Focus Back To Long Course Action Highlights The Week That Was

Photo Courtesy: Brenton Tse

This week saw more than a handful of meets across the world that brought the focus back to long course racing. The world top ten changed considerably this week as Americans, Europeans, and Australians all continued their preparations for Rio. Read below to get caught up on all the fast swimming from The Week That Was!

The Week That was is supported by AgonSwim.com

The Week That Was #5 – SwimMac Takes On 2016 Southern Premier

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Ryan Lochte before competing in the men's 400 meter IM final during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

While many of the elite professional swimmers were competing at the Orlando Arena Pro Series, much of the SwimMac contingent opted for the 2016 Summer Premier in Knoxville, Tennessee. The meet was swum in short course yards in prelims and long course meters in finals.

In an event we don’t often see him, Ryan Lochte won the 200 butterfly handily in 1:59.14. Lochte also recorded a 1:48.80 leading off the 800 freestyle relay and won the 200 IM in 2:01.14. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace posted a blistering fast 21.37 in the 50 yard freestyle before coming back to win it in 24.80 in long course finals. Also notable was Tennessee Aquatics’ Molly Hannis taking both the 100 (1:06.16) and 200 (2:25.44) breaststroke over SwimMac’s Katie Meili. That time in the 100 breast is a best time by a few tenth’s for Hannis, and continues what has been an amazing 2016 for the Tennessee swimmer.

The Week That Was #4 – 2016 NSW State Open Championships Serve As Final Prep For Aussie Trials

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

While American stars were traveling to Orlando at the latest Arena Pro Series meet, Australians were battling it out down under at the NSW State Open Championships. With Trials only a month away for the Australian team, this meet served as a final tuneup for many as they finished their preparations.

Cameron McEvoy won the 100 freestyle in 48.40, just off of his top-ranked time of 47.56. Finishing just behind McEvoy was seventeen-year-old Kyle Chalmers, who finished a couple tenths off his own personal best in 48.68. James Magnussen, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery, was third in a season-best 49.22. Magnussen later posted a 48.85 on the final day leading off the 4 x 100 free relay. McEvoy also finished first in a tight 200 freestyle, winning in 1:46.85. On the women’s side, Cate Campbell took the 100 free in 52.85, while sister Bronte won the 50 freestyle in 24.37. Emma Mckeon won a close 100 butterfly in 57.24 to post the fourth ranked time in the world this year, but saved the best for last when she set a Commonwealth record in the 200 freestyle on the last day of the meet. That gave the 21-year old the Commonwealth record by .01, breaking Joanna Jackson’s 2009 record. It also broke McKeon’s own Australian record by .04.

The Week That Was #3 – Katinka Hosszu Posts World Leading Times In Individual Medleys

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

Katinka Hosszu had a great week at the 2016 FFN Golden Tour in Marseilles, where she threw down world best times in the 200 and 400 IM. First, Hosszu broke her own 2009 European record in the 400 IM, recording a best time of 4:29.89. That was the first time the Iron Lady has been under 4:30 and ties her with the third fastest performance of all time. Later in the meet, Hosszu returned in the 200 IM with a world-leading 2:07.69 that cleared her top-ranked 2:08.20 from Nice in January. That swim gives Hosszu six out of the top ten all-time performances in the 200 IM and sits her almost three seconds ahead of the next fastest performer this year. Sakiko Shimizu owns the second-best time with a 2:10.51.

While we are used to seeing Hosszu put up fast times throughout the year, we aren’t used to seeing her swim such a (for her) light schedule. In addition to her two wins in the Individual Medleys, she only had one other swim during the meet. That was a 200 backstroke on the second day of the meet, which she won in 2:07.36 to move up to second in the world this year. This shift from marathon meet schedules to a more focused event choice likely reflects where she will be putting her focus in Rio this summer.

The Week That Was #2 – Abby Weitzeil Shines At American Short Course Championships

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

While much of the world was competing in long-course action this week, high school sprint phenom and future Cal Bear Abbey Weitzeil had a record-setting performance at the 2016 American Short Course Championships down in Austin, Texas. Scaring the American record in prelims with a 21.42, Weitzeil came back at night to win the event in 21.12 and obliterate Lara Jackson’s 2009 American record of 21.27. She finished the meet with the third and fourth fastest times ever in the 100 freestyle, touching in 46.47 in prelims and winning with a 46.52 at night. Both of those efforts were just off her second-ranked 46.29 from 2014 Junior Nationals.

This year’s meet also featured a two-day long-course competition, where Weitzeil put up world top ten times in the 50 (24.72) and 100 (53.77) freestyle events. Notably, Andrew Wilson put up a 59.90 in the prelims of the men’s 100 breaststroke to become the top ranked American in 2016.

The Week That Was #1 – Orlando Arena Pro Series Brings In American Stars

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Missy Franklin before competing in the women's 200 meter free final during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

This week many of the best swimmers from across the country came together for the third Arena Pro Series meet of 2016. Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, and many others came out to compete as they continue their preparations towards Olympic Trials this summer.

Missy Franklin had a breakthrough meet, breaking 1:00 in the 100-meter backstroke for the first time this season. Franklin split 29.40 and 30.40 en route to a 59.80 win in the event, expressing her satisfaction in her post-race interview. That swim puts her 4th in the world in that event. Franklin also won the 200-meter backstroke in 2:08.77, running down Dominque Bouchard the last 50 to move to fifth in the world and improve on her 2:09.21 from the Austin stop of the series.

Katie Ledecky, who said she was in the midst of heavy training, passed on her usual 400 and 800 freestyle events to focus on the shorter freestyle events and both IMs. Ledecky won the 200 freestyle in the second fastest time this year while also posting best times in the 200 and 400 IM.

Yuliya Efimova arguably had the two strongest swims of the meet, posting winning times of 1:05.70 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:21.41 in the 200 breaststroke. Those swims respectively rank her first and second in the world this year. Other notable wins included Nathan Adrian in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Madison Kennedy in the 50 freestyle, Michael Phelps in the 100 butterfly, Maya DiRado in the 200 butterfly, 200 IM and 400 IM, and Conor Dwyer in the 200 freestyle.

To see all of Swimming World’s coverage of the event, including race recaps, race video, and athlete interviews, go to our Event Landing Page.

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