Pro Swim Series Sacramento, Day 3 Prelims: Luka Mjjatovic Leads Way in 400 Free
Luka Mijatovic is in a rich vein of form, the California teenager setting best times and serving notice among the senior national team set. He’ll have another chance to do that Friday night in Sacramento.
Mijatovic led the way in prelims in the 400 free with a time of 3:52.89 on Friday. It’s well off his best, but still more than a second better than the field.
This stop of the Pro Swim Series includes semifinals for the 200-stroke events, meaning the 200 fly and 200 back Friday night.
Women’s 200 butterfly
Caroline Bricker led the way in prelims with a time of 2:10.92. That was 1.5 seconds up on Bella Sims, who went 2:12.46 in the latest entry of her busy program.
It’s a gap back to third-place Moji Pholjamjumrus of the University of Nevada in 2:16.20, followed .99 seconds later by Michaela Mattes. Georgia’s Ieva Maluka is eighth and into semifinals.
Men’s 200 butterfly
Henry McFadden set himself a busy double. The winner of the 200 free started out with a win in prelims of the 200 fly, going 2:01.47. He was .19 seconds up on Joey Tepper of the Minnesota. Teen Charlie Cancelmo also cracked 2:02 to set the top of the A final. Andres Brooks of Puerto Rico was fourth in 2:02.37. Grant Sanders is in the mix in seventh.
Women’s 50 freestyle
The ageless Kasia Wasick is still firing off 24s with regularity, this time a 24.97 to lead the way into the A final. Torri Huske is searching for another win in the 50, her time of 25.03 slotting her into second. Kalia Antoniou is third in 25.17, followed by Caroline Larsen in 25.21 and Taylor Ruck another tenth back.
The A final will include Frenchwomen Marrie Wattel in sixth and Mary-Ambre Moluh in eighth, sandwiching Venezuelan international Lismar Lyon.
Among the non-starters who might’ve challenged were Mia West and Liberty Clark.
Men’s 50 freestyle
Alabama’s Sean Niewold was near a best time, leading the way in prelims in 21.76. He was a half-second clear of Dylan Carter in second, the Trinidad and Tobago veteran going 22.27. Santo Condorelli was third, with Michael Andrew fourth.
The rest of the A final is international, with Canadian Ruslan Gaziev sixth, Nans Mazellier of France seventh and Lamar Taylor of the Bahamas eighth. Brendan Whitfield was fifth in 22.44 to get an American in there.
Among the B finalists are Mikel Schreuders in ninth, Jonathan Tan in 10th, Jerry Fox in 12th and Yuri Kisil in 13th.
Women’s 200 backstroke
Phoebe Bacon led the way in a loaded 200 back in 2:11.19. She was eight tenths up on fellow Olympian Rhyan White, with Katharine Berkoff third in 2:12.81. They’ll have semis to sort themselves for the final.
Fourth was Kennedi Dobson in 2:14.95. Lauren Lonsdale, all of 14 years old, went 2:15.28. Torri Huske was 10th in 2:21.50.
Men’s 200 backstroke
Off a strong swim in the 200 free, Keaton Jones led the way in 2:00.32 in the 200 back. Second was Ethan Ekk in 2:02.29, .03 up on NC State’s Gavin Keough. Cal backstroke also put Humberto Najera in fourth place, while Daniel Diehl is the fourth of the 2:02s in prelims.
Jackson Hartzler led the rest in 2:03.29. Joey Tepper was seventh.
Women’s 400 freestyle
Kennedi Dobson held enough in reserve to lead the field in the 400 free in 4:11.39. Thilda Haell was second in 4:13.08, followed by Marie Landreneau and Bella Sims, the latter in 4:16.56.
Michaela Mattes was fifth in 4:18.25. Alexa McDevitt, Chloe Stepanek and Ava Chavez round out the top eight.
Men’s 400 freestyle
Luka Mijatovic led the way in 3:52.89, setting the pace by more than a second over the field. Henry McFadden is the one to watch, in third in 3:58.06. In between is 17-year-old Juan Vallmitjana in 3:54.41.
Ethan Ekk finished fourth in 3:58.13, one of four 3:58s, including Julien Rousseau, Ellis Crisci and Luke Brennan. Canadian Aiden Kirk rounds out the top eight in 3:59.08, the last sub-4 swim.