2019 TYR Pro Swim Series Richmond: Caeleb Dressel Climbs World Rankings, Takes Two Top Seeds on Day 3

by Diana Pimer

12 April 2019, 05:56am

On the second night of finals at the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series Richmond, Katie Ledecky was back in the pool to win her second race of the meet. But it was 14-year-old Claire Curzan who stole the show, shattering the 13-14 100 Butterfly National Age Group Record.

Curzan had a busy morning on day three with races in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and 50 Butterfly. Caeleb Dressel highlighted the morning with top seeds in the 50 Freestyle and 50 Butterfly. Hali Flickinger was also successful across the board by qualifying for three ‘A’ finals, including top honors in the 200 Butterfly.

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Order of Events:

• Women’s 200 Butterfly
• Men’s 200 Butterfly
• Women’s 50 Freestyle
• Men’s 50 Freestyle
• Women’s 100 Backstroke
• Men’s 100 Backstroke
• Women’s 200 Breaststroke
• Men’s 200 Breaststroke
• Women’s 50 Butterfly
• Men’s 50 Butterfly
• Women’s 400 Freestyle
• Men’s 400 Freestyle

Women’s 200 Butterfly

Hali Flickinger posted a 2:08.12 in the 200 Butterfly to take the first top seed of the morning. The swim was one second off her world-leading 2:07.10 from Des Moines, setting her up for success in tonight’s final. Her 2:08.12 would also be the sixth-fastest in the world this year. Katie Drabot also jumped into the top-twenty world rankings with her 2:10.44 and second seed.

Megan Kingsley was not far behind in 2:11.22, just three tenths of her best time. Kelsi Dahlia cruised in at 2:12.27, a bit faster than her January swim in this event. Ella Eastin (2:12.44), Leah Gingrich (2:13.67), Alena Kraus (2:13.91) and Mia Abruzzo (2:15.21) also qualified for the top final.

Men’s 200 Butterfly

Anton Ivanov took top honors in the men’s race, coming in at 1:57.64. Zach Harting swam the fourth-fastest American time this year in 1:58.99. Justin Wright took the third seed in 2:00.11 and was followed closely by Chase Kalisz in 2:00.75.

David Dixon was fifth in 2:02.84, with Jan Switkowski (2:02.98), Tomas Peribonio (2:03.26) and Micah Oh (2:03.93) placing sixth through eighth.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

Simone Manuel was the lone swimmers under 25 seconds in the 50 Freestyle prelims. Her 24.90 is her best prelims swim of the morning and is only .15 off her 24.75 season-best from January’s Pro Swim stop in Knoxville. The time currently ranks her ninth in the world. Margo Geer and Kasja Will tied for the second seed in 25.10. Geer’s 24.78 from Knoxville has her eleventh in the world this year, while Wilk sits seventeenth (25.04).

Another tie came from Farida Osman and Amanda Kendall at 25.31 for fourth. Olivia Smoliga (25.34) was sixth, followed by Dahlia (25.42) and Anika Apostalon (25.51).

Men’s 50 Freestyle

Caeleb Dressel bettered his season-best of 22.08 with a 22.04. The swim is much faster than his 22.35 prelims swim at the Des Moines stop of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Des Moines. He also moves from eleventh to seventh in the world with this time. Michael Andrew, who currently holds the fifth-fastest time in the world (21.94), was right behind in 22.08. Michael Chadwick‘s 22.22 bumps him into the top twenty in the standings, and earned him the third seed in Richmond.

Not far behind was Mihalis Deliyiannis in 22.27. He was followed by Sameh Abdelrahman (22.48), Ryan Held (22.56), Andrej Barna (22.64) and Jack Conger (22.66).

Women’s 100 Backstroke

18-year-old Katharine Berkoff was the only woman under the one-minute barrier in the 100 Backstroke prelims. She was right on her best time, coming in ay 59.78 for the top seed. The swim is the fourth-fastest by an American this year, and puts her seventh in the current worldwide rankings. Olivia Smoliga, whose season-best puts her fifth, took the second seed in 1:00.11. Ali DeLoof was also close to her season-best, racing to a 1:00.52 for third.

Elise Haan (1:00.80), Lisa Bratton (1:00.94) and Hali Flickinger (1:00.96) took the fourth through sixth seeds. Claire Curzan continued her successful with with a one-and-a-half second drop in this event. She took the seventh seed in 1:01.08. She is now the sixth-best performer in this event for the Americans in the 13-14 age group. Rounding out the top qualifiers was Kylee Alons in 1:01.48.

Men’s 100 Backstroke

Coleman Stewart swam his third-fastest long course 100 Back of his career to take first in the 100 Backstroke preliminaries. He finished in 54.83. Ryan Murphy cruised in for second at 55.00, three quarters of a second faster than his prelims swim of 55.75 in Knoxville. He went on to swim a 53.17 in those finals, giving him the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. Jacob Pebley (55.23) and Matt Grevers (55.27) were close behind for third and fourth.

Hennessey Stuart (55.56), Nikos Sofianidis (55.67), Corey Main (55.68) and Destin Lasco (55.80) also earned a spot in the ‘A’ final.

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

Emily Escobedo raced to a season-best in the 200 Breaststroke. Her 2:26.22 is her fastest prelim swim of the season by over one second as well. Annie Lazor cruised in at 2:27.84 for the second seed. Bethany Galat was third in 2:28.39.

Zoe Bartel (2:30.50), Madisyn Cox (2:32.02), Laura Goettler (2:33.56), Molly Hannis (2:34.30) and Anna Keating (2:35.58) earned fourth through eighth.

Men’s 200 Breaststroke

18-year-old AJ Pouch claimed top honors in the men’s race, coming in at 2:13.12. He edged out Nic Fink, who raced to a 2:13.77. Josh Prenot (2:14.01) and Carlos Claverie (2:14.05) were also close in the heats.

Cody Miller cruised in at 2:14.59 for fifth. He was followed by Chuck Katis (2:15.44), Kevin Cordes (2:15.68) and Andrew Wilson (2:16.14).

Women’s 50 Butterfly

Farida Osman was first to the wall in the 50 Butterfly, finishing in 26.32. The time is right near her previous prelims swims from the first two stops of the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series. She was closely followed by 14-year-old Claire Curzan, who has officially entered the top-twenty worldwide rankings in this event with her 26.37.

Amanda Kendall led the remaining swimmers in 26.43. Kelsi Dahlia (26.59) and Aliena Schmidtke (26.69) were separated by just one tenth, while Natalie Hinds (26.78) also came in under 27 seconds. Lexi Cuomo (27.56) and Leah Gingrich (27.65) also earned spots in the ‘A’ final.

Men’s 50 Butterfly

Caeleb Dressel posted another season-best, this time in the 50 Butterfly by over half a second. His 23.24 puts him fifth in the world rankings and first for tonight’s final. Nathan Lile was second in 23.59 followed by Michael Andrew in 23.62. Andrew’s best this season of 23.36 ranks seventh worldwide.

Giles Smith swam a quick 23.68 for fourth, with Santiago Grassi close behind in 23.74. Sameh Abdelrahman was next in 23.87. Zach Harting (24.02) and Jack Saunderson (24.04) rounded out the top eight qualifiers.

Women’s 400 Freestyle

Katie Ledecky swam to the top seed in the 400 Freestyle at 4:06.96. She will chase the 4:02.71 she posted in the finals at Knoxville. Leah Smith swam her fastest prelims 400 free of the season, taking the second seed in 4:09.49. Kaersten Meitz was third in 4:11.81, consistent with her preliminary swims so far this season.

Hannah Moore was fourth in 4:13.07. Hali Flickinger qualified for yet another ‘A’ final with her fifth-placed 4:13.97. They will be joined by Katie Drabot (4:13.98), Claire Tuggle (4:14.26) and Madelyn Donohoe (4:16.18) in the final.

Men’s 400 Freestyle

Zane Grothe put up his fastest prelims swim of the year in the men’s event. His season-best of 3:49.28 ranks eighteenth worldwide. Anton Ipsen was second in 3:53.20. True Sweetser was a 3:55.12 for third in his first 400 free of the year. Marcelo Acosta was fourth in 3:55.13.

Santi Corredor (3:57.74), Ryan Waters (3:57.89), Gil Kiesler (3:58.03) and Luke Johnson (3:59.12) rounded out the top eight.

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Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations

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