TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville: Felix Aubock Caps Distance Treble in 800 Free; Michael Andrew Tops 50 Free Field (Men’s Recap)

Photo Courtesy: Mike Kasapoglu

TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville: Felix Aubock Caps Distance Treble in 800 Free (Men’s Recap)

Felix Aubock is vying to be an Olympian this year for the third time in his distinguished career. The Austrian’s 2024 is off to a flying start.

The former University of Michigan standout won his third race of the weekend at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville Saturday night, besting a field that included Bobby Finke to win the 800 freestyle.

Aubock went 7:51.96. He was more than four seconds clear of Lucas Henveaux. Finke finished third in 7:55.85.

Aubock controlled the race early, getting out front in the first 200. Once he hit 400 meters, he turned it on, sub-30 seconds in each of his last eight 50s. He went out in 3:58.39 for the front half and came back nearly five seconds faster.

Aubock won the 200 free and 400 free already this week. He was second to Finke in the 1,500.

Henveaux, the Belgian by way of Berkeley, was second in 7:55.64. He warded off Finke’s late charge, the reigning Olympic gold medalist a half-second quicker over the final 50 but .21 back overall. Teenager Matthew Marsteiner was fourth in 8:10.92.

The rest of the events on the final night:

100 backstroke

Shaine Casas delivered a second impressive finals swim in as many nights as the 24-year-old won the 100 back. He went out very fast, first at the wall and easily the fastest out of the blocks, to win in 53.54 seconds.

Second was Hunter Armstrong in 53.97. No stranger to early speed, Armstrong was a tenth slower off the block than Casas and a half-second down at the 50.

Jonny Marshall was second in 54.36, one of four swimmers in the 52. Kacper Stokowski, Justin Ress and Kieran Smith rounded out that group. Jack Aikins won the B final in 54.77, which would’ve been sixth.

200 breaststroke

Using the home pool edge, Tennessee’s Lyubomir Epitropov won the 200 breast in 2:11.59. The Bulgarian was seven tenths behind American Will Licon at the final wall but brought it home in 33.71 to edge Licon by .18 seconds.

Nic Fink was third in 2:12.89. Joshua Chen, at 18 the only A finalist under 23, was fourth in 2:13.71, .04 up on Jake Foster.

200 individual medley

Carson Foster and Trenton Julian went blow for blow in a thrilling IM, Foster getting the measure of the Cal swimmer by .06 seconds in 1:58.83. Foster led by .03 seconds after 150 meters, and it was the same margin coming home to secure the victory.

Grant House nearly spoiled the party by splitting 28.12 to veer within .13 seconds of Julian in 1:59.0. Kieran Smith, finishing up a double, was fourth. Will Licon was seventh, a spot behind Jay Litherland. Grant Sanders, seventh in the 200 breast, was eighth in the 200 IM.

50 freestyle

Michael Andrew ended the meet with a victory, sprinting to the wall in 21.87 seconds. He was ahead of a second-place tie between Santo Condorelli and Jordan Crooks, the latter in his home pool, in 22.06.

Matt King finished fourth in 22.12. Alberto Mestre was fifth.

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