
     Jr World: J 2:09.98  1/29/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
     Pro Swim: P 2:08.66  2015      Katinka  Hosszu
    Trial Cut: T 2:17.39
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Melanie Margali  27 Saint Petersburg  2:08.70    2:15.21T q811  
    r:+0.71  29.41      1:03.16 (33.75)
        1:42.85 (39.69)     2:15.21 (32.36)
  2 Alex Walsh       17 Nashville Aquati  2:11.83    2:16.27T q792  
    r:+0.79  29.76      1:04.57 (34.81)
        1:44.55 (39.98)     2:16.27 (31.72)
  3 Tess Cieplucha   20 Univ Tennessee    2:16.92    2:17.17  q777  
    r:+0.78  29.87      1:04.88 (35.01)
        1:45.25 (40.37)     2:17.17 (31.92)
  4 Megan Kingsley   22 Athens Bulldog S  1:55.88Y   2:17.88  q765  
    r:+0.64  29.02      1:03.57 (34.55)
        1:45.43 (41.86)     2:17.88 (32.45)
  5 Danielle Hanus   20 Hpcentervictoria  2:16.66    2:17.97  q763  
    r:+0.70  28.98      1:03.34 (34.36)
        1:45.20 (41.86)     2:17.97 (32.77)
  6 Emily Overholt   21 Hpc Vancouver     2:17.12    2:18.09  q761  
    r:+0.76  29.44      1:04.07 (34.63)
        1:46.52 (42.45)     2:18.09 (31.57)
  7 Lisa Bratton     22 Aggie Swim Club   2:14.07    2:18.11  q761  
    r:+0.71  29.70      1:04.66 (34.96)
        1:45.64 (40.98)     2:18.11 (32.47)
  8 Meaghan Raab     22 Nashville Aquati  2:12.56    2:19.44  q739  
    r:+0.77  30.24      1:06.27 (36.03)
        1:46.40 (40.13)     2:19.44 (33.04)

Men’s 200 IM

Chase Kalisz took it easy in the 200 IM heats on Saturday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville as he swam a 2:02.60 to reserve lane four for the final tonight. Kalisz is ahead of 16-year-old Gianluca Urlando (2:02.79), who has been having a successful meet in Knoxville thus far, taking down Kalisz in the 200 fly final last night.

25-year-old Josh Prenot (2:02.89), who won the 400 IM on Thursday night, is the third seed with a 2:02.89 prelim swim. Prenot also won the 200 breast last night and vouched on Twitter he was done with the 400 IM forever.

The Foster brothers are seeded fourth and fifth with Jake set for lane 6 in the final with his 2:03.00 prelim swim while Carson is set for lane 2 at 2:03.57.

The Georgia postgrad group will have two swimmers in the final plus Kalisz with Nic Fink (2:04.60) and Jay Litherland (2:04.78) in sixth and eighth. Ontario’s Mack Darragh is also in the field tonight with a 2:04.75 prelim swim this morning.

 Event 29  Men 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
        World: W 1:54.00  7/28/2011 Ryan Lochte, USA
     American: A 1:54.00  7/28/2011 Ryan Lochte, USA
    U.S. Open: O 1:54.56  7/10/2009 Ryan Lochte, Daytona Beach
     Jr World: J 1:57.06  7/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
     Pro Swim: P 1:56.32  2012      Michael Phelps
    Trial Cut: T 2:04.09
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Chase Kalisz     24 Athens Bulldog S  1:55.40    2:02.60T q803  
    r:+0.69  26.09        56.84 (30.75)
        1:32.24 (35.40)     2:02.60 (30.36)
  2 Gianluca Urland  16 Dart Swimming     2:00.60    2:02.79T q800  
    r:+0.69  26.13        58.42 (32.29)
        1:33.42 (35.00)     2:02.79 (29.37)
  3 Josh Prenot      25 California Aquat  1:57.14    2:02.89T q798  
    r:+0.66  25.66        57.80 (32.14)
        1:32.91 (35.11)     2:02.89 (29.98)
  4 Jake Foster      18 Mason Manta Rays  2:02.24    2:03.00T q796  
    r:+0.63  26.68        58.88 (32.20)
        1:33.64 (34.76)     2:03.00 (29.36)
  5 Carson Foster    17 Mason Manta Rays  1:59.45    2:03.57T q785  
    r:+0.65  26.40        57.21 (30.81)
        1:33.31 (36.10)     2:03.57 (30.26)
  6 Nic Fink         25 Athens Bulldog S  2:01.04    2:04.60  q765  
    r:+0.70  26.68      1:00.07 (33.39)
        1:35.27 (35.20)     2:04.60 (29.33)
  7 Mack Darragh     25 Hpc-Ontario       2:00.94    2:04.75  q763  
    r:+0.68  26.79        58.98 (32.19)
        1:35.78 (36.80)     2:04.75 (28.97)
  8 Jay Litherland   23 Dynamo Swim Club  1:58.46    2:04.78  q762  
    r:+0.71  27.41        58.14 (30.73)
        1:36.73 (38.59)     2:04.78 (28.05)

Women’s 200 Back

16-year-old Regan Smith is on top of a solid 200 back field on Saturday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville with a 2:10.67 prelim swim. Smith is ahead of veteran Hali Flickinger (2:11.39), who is fresh off an impressive 200 fly last night.

Notably Kathleen Baker scratched the prelims this morning after swimming an underwhelming meet thus far in Knoxville.

Also in the final with Smith is fellow Minnesotan Isabelle Stadden (2:11.82) as the top three are head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the field.

Kentucky postgrad Bridgette Alexander (2:13.20) is in the fourth seed and Kennedy Goss of Swim Ontario is fifth at 2:13.22.

Madison Broad (2:14.19), Jade Hannah (2:14.56) and Olivia Smoliga (2:14.68) also qualified for the final.

 Event 30  Women 200 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
        World: W 2:04.06  8/3/2012  Missy Franklin, USA
     American: A 2:04.06  8/3/2012  Missy Franklin, USA Olympic Team
    U.S. Open: O 2:05.68  6/25/2013 Missy Franklin, Colorado STARS-C
     Jr World: J 2:06.43  7/28/2018 Regan Smith, USA
     Pro Swim: P 2:06.36  2018      Taylor Ruck
    Trial Cut: T 2:14.69
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Regan Smith      16 Riptide           2:06.43    2:10.67T q855  
    r:+0.64  30.69      1:03.67 (32.98)
        1:37.03 (33.36)     2:10.67 (33.64)
  2 Hali Flickinger  24 Athens Bulldog S  2:09.22    2:11.39T q841  
    r:+0.76  31.98      1:05.26 (33.28)
        1:38.76 (33.50)     2:11.39 (32.63)
  3 Isabelle Stadde  16 Aquajets Swim Te  2:08.24    2:11.82T q833  
    r:+0.60  31.52      1:05.12 (33.60)
        1:38.77 (33.65)     2:11.82 (33.05)
  4 Bridgette Alexa  22 Kentucky Aquatic  2:09.44    2:13.20T q807  
    r:+0.65  31.39      1:04.72 (33.33)
        1:39.06 (34.34)     2:13.20 (34.14)
  5 Kennedy Goss     22 Swim Ontario      2:09.14    2:13.22  q807  
    r:+0.62  31.65      1:05.38 (33.73)
        1:39.55 (34.17)     2:13.22 (33.67)
  6 Madison Broad    18 Swim Ontario      2:10.32    2:14.19  q790  
    r:+0.72  31.24      1:05.41 (34.17)
        1:40.49 (35.08)     2:14.19 (33.70)
  7 Jade Hannah      16 Hpcentervictoria  2:10.44    2:14.56  q783  
    r:+0.58  31.29      1:04.70 (33.41)
        1:39.46 (34.76)     2:14.56 (35.10)
  8 Olivia Smoliga   24 Athens Bulldog S  2:08.58    2:14.68T q781  
    r:+0.64  31.05      1:05.27 (34.22)
        1:40.22 (34.95)     2:14.68 (34.46)

Men’s 200 Back

Carson Foster of the Mason Manta Rays put up the top time in the 200 back heats with a 2:00.92 after a short turnaround after the 200 IM. Foster is ahead of Cal sophomores Bryce Mefford (2:01.94) and Daniel Carr (2:02.08) who made the trip to Knoxville.

Tennessee’s Joey Reilman (2:02.08) is the third seed in a tie with Carr as some of the Volunteer swimmers came home to swim in the meet after swimming in a duel with Virginia yesterday.

2016 Olympic champion Ryan Murphy (2:02.27) is the fifth seed after taking a Sunday stroll in his heat swim. Murphy dropped two seconds off his 100 back from prelims to finals yesterday so he should be able to drop a 1:57 or faster in finals tonight.

Nathan Hayes (2:03.37), Noah Young (2:03.78) and Josh Zakala (2:04.23) also qualified for the final.

 Event 31  Men 200 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
        World: W 1:51.92  7/31/2009 Aaron Peirsol, USA
     American: A 1:51.92  7/31/2009 Aaron Peirsol, USA
    U.S. Open: O 1:53.08  7/11/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
     Jr World: J 1:55.14  6/28/2017 Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
     Pro Swim: P 1:55.04  2017      Xu Jiayu
    Trial Cut: T 2:02.99
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Carson Foster    17 Mason Manta Rays  1:57.70    2:00.92T q792  
    r:+0.56  28.44        59.21 (30.77)
        1:30.44 (31.23)     2:00.92 (30.48)
  2 Bryce Mefford    20 Unattached        1:57.46    2:01.94T q773  
    r:+0.58  29.13        59.93 (30.80)
        1:31.39 (31.46)     2:01.94 (30.55)
  3 Joey Reilman     21 Univ Tennessee    1:58.43    2:02.08T q770  
    r:+0.66  28.58        59.53 (30.95)
        1:31.09 (31.56)     2:02.08 (30.99)
  3 Daniel Carr      20 Unattached        1:57.69    2:02.08T q770  
    r:+0.57  28.82        59.61 (30.79)
        1:31.18 (31.57)     2:02.08 (30.90)
  5 Ryan Murphy      23 California Aquat  1:53.57    2:02.27T q766  
    r:+0.59  28.64        59.48 (30.84)
        1:31.36 (31.88)     2:02.27 (30.91)
  6 Nathan Hayes     16 Seattle Metropol  2:02.59    2:03.37  q746  
    r:+0.62  29.12      1:00.15 (31.03)
        1:31.62 (31.47)     2:03.37 (31.75)
  7 Noah Young       18 Mason Manta Rays  2:03.49    2:03.78  q739  
    r:+0.67  30.11      1:02.24 (32.13)
        1:33.54 (31.30)     2:03.78 (30.24)
  8 Josh Zakala      20 Hpcentervictoria  2:01.87    2:04.23  q731  
    r:+0.67  29.14      1:00.46 (31.32)
        1:32.28 (31.82)     2:04.23 (31.95)

Women’s 50 Breast

26-year-old Molly Hannis swam to the number one seed in the 50 breast heats at 30.72 as she is swimming in her home pool at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is ahead of Faith Knelson of the High Performance Centre in Victoria, who recently verbally committed to Arizona.

Mission Viejo’s Annie Lazor (31.74) is the third seed heading in to finals as she has had the meet of her life after winning the 100 and 200 finals earlier in the meet, setting best times in both. Lazor is on the comeback trail after taking a year off after the 2016 Olympic Trials.

Rachel Bernhardt (31.85) and Danielle Herrman (31.86) are the fourth and fifth seeds, while Byanca Rodriguez (31.95) is the sixth seed.

Rachel Nicol (32.19) and Tjasa Pintar (32.27) also qualified for the final.

 Event 32  Women 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World: W 29.40  7/30/2017 Lilly King, USA
     American: A 29.40  7/30/2017 Lilly King, USA
    U.S. Open: O 29.62  6/10/2018 Lilly King, USA
     Jr World: J 29.86  8/27/2013 Ruta Meilutyte, LTU
     Pro Swim: P 29.62  2018      Lilly King
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Molly Hannis     26 Tennessee Aquati  1:05.78      30.72  q876  
         r:+0.67                       
  2 Faith Knelson    17 Hpcentervictoria  1:07.30      31.36  q823  
         r:+0.67                       
  3 Annie Lazor      24 Mission Viejo Na  1:08.49      31.74  q794  
         r:+0.71                       
  4 Rachel Bernhard  23 Gamecock Aquatic  1:08.28      31.85  q786  
         r:+0.67                       
  5 Danielle Herrma  31 Clovis Swim Club  1:11.04      31.86  q785  
         r:+0.69                       
  6 Byanca Rodrigue  24 Desert Dragons    1:07.80      31.95  q779  
         r:+0.64                       
  7 Rachel Nicol     25 Calgary SwimClub  1:07.03      32.19  q761  
         r:+0.74                       
  8 Tjasa Pintar     21 Univ Tennessee    1:09.31      32.27  q756  
         r:+0.70

Men’s 50 Breast

Alabama grad Pavel Romanov (27.69) is the top seed in the 50 breast after prelims at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. Romanov was a national champion at Alabama in his NCAA career when he swam the breaststroke leg on the winning 200 medley relay team in 2016, Alabama’s first relay win at NCAAs in school history.

Romanov is ahead of US veteran Kevin Cordes (27.85), who holds the American Record from the 2015 Worlds. Cordes mysteriously scratched the 200 breast yesterday after finishing fourth in the 100 on Thursday.

2018 National Champion Michael Andrew (27.93) is the third seed going into finals as he is in a tie with Nic Fink for the third spot.

Alexander Milanovich (28.17), Connor Hoppe (28.18), Andrew Wilson (28.51) and Evgenii Somov (28.71) also qualified for the final.

Event 33  Men 50 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World: W 25.95  7/25/2017 Adam Peaty, GBR
     American: A 26.76  8/4/2015  Kevin Cordes, USA
    U.S. Open: O 26.84  7/27/2018 Michael Andrew, RPC
     Jr World: J 26.97  4/4/2017  Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA
     Pro Swim: P 27.39  2016      Cody Miller
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Pavel Romanov    25 Alpha Aquatics    1:02.45      27.69  q823  
         r:+0.61                       
  2 Kevin Cordes     25 Phoenix Swim Clu    58.64      27.85  q808  
         r:+0.71                       
  3 Michael Andrew   19 Race Pace Club      59.38      27.93  q802  
         r:+0.65                       
  3 Nic Fink         25 Athens Bulldog S    59.40      27.93  q802  
         r:+0.70                       
  5 Alexander Milan  16 Etobicoke Swim C  1:02.82      28.17  q781  
         r:+0.73                       
  6 Connor Hoppe     23 California Aquat  1:00.53      28.18  q780  
         r:+0.66                       
  7 Andrew Wilson    25 Athens Bulldog S    59.19      28.51  q754  
         r:+0.62                       
  8 Evgenii Somov    19 Univ Louisville   1:00.49      28.71  q738  
         r:+0.72

Women’s 100 Free

Simone Manuel of Alto Swim Club is the fastest returning for the 100 free final tonight as she swam a 54.15 to cruise through the heats on the last day of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.

Manuel is ahead of fellow World Championship team member Margo Geer (54.56) in the prelims as those two look to be the face of US sprinting towards 2020.

Canadian teammates Kayla Sanchez (54.83) and Penny Oleksiak (55.11) are sitting in third and fourth. Notably, Oleksiak and Manuel tied for the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in an historic final.

Natalie Hinds (55.44), who is still early in her comeback to swimming, is the fifth seed as she swam another best time. She lowered her best that was a 55.47 from the 2015 US Nationals.

Gabby DeLoof (55.47), Kelsi Dahlia (55.82) and Gretchen Walsh (55.84) also qualified for the final that should be very competitive behind Manuel and Geer.

 Event 34  Women 100 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 51.71  7/23/2017 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
     American: A 52.27  7/28/2017 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
    Trial Cut: T 56.29
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Simone Manuel    22 Alto Swim Club      52.27      54.15T q870  
    r:+0.69  26.36        54.15 (27.79)
  2 Margo Geer       26 Mission Viejo Na    53.44      54.56T q851  
    r:+0.67  26.09        54.56 (28.47)
  3 Kayla Sanchez    17 Hpc-Ontario         53.68      54.83  q838  
    r:+0.66  26.93        54.83 (27.90)
  4 Penny Oleksiak   18 Hpc-Ontario         52.94      55.11  q826  
    r:+0.70  26.86        55.11 (28.25)
  5 Natalie Hinds    25 Athens Bulldog S    56.20      55.44T q811  
    r:+0.65  26.82        55.44 (28.62)
  6 Gabby Deloof     22 Club Wolverine      54.53      55.47T q810  
    r:+0.72  26.95        55.47 (28.52)
  7 Kelsi Dahlia     24 Cardinal Aquatic    53.87      55.82T q794  
    r:+0.65  26.92        55.82 (28.90)
  8 Gretchen Walsh   15 Nashville Aquati    54.38      55.84T q794  
    r:+0.72  26.88        55.84 (28.96)

Men’s 100 Free

It was a fairly slow 100 free prelims at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville with Michael Chadwick (50.00) on top of the field. Nobody broke 50 seconds in the heats but that should change tonight with pursuers Joao de Lucca (50.14) and Yuri Kisil (50.26) behind Chadwick. Both De Lucca (Brazil) and Kisil (Canada) swam for their native countries at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Cal swimmers Justin Lynch (50.41), Zheng Quah (50.47) and Tom Shields (50.59) as well as Matthew Josa (50.83) also qualified for the A-Final. All of them are now swimming postgrad except for Zheng, who is in his junior year in Berkeley.

Aaron Greenberg (50.69) is the seventh seed for the final.

 Event 35  Men 100 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
        World: W 46.91  7/30/2009 Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
     American: A 47.17  7/27/2017 Caeleb Dressel, USA
    U.S. Open: O 47.58  7/2/2008  Jason Lezak, Rose Bowl
     Jr World: J 47.58  8/10/2016 Kyle Chalmers, AUS
     Pro Swim: P 48.00  2016      Nathan Adrian
    Trial Cut: T 50.49
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                         === Round 1 ===                          
 
  1 Michael Chadwic  23 Team Elite          48.44      50.00T q825  
    r:+0.64  23.85        50.00 (26.15)
  2 Joao De Lucca    29 Cardinal Aquatic    49.05      50.14  q818  
    r:+0.69  24.30        50.14 (25.84)
  3 Yuri Kisil       23 Hpc-Ontario         48.50      50.26  q813  
    r:+0.69  24.21        50.26 (26.05)
  4 Justin Lynch     22 California Aquat    49.74      50.41T q805  
    r:+0.60  24.47        50.41 (25.94)
  5 Zheng Quah       22 Unattached          49.64      50.47  q802  
    r:+0.58  23.96        50.47 (26.51)
  6 Tom Shields      27 California Aquat    49.67      50.59  q797  
    r:+0.73  24.55        50.59 (26.04)
  7 Aaron Greenberg  23 Team Elite          50.27      50.69  q792  
    r:+0.61  24.24        50.69 (26.45)
  8 Matthew Josa     23 California Aquat    50.24      50.83  q786  
    r:+0.67  24.35        50.83 (26.48)

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