The Week That Was: Stateside Meets Serve As Last Tuneup Before Trials

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week was highlighted with several meets across the United States which served as the final preparation for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. Read below to see what swims this week impacted the world rankings and who could be a potential spoiler at the end of this month at Trials!

The Week That Was #5 – More NCAA Coaching Hires

Photo Courtesy: Competitor

This week was full of more big coaching hires across the NCAA. The University of Toledo hired Jonas Persson as its head women’s swimming and diving coach. Persson was the former University of Utah Head Coach, where he worked primarily with sprinters. He was part of a coaching staff that saw every men’s team record and 17 women’s team records broken in the last five years, including sending seven athletes to NCAA’s. Florida Head Coach, Gregg Troy, announced this week the addition of Jeff Poppell to the Gator coaching staff. Poppell will take over duties as Associate Head Coach. Poppell’s resume includes stints as the head coach for Gulliver Preparatory School and Gulliver Swim Club for four years, the women’s head coach at the University of Arkansas for six years, and a part of the Bolles School coaching staff (where sophomore Caeleb Dressel trained in high school) for 13 seasons. Additionally, Florida State University will be looking for a new head coach, as they announced Frank Bradley would be stepping down as head coach after three years at the helm.

The Week That Was #4 – Mare Nostrum Tour Stops In Monaco

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 13: Chad le Clos on his way to qulaifying time and gold medal in the 200m butterfly for mens final during the finals session on day 4 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials on April 13 , 2016 at the Kings Park Aquatic Center pool in Durban, South Africa. Photo Credit / Anesh Debiky/Swim SA

Photo Courtesy: Anesh Debiky/Swimming South Africa

While there were several elite competitions going on stateside, European stars gathered at the Mare Nostrum stop in Monaco to continue their preparations for Rio. Chad le Clos swept the butterfly events, tying Joseph Schooling’s seventh ranked time of 51.58 from the Longhorn Elite Invite in the 100 and moved to fifth in the world in the 200 with a 1:54.80. Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu posted several wins with her usual marathon schedule, including the 400 IM (4:34.11), 200 back (2:09.58), 400 free (4:06.65), 100 backstroke (1:00.10), and 200 IM (2:11.11). Kirsty Coventry, Charlotte Bonnet, Marco Koch, and Paul Biedermann were among other international stars competing at the meet. Check out our full recaps of Day One and Day Two of the meet to see all results.

The Week That Was #3 – 2016 Longhorn Elite Invite

Jan 17, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Michael Phelps swims in the men's 200 meter IM final at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin were two of the biggest stars to grace the pool at the 2016 Longhorn Elite Invitational, and they were joined by several other American stars who were using the meet as a final tuneup before U.S. Trials in three weeks. Swimming in the pool that he set his first world record in 15 years ago, Phelps had an up and down meet. While he posted a win in the 100 freestyle (49.49) to kick off the meet, he failed to grab the top spot in any other event. The greatest Olympian of all-time finished second to Joseph Schooling in the 100 butterfly, was fourth in the 200 free (1:48.73), and scratched out of the 200 IM after qualifying fifth in 2:05.89. Schooling, who this week was officially named to the Singapore Olympic Team, touched out Phelps in the 100 butterfly, hitting the wall in 51.58 to the Olympic legend’s 51.65.

On the women’s side, Allison Schmitt put together one of her strongest meets since 2012. Schmitt won the 100 freestyle in 54.30 and the 200 freestyle in 1:56.87. The 2012 gold medalist also posted a third place finish in the 400 freestyle (4:08.36). Fellow 2012 gold medalist Missy Franklin won the 100 (1:00.50) and 200 backstroke (2:09.45), while grabbing second in the 100 free (54.56), second in the 200 free (1:57.78). Other notable wins included Will Licon in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.68), Chase Kalisz in the 400 IM (4:11.51), and David Nolan breaking 2:00 in the 200 IM for the first time in his career (1:59.40).

For full coverage of the 2016 Longhorn Elite Invitational, head over to our Event Landing Page.

The Week That Was #2 – 2016 Indianapolis Arena Pro Stop

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

On the men’s side, Jay Litherland had a busy meet, taking wins in the 200 freestyle (1:48.41), the 400 IM (4:13.93), and 200 IM (1:59.93). Nic Fink broke 1:00 in the 100 breast in prelims before grabbing the win in 1:00.13, and also grabbed a win in the 200 breast (2:09.89). 30-year old David Plummer had arguably the swim of the meet, vaulting himself to number two in the world in the 100 backstroke with a dominant 52.40.

For full coverage of the 2016 Indianapolis Pro Series, head over to our Event Landing Page.

The Week That Was #1 – 2016 Santa Clara Arena Pro Stop

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The other grand prix going on this week took place in Santa Clara and was host to a variety of international swimmers as well as many notable American stars. Sun Yang made a rare stateside appearance, vaulting to the top of the world rankings in the 200 free (1:44.82) and second in the 400 free courtesy of his prelims swim (3:43.55). Conor Dwyer also continued what has been an impressive 2016, moving to third in the world in the 200 free (1:45.41) and eighth in the 400 free (3:46.09). Ryan Murphy beat world leader Mitch Larkin head to head in the 100 backstroke, setting a new meet record with a 52.76. Larkin got the better of Murphy in the 200 back, out-touching the American 1:55.38 to 1:56.10. Other notable swims included Nathan Adrian winning the 50 freestyle (21.68) and posting a meet record during prelims of the 100 freestyle (48.17), and Josh Prenot winning the 200 breaststroke (2:09.44).

On the women’s side, Maya DiRado put together a nice meet that saw her finish third in the 200 free (1:57.70 – top American finisher), fourth in the 100 butterfly (59.16), and third in the 100 backstroke (1:00.36). The Aussie women also made some noise in Santa Clara: Emily Seebohm continued her dominance in the 100 backstroke, setting a new meet record with a 58.96 and winning the 200 backstroke (2:08.57), while Jessica Ashwood won the 400 free (4:03.91) and 800 free (8:18.14), both in meet record times, and Emma McKeon touched first in the 200 free (1:56.36 – meet record) and 100 free (53.30).

For complete coverage of the Santa Clara Grand Prix, head over to our Event Landing Page.

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