Lilly King Nails Another 2:22 200 Breast in Mission Viejo; Fink Puts Up 2:09 to Win at Pro Series

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Lilly King swam a solid 2:22.38 in winning the 200 breaststroke on Saturday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo as she was a 2:22.1 in March at Speedo Sectionals to sit fourth in the world currently. King was out quickly at 1:07.97 and held off teammate Annie Lazor (2:22.73) for second as she came home ini 36.3 on the final 50 compared to King’s 37.2.

Emily Escobedo finished in third at 2:23.58 as the top three here look to lock horns once more in Omaha for a ticket to Tokyo on the line. King and Lazor are the two fastest Americans in 2021, but Escobedo is within striking distance and should make the race interesting as this race was one we highlighted to watch before the meet started.

Madisyn Cox took it out with Lazor and Escobedo, but didn’t have the back half to hang on, as she was fourth at 2:25.48 while 400 IM champ Melanie Margalis (2:27.44 was fifth and 2017 Worlds silver medalist Bethany Galat (2:29.13) was sixth.

In the men’s race, Nic Fink swam a 2:09.73 with a 33.41 final 50, running down sprinter Michael Andrew, who was fourth at 2:11.32. Andrew was leading at the 150 at 1:36.14 as he set a best time in an event he isn’t necessarily known for.

Andrew just got out of the 50 free final where he was third in an event he will be a favorite to make the Olympic team come June. He was out-touched at the end, fading to fourth but still set a best time as Lyubomir Epitropov was second (2:10.85) and 2019 Worlds finalist Andrew Wilson (2:11.00) was third.

The time for Fink is the fastest any American has done this year.

2017 national champ Kevin Cordes was sixth at 2:12.75 behind Tommy Cope (2:12.14).

Event 17  Women 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
=========================================================================
        World: W 2:19.11  8/1/2013  Rikke Moeller Pedersen, DEN
     American: A 2:19.59  8/2/2012  Rebecca Soni, USA Olympic Team
    U.S. Open: O 2:20.38  7/7/2009  Rebecca Soni, Trojan
     Jr World: J 2:19.64  8/30/2015 Viktoria Gunes, TUR
     Pro Swim: P 2:20.77  5/19/2019 Annie Lazor, Mission Viejo Na
                 2:30.49  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 2:33.29  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Lilly King       24 Indiana Swim Clu  2:24.07    2:22.38        
    r:+0.66  31.71      1:07.97 (36.26)
        1:45.11 (37.14)     2:22.38 (37.27)
  2 Annie Lazor      26 Mission Viejo Na  2:25.55    2:22.73        
    r:+0.69  33.13      1:09.63 (36.50)
        1:46.41 (36.78)     2:22.73 (36.32)
  3 Emily Escobedo   25 Condors Swim Clu  2:24.40    2:23.58        
    r:+0.65  32.99      1:09.47 (36.48)
        1:46.46 (36.99)     2:23.58 (37.12)
  4 Madisyn Cox      25 Longhorn Aquatic  2:27.16    2:25.48        
    r:+0.71  33.18      1:09.96 (36.78)
        1:47.43 (37.47)     2:25.48 (38.05)
  5 Melanie Margali  29 Saint Petersburg  2:28.50    2:27.44        
    r:+0.70  33.89      1:11.40 (37.51)
        1:49.97 (38.57)     2:27.44 (37.47)
  6 Bethany Galat    25 Aggie Swim Club-  2:28.69    2:29.13        
    r:+0.59  33.62      1:11.46 (37.84)
        1:49.86 (38.40)     2:29.13 (39.27)
  7 Brooke Forde     22 Alto Swim Club-P  2:28.01    2:29.29        
    r:+0.69  34.34      1:11.77 (37.43)
        1:50.40 (38.63)     2:29.29 (38.89)
  8 Micah Sumrall    30 Gamecock Aquatic  2:27.75    2:29.62        
    r:+0.71  33.48      1:11.28 (37.80)
        1:49.87 (38.59)     2:29.62 (39.75)

 Event 18  Men 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
=========================================================================
        World: W 2:06.12  7/26/2019 Anton Chupkov, RUS
     American: A 2:07.17  6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
    U.S. Open: O 2:07.17  6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
     Jr World: J 2:09.39  7/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
     Pro Swim: P 2:08.95  2018      Andrew Wilson
                 2:15.28  W-II Oly Trials Wave II
                 2:17.89  W-I Oly Trials Wave I
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Nic Fink         27 Athens Bulldog S  2:11.37    2:09.73        
    r:+0.75  29.86      1:02.93 (33.07)
        1:36.32 (33.39)     2:09.73 (33.41)
  2 Lyubomir Epitro  21 Unattached-SE     2:11.95    2:10.85        
    r:+0.69  30.38      1:03.64 (33.26)
        1:37.39 (33.75)     2:10.85 (33.46)
  3 Andrew Wilson    27 Athens Bulldog S  2:13.23    2:11.00        
    r:+0.62  29.42      1:03.16 (33.74)
        1:37.25 (34.09)     2:11.00 (33.75)
  4 Michael Andrew   21 Race Pace Club-S  2:12.67    2:11.32        
    r:+0.69  29.00      1:02.07 (33.07)
        1:36.14 (34.07)     2:11.32 (35.18)
  5 Tommy Cope       23 Club Wolverine-M  2:12.70    2:12.14        
    r:+0.61  30.30      1:03.53 (33.23)
        1:37.62 (34.09)     2:12.14 (34.52)
  6 Kevin Cordes     27 Athens Bulldog S  2:13.31    2:12.75        
    r:+0.71  30.51      1:04.32 (33.81)
        1:38.70 (34.38)     2:12.75 (34.05)
  7 Brandon Fischer  32 Livermore Aqua C  2:13.47    2:15.75        
    r:+0.69  29.87      1:03.85 (33.98)
        1:39.04 (35.19)     2:15.75 (36.71)
  8 Charlie Swanson  23 Club Wolverine-M  2:13.07    2:15.85        
    r:+0.66  29.97      1:03.94 (33.97)
        1:39.39 (35.45)     2:15.85 (36.46)

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