TYR Pro Series Fort Lauderdale, Day Four Prelims: Regan Smith Pops Quick 100 Backstroke
The first three days of the TYR Pro Series in Fort Lauderdale have offered some of the top performances in the world, ranging from stellar distance efforts from Katie Ledecky to an American record from Gretchen Walsh to a dominant win from Hubert Kos. How will the final day of competition unfold? Well, the Day Four prelims featured impressive speedy times, setting the stage for a speedy final session.
Here’s what transpired during Saturday morning’s prelims:
Women’s 100 Backstroke
A trio of Olympic medalists highlighted the first event of the morning, with Regan Smith earning the top seed for the final. Smith delivered a mark of 58.40, which was nearly a second faster than the 59.37 from Canadian Kylie Masse. Also dipping under the minute barrier was Katharine Berkoff, who checked in at 59.57.
The reigning Olympic champion in the 100 backstroke, Smith is looking to back up her earlier victories in the 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke. She’ll be joined in the final by Claire Curzan (1:00.06) and Rhyan White (1:00.08), who also scared the minute barrier.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Coming off a win in the 200 backstroke on Friday night, Hubert Kos was superb in his morning outing, as he touched the wall in 53.29 en route to Lane Four for the final. Kos went more than a second faster than Jack Aikins, who secured the second seed in 54.84. Jack Harvey was the only other athlete to go sub-55, as he recorded a swim of 54.87.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
A University of Virginia-connected foursome placed its fingerprints all over the prelims of the 200 breaststroke, led by Olympic champion Kate Douglass, who earned the top seed in 2:25.42. She’ll be joined in the evening by fellow Cavaliers Alex Walsh (2:27.23), Leah Hayes (2:28.23) and Emma Weber (2:30.13).
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Spain’s Carles Coll Marti cruised through the morning heats in 2:12.59 and Lyubomir Epitropov managed a swim of 2:13.43 to book the middle lanes for the final. Also advancing to the championship heat were Mariano Lazzerini (2:13.90) and Denis Petrashov (2:13.92), who has already won the 50 breaststroke and 100 breast in Fort Lauderdale.
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Following the world record by Gretchen Walsh in the women’s 100 fly, Canadian Ilya Kharun put together a swift swim in the men’s 100 fly, going 50.86. Kharun set a national record in the 50 fly on Friday night and finished well ahead of Bjoern Kammann, who was the No. 2 qualifier in 52.12.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
Leah Hayes became the latest Virginia standout to earn a top seed for the night session, thanks to her morning swim in the 200 IM. Hayes, already into the final of the 200 breaststroke, produced a time of 2:11.12 for the 200 IM, with teammate Alex Walsh following her in 2:11.92. Also moving into the final was Regan Smith, off a time of 2:12.49.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
A stacked field is set for the men’s 200 IM, with Kieran Smith landing Lane Four for the final. Smith posted the only sub-2:00 performance of the morning, but he’ll have plenty of competition at night. Olympic champ Leon Marchand (2:00.35) followed in the No. 2 spot, with Mitchell Schott going 2:00.37 for third in the morning. Also reaching the final were Carson Foster (2:01.16), Shaine Casas (2:01.25) and Hubert Kos (2:01.59).
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Fresh off her world record in the 100 fly, Gretchen Walsh nailed a mark of 24.49 for the top seed in the 50 freestyle. Next to the wall was Kate Douglass, who managed a swim of 24.70. Torri Huske (24.77) and Rylee Erisman (25.00) were the third- and fourth-fastest performers of the morning.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Andrej Barna stood out in the 50 free, as he registered the line sub-22 outing of the morning. Barna produced a time of 21.77, which placed him ahead of the 22.03 of Michael Andrew and 22.12 of Quintin McCarty. Caeleb Dressel snuck into the final as the eighth seed, off a swim of 22.28.
- Results
- Wednesday Recap
- Thursday Recap
- Thursday Recap (Ledecky)
- Friday Recap (Walsh Record/Sprints)
- Friday Recap (Finke/Kos)
- Friday Recap (Weinstein)