TYR Pro Swim Series: Katie Ledecky Leads Way in 400 Free Prelims

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

TYR Pro Swim Series: Katie Ledecky Leads Way in 400 Free Prelims

Katie Ledecky led the way in Friday’s prelims of the TYR Pro Swim Series stop in San Antonio, going 4:04.01 in the 400 freestyle.

The time was four seconds ahead of Leah Smith, matching the gold and bronze medalists form the Rio Olympics. Hali Flickinger was third.

Flickinger had a busy morning. She started by setting the pace in the 200 fly in 2:11.15, a race where the top eight were separated by eight tenths. In second was Dakota Luther, followed by Emma Sticklen and Kelly Pash.

Texas’s Anna Elendt continued a strong week by taking the top seed in the 200 breaststroke. She went 2:25.98, a best time that gets her within a second of the German record in the event (2:25.00, by Jessica Steiger in 2017). Elendt has already downed the German 100 meter record this week.

Second in the morning was Lilly King, fresh off tying the PSS record in the 100 breast, with a time of 2:27.68. Annie Lazor was third.

Claire Curzan led the way in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.04. She’s followed by Erika Brown, Natalie Hinds and Mallory Comerford, all within four tenths.

Curzan also took the top seed in the 100 backstroke, going 1:00.24 in prelims. The A final is stacked with Olympians, with Rhyan White second in 1:00.97 and Phoebe Bacon and Olivier Smoliga tied for third in 1:01.27. Beata Nelson and Gabby DeLoof also made the A final.

On the men’s side, Chase Kalisz had a busy morning session. He went 1:59.99 to grab the top seed in the 200 butterfly, then finished second in the 200 breast in a season-best 2:14.40. Leon Marchand took the top seed in the latter event in 2:11.71.

The top seed in the 50 free went to David Curtiss, the NC State freshman clocking in at 22.13. Michael Andrew was second in 22.29, with Caeleb Dressel going 22.40.

Shaine Casas and Coleman Stewart have a 100 back duel set up for Friday night. Casas was quickest in prelims at 55.35, .09 up on Stewart. Sam Stewart is the third seed in 55.75. The top seed in the 400 free went to Bar Soloveychik in 3:54.13.

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