TYR Pro Series Westmont: Leon Marchand and Regan Smith Set Table For Dazzling Finishes

TYR Pro Series Westmont: Leon Marchand and Regan Smith Set Table For Dazzling Finishes

Through two days of action at the TYR Pro Series in Westmont, Illinois, Frenchman Leon Marchand and American Regan Smith have been the primary headliners. On Saturday, they’ll look to wrap up competition with additional strong performances that can establish groundwork for the rapidly approaching summer season.

Here is what unfolded during the fourth-day preliminaries.

Women’s 200 Individual Medley

The bronze medalist in this event at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, teenager Leah Hayes secured the top seed for the final. Coming off a victory earlier in the meet in the 400 individual medley, Hayes moved through her morning swim in 2:12.94. Hayes’ mark was a little more than a second quicker than the effort of Israel’s Anastasya Gorbenko, who touched in 2:13.98. Also advancing to the final were Izzy Ivey (2:14.09) and Leah Smith (2:14.72).

Men’s 200 Individual Medley

Reigning world champion Leon Marchand of France eased through his prelim in 2:01.51, with Indiana’s Luke Barr going 2:01.83 for the second seed. Marchand has already claimed victories over the weekend in the 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke. Marchand’s training partner in Arizona, Olympic titlist Chase Kalisz, did what was necessary to advance to the final, clocking in at 2:03.65 for the fifth seed.

Women’s 200 Backstroke

Regan Smith has been impressive throughout the TYR series, and her latest appearance in Westmont has brought continued success. After winning the 100 butterfly on Thursday, Smith doubled in the 200 fly and 100 backstroke on Friday. On Saturday morning, her mark of 2:07.98 in the 200 backstroke handed her the top seed in that event by more than three seconds over Anna Peplowski (2:11.26), Phoebe Bacon (2:12.24) and Isabelle Stadden (2:12.60).

Men’s 200 Backstroke

Hubert Kos and Ryan Murphy pushed the pace during the morning, claiming the top two seeds in respective times of 1:56.28 and 1:56.31. Murphy is the reigning world champ and was the runnerup in the 100 backstroke on Friday night. As for Kos, the Arizona State standout is a rising star for Hungary across multiple events. Joining Kos and Murphy under 2:00 in prelims was Kieran Smith, as the middle-distance freestyle ace went 1:59.51. NCAA champ Destin Lasco (2:00.64) and Texas star Carson Foster (2:01.33) also reached the final.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

A three-battle has been set up for the evening session, with Anna Elendt leading qualifying in the one-lap sprint. The German, who competes for the University of Texas, garnered the top seed in 30.64. She was followed in 30.69 by Lilly King, with Lydia Jacoby clocking 30.84 for the third seed. Jacoby, Elendt’s collegiate teammate, won the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet while King was the victor in the 200 breaststroke on Friday night.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke

Six men managed times of 27.77 or faster during prelims, highlighted by the 27.40 of Denis Petrashov and the 27.42 of Joao Gomes. The win at night should be wide open, thanks to Michael Andrew going 27.47 and Nic Fink touching the wall in 27.64 during prelims. Also breaking the 28-second barrier in qualifying were Jorge Murillo (27.74) and Tonislav Sabev (27.77).

Women’s 100 Freestyle

A dominant win earned in the 50 freestyle, Abbey Weitzeil will look to complete the sprint double in the final after producing a time of 53.64 in the prelims. Weitzeil was almost a second clear of second seed Olivia Smoliga, who turned in a swim of 54.59. Gabi Albiero was next in 54.68.

Men’s 100 Freestyle

A quartet of athletes broke the 49-second barrier, led by Jorge Iga in 48.79. Matthew King checked in as the second seed, behind a mark of 48.95. In the third and fourth spots were Cal teammates Jack Alexy and Bjorn Seeliger, who respectively went 48.97 and 48.98.

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