The second night of finals kicks off tonight at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Richmond with the first full night of events after yesterday’s opening 800 frees. Katie Ledecky is back in the pool first thing tonight with the 200 free as the top seed. She’ll be joined in that final by Leah Smith, who notched a huge PB in the 800 free last night.
Others to watch will be Michael Andrew in the 50 back, who set a new TYR Pro Swim Series record in prelims, and Claire Curzan, who recorded a new 13-14 NAG record in the 100 fly (59.00).
Event Schedule:
Women’s 200 Free
Men’s 200 Free
Women’s 100 Breast
Men’s 100 Breast
Women’s 50 Back
Men’s 50 Back
Women’s 100 Fly
Men’s 100 Fly
Women’s 400 IM
Men’s 400 IM
Women’s 200 Free
Katie Ledecky led from start to finish in the opening event tonight, touching the wall first in 1:56.28 to take her second event win at this TYR Pro Swim Series stop. That was just off the 1:55.78 she put up in Knoxville that currently has her third in the world.
In second was Leah Smith in 1:57.54, matching the finish she had to Ledecky in the 800 free last night. That knocks about half a second off of her time from prelims and moves her to just outside the top 10 for the year. In third was Madisyn Cox (1:58.76).
Men’s 200 Free
Caeleb Dressel held on to win the 200 free in 1:47.31, just missing out on a top-10 time in the world tonight. Dressel was out fast, hitting the wall at 51.91 at the 100. While he faded down the stretch just a touch he still split 27’s on his last two 50’s and held on for a comfortable win.
In second was 800 free champion Zane Grothe in 1:48.12, followed by Jack Conger in a 1:49.21. Grothe battled his way onto the podium with some strong closing speed, posting the fastest final 50 split (27.00) of anyone in the field to move into second.
Conger finished just ahead of Dressel’s teammate Jan Switkowski from Gator Swim Club, who was fourth in 1:49.34. Also under 1:50 tonight was Zach Harting (1:49.94), who touched out Jacob Pebley (1:50.33).
Women’s 100 Breast
Annie Lazor just missed her season best in the 100 breast tonight, touching first in 1:06.72 to take the win. That was just .06 off her best time from Des Moines, which has her currently ranked #2 in the world.
In second was Sophie Hansson in 1:08.05. That was just a bit slower than her 1:07.82 from prelims this morning, but still within a half second of her lifetime best time. In third was Bethany Galat (1:08.26), which was a huge drop from her morning swim of 1:09.88.
She was trailed by four 1:08’s, with Molly Hannis (1:08.49), Katie Meili (1:08.55), Breeja Larson (1:08.81), and Emily Escobedo (1:08.89).
Men’s 100 Breast
Cody Miller held onto his top seed in the 100 breast, winning the 100 tonight in 1:00.98. He was nearly caught by Andrew Wilson, who was just fourth at the 50 (28.61) but closed in the second-fastest split of the field (32.43). He ended up just .06 behind Miller in 1:01.04.
The rest of the final was incredibly close, with Nic Fink (1:01.05), Kevin Cordes (1:01.08), Josh Prenot (1:01.54), and Chuck Katis (1:01.74) all close behind.
Nils Wich-Glasen (1:02.11) and Jan Delkeskamp (1:02.18) rounded out the A final.
Women’s 50 Back
Olivia Smoliga finished as the only woman under 28 seconds in tonight’s 50 back at the TYR Pro Swim Series Richmond. Smoliga took the win in 27.89, about a half second off of her Pro Swim Series record of 27.43. Ali DeLoof kept it close over the 50, but didn’t have enough to catch Smoliga and ended up just behind in 28.08.
Those two were a touch ahead of the rest of the field, as third went to Katharine Berkhoff (28.55), followed by Gabi Fa’amausili (28.78), Claire Curzan (28.81), Isabella Arcila Hurtado (28.84), and Anika Apostalon (28.86) were all bunched up just under 28 seconds.
Men’s 50 Back
Michael Andrew was just off of his Pro Swim Series record from this morning but still had enough to win tonight’s 50 backstroke. Andrew touched in 24.76, exactly .10 slower than his Pro Swim Series record this morning. That time has him currently ranked #2 in the world for 2019.
In second was Ryan Held touching in 25.16, which was almost two-tenths off what he went this morning (24.99). That time currently has him at #6 in the world. Third went to Matt Grevers (25.18), who improved his season-best by about two-tenths.
Grevers was followed closely by Ryan Murphy (25.22) and Jacob Pebley (25.33).
Women’s 100 Fly
Kelsi Dahlia posted a win in her signature 100 fly tonight, finishing just a touch quicker than her prelims swim to hit the wall in 57.99. That is less than two-tenths off her season-best from the Knoxville stop of the Pro Swim Series (57.86).
In second was Claire Curzan, who broke the 13-14 NAG record for the second time today. Curzan posted hit a 59.00 in the morning to break the record, before taking it all the way down to a 58.61 tonight. That makes her the first 13-14 swimmer to break 59 seconds in the long course 100 fly.
Third went to Farida Osman (58.89), nearly identical to her prelims time and just off her own season best of 58.68.
Men’s 100 Fly
Caeleb Dressel grabbed his second event win of the night in the 100 fly, coming from behind to take the win by more than half a second. Dressel was actually in seventh at the 50 (24.99), but had the fastest second 50 of anyone in the field (27.09) to hit the wall in 52.08. That is about half a second off his season best 51.51 from Des Moines.
In second was Giles Smith, who was second at the 50 and held onto his position to grab the silver (52.72). Tying for third was Zach Harting and Santiago Grassi, who had identical splits and posted matching 52.87.
Michael Andrew was back in this race shortly after winning the 50 back, but wasn’t able to match the closing speed of the rest of the field. He was out well ahead of everyone else at the 50 (24.27), but couldn’t hold on and ended up in eighth with a 54.04.
Women’s 400 IM
Ella Eastin had a dominate performance in the women’s 400 IM tonight, leading the entire way to break 4:40 and grab the win in 4:38.80. Eastin was 3rd at the first 50 before taking control of the race and not looking back, setting a 2019 best and moving up to #7 in the world rankings with that swim.
Madisyn Cox was second here tonight in 4:40.55, which puts het just outside the top 10 in the world. Cox held off a charging Leah Smith, who had the fastest last 100 of the field and ended up just six-tenths behind in 4:41.08. Those three separated themselves pretty well throughout the race, as Brooke Forde was the next closest finisher with a 4:45.06.
Men’s 400 IM
Chase Kalisz was the top finisher tonight in the men’s 400 IM, winning handily in 4:13.45 to out-pace the field by more than three seconds. Kalisz led from start to finish, and that time moves him up to fourth in the world rankings.
Second went to Tomas Peribonio of Gator Swim Club (4:16.87). Those two were well ahead of the rest of the field and the only two swimmers to break 4:20. In third was Zachary Tan in 4:25.91, just ahead of Sean Faikish (4:26.86) and Matias Lopez (4:27.74).
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