{"id":119826,"date":"2015-01-15T10:52:17","date_gmt":"2015-01-15T17:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=119826"},"modified":"2015-08-24T08:32:36","modified_gmt":"2015-08-24T15:32:36","slug":"katie-ledecky-clocks-lifetime-best-day-1-prelims-arena-pro-swim-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/katie-ledecky-clocks-lifetime-best-day-1-prelims-arena-pro-swim-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Katie Ledecky Clocks Lifetime Best During Day 1 Prelims of Arena Pro Swim Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arena Pro Swim Series editorial coverage is proudly sponsored by Arena USA. Visit ArenaUSA.com<\/a> for more information on our sponsor. For all the latest coverage, check out our event coverage page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

AUSTIN – NCAP’s Katie Ledecky started off her 2015 long course campaign in a big way with a lifetime best and a pair of top times at the Arena Pro Swim Series here in Austin.<\/p>\n

The women’s 100-meter free kicked off with a loaded finale that included a lifetime best from reigning Swimming World World Swimmer of the Year Katie Ledecky<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ledecky threw down a 54.89 to lead qualifying, clearing her previous best time of 54.96 from last summer’s nationals as she continues to put a bit more focus on the 100 free.<\/p>\n

The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu, fresh off an unreal 2014 FINA World Cup season<\/a> and a dominant Indian Ocean Meet<\/a>, took second in 54.93 with NYAC’s Megan Romano claiming third in 55.27.<\/p>\n

Ledecky doubled up in the women’s 400-meter free with what is a pedestrian time for the distance queen. \u00a0She clocked a pool record of 4:04.36 to set herself up for a potential second gold tonight.<\/p>\n

That’s her 11th-best swim ever, as she’s already clocked four times under 4:00 including her world record of 3:58.37 from the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hosszu picked up her second runner-up seed with a 4:10.75, while A&M’s Sarah Henry (4:13.67) and Bluefish’s Elizabeth Beisel (4:13.79) will give chase for the third spot on the podium.<\/p>\n

Tucson Ford’s Matt Grevers followed with the only sub-50 of the morning in the men’s 100-meter free. \u00a0He clocked a 49.70 to lead qualifying, while California Ryan Murphy took second in 50.08. \u00a0Texas’ Joseph Schooling checked\u00a0into third in 50.12.<\/p>\n

They’ll have their hands full with Nathan Adrian, who cruised into finals with a sixth-place 50.28.<\/p>\n

Notable A final misses were Ryan Lochte with a 14th-place 50.68 and Anthony Ervin with an 18th-place 51.08.<\/p>\n

California’s Marina Urzainqui hit the wall in 2:28.76 to lead the way in the women’s 200-meter breast, while Aggie Breeja Larson clocked a time of 2:29.18. \u00a0SwimMAC’s Micah Lawrence also cleared 2:30 with a third-place time of 2:29.97 with all three being capable of a whole lot more this evening.<\/p>\n

California picked up another top seed in the 200 breaststrokes as Josh Prenot clocked a 2:15.15 to pace prelims for the men. \u00a0NCAP’s Andrew Seliskar demolished his lifetime best in the event with a second-seeded 2:15.92. \u00a0That swim smashed his 2:17.62 from last year’s edition of the then Arena Grand Prix here in Austin. \u00a0Streamline’s Thiago Parravici earned third-place honors in 2:16.33.<\/p>\n

Michael Andrew, the 15-year-old professional swimmer, put up a personal best with a sixth-seeded time of 2:17.73. \u00a0That’s better than his 2:18.75 from a time trial at Juniors in December, and puts him another step closer to the 15-16 U.S. National Age Group record of 2:14.67 set by Matt Elliott in 2009.<\/p>\n

Club Wolverine’s Connor Jaeger, who is the likely favorite tonight, could have his hands full after posting a 3:52.06 in prelims of the men’s 400-meter free. \u00a0Conor Dwyer placed just behind with a time of 3:52.48 as he’ll be looking to press Jaeger in finals.<\/p>\n

Club Wolverine’s Bobby Hurley (3:53.97) and The Woodlands’ Michael McBroom (3:54.08) picked up third and fourth behind the top two in the middle distance event.<\/p>\n

Texas’ \u00a0Jack Conger nearly cleared his personal best in the men’s 100-meter fly with a 52.64 to lead qualifying. \u00a0That’s just off his 52.51 from the World University Games in 2013, which he should beat tonight during finals.<\/p>\n

Seliskar remained on fire, nearly claiming his second lifetime best of the morning with a 53.09 for the second seed. \u00a0That’s a bit shy of his 53.04 from the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, and is just his second time in the 53.0 range.<\/p>\n

Texas’ Tripp Cooper (53.46) and Matt Ellis (53.66) finished third and fourth with Lochte securing a finale spot with a fifth-place 53.74.<\/p>\n

California’s Noemie Thomas closed out prelims with a 58.70 to lead the women’s 100-meter fly qualifying. \u00a0Meanwhile, Mission Viejo’s Katie McLaughlin touched second in 59.79 with NCAP’s Cassidy Bayer turning in a third-place 1:00.15 in prelims.<\/p>\n

Arena Pro Swim Series \u2013 Austin<\/h2>\n

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