FINA World Cup Indianapolis Day 1 Prelims: Katie Ledecky Starts Strong in 400 Free

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The 2022 FINA World Cup opened its Indianapolis stop with Thursday’s Day 1 heats.

The star-studded meet started with some star power as USA’s Katie Ledecky took the top seed in the 400 free, touching the wall in 3:57.86. She was the only swimmer to break four minutes during the prelims session.

The final will be loaded with U.S. swimmers as Bella Sims took the second seed (4:00.20), followed by Erin Gemmell (4:01.35), Claire Weinstein (4:02.26), Hali Flickinger (4:02.41), Jillian Cox (4:06.18), Katie Grimes (4:06.23) and Alexa Reyna (4:06.93).

The men’s 400 free is also loaded. USA’s Kieran Smith took the top spot in 3:41.69, holding off Jake Magahey (3:42.60) and Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys (3:43.23).

The final will also see USA’s Drew Kibler (3:43.68), South Africa’s Matthew Sates (3:44.17), Netherlands’ Luc Kroon (3:44.77) and Great Britain’s Duncan Scott (3:45.10).

Results

In the 50 backstroke, Sweden’s Louise Hansson was first to the wall in 26.32 She will be joined in the final by Canada’s Kylie Masse (26.43), Netherland’s Kira Toussaint (26.48), USA’s Abbey Weitzeil (26.61) – who made her debut in the FINA World Cup Indianapolis stop – Canada’s Ingrid Wilm (26.69). Beata Nelson (26.97) snuck into the final with the seventh seed and could have a lot left with her short-course power.

In the men’s 200 backstroke, Poland’s Kacper Stokowski took the top spot with a 1:51.71. Strong swims also got Brendan Burns (1:52.90), Puerto Rico’s Yeziel Morales (1:52.90) and USA’s Shaine Casas (1:53.04) into the finals.

In the women’s 200 butterfly, Canada’s Summer McIntosh got to the wall first with a 2:06.84. Alex Shackell was next at 2:07.06, followed by two U.S. stars who competed in the 400 free less than an hour before. Katie Grimes took the third seed in 2:07.30, followed by Hali Flickinger (2:07.50). It will be interesting to see how much they have left in the tank tonight doing finals in two of the more grueling events.

The men’s 100 butterfly looks to have an interesting showdown on tap. Japan’s Takeshi Kawamoto took the first seed in 49.87, just ahead of South Africa’s Chad le Clos (49.91), USA’s Luca Urlando (50.10), Germany’s Marius Kusch (50.37) and Australia’s Matthew Temple (50.40).

In the women’s 200 breaststroke, Canada put four in the finals at the FINA World Cup stop with Sydney Pickrem leading the field at 2:21.33. USA’s Lilly King took the second seed at 2:21.68, just ahead of Slovakia’s Andrea Podmanikova (2:22.22), Canada’s Kelsey Wog (2:23.17), USA’s Annie Lazor (2:23.58) and Canada’s Tessa Cieplucha (2:24.25).

In the men’s 100 breaststroke, the U.S. took the top three seeds. Nic Fink touched the wall in 57.54, just ahead of Cody Miller (57.75) and Reece Whitley (57.94). The trio was the only group to break 58 seconds.

The women’s 50 free is absolutely loaded with speed. Poland’s Kasia Wasick was first to the wall during the heats with a 23.57, just ahead of USA’s Abbey Weitzeil (23.75). Australia’s Madison Wilson took the third spot (23.85), followed by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (23.99), France’s Beryl Gastaldello (24.08), USA’s Gabi Albiero (24.31), Natalie Hinds (34.47) and Linnea Mack (24.56).

The men’s 50 free also has plenty of star power. Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter had the fastest swim of the morning at 21.03. USA’s Justin Ress was just behind at 21.35, followed by Australia’s Kyle Chalmers (21.41), Egypt’s Ali Khalafalla (21.50), Hong Kong’s Ian Ho (21.62) and USA’s Hunter Armstrong (21.62).

The women’s 100 IM will see some stars in a non-ordinary event at the FINA World Cup. Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko took the top seed in 58.79, just a hundredth of a second ahead of USA’s Beata Nelson (58.80). Sweden’s Louise Hansson took the third spot in 58.84, just ahead of USA’s Izzy Ivey (59.05), USA’s Leah Hayes (59.36), France’s Beryl Gastaldello (59.38), Canada’s Sydney Pickrem (59.51) and Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte (59.67).

The men’s 100 IM saw USA and Canada’s top stars take the stage. USA’s Michael Andrew took the top seed in 52.02, followed by Canada’s Finlay Knox (52.06) and Javier Acevedo (52.45). USA’s Shaine Casas (52.56) and Ryan Murphy followed (52.67), while Italy’s Thomas Ceccon snuck in to the final with the eighth spot (52.91).

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