5 Races to Watch at the Arena Pro Swim Series Indianapolis

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Next weekend the Arena Pro Swim Series makes its final two stops of the summer. Swimmers will compete in Indianapolis and Santa Clara. After tearing up the pool earlier this month in Charlotte, Lilly King will be headlining the action in Indianapolis. She’ll be joined by a number of other area standouts.

Here are five races to watch at next weekend’s Arena Pro Swim Series Indianapolis.

1. Women’s 200 Breaststroke

King currently holds the world’s second best 100 breaststroke, but sits outside the world’s top 20 in the 200. Yet, in the longer distance she’s set up for a great race next weekend as the third seed. 2012 Olympian Micah Lawrence is the top seed in this event, and Hilda Luthersdottir sits second. Annie Lazor vaulted to 20th in the world rankings in Charlotte and is also entered in the event next weekend.

2. Men’s 200 Breaststroke

The men’s event will also be a race to watch. The top three seeds are entered well ahead of the field. Kevin Cordes sits outside the world’s top 20 so far this year, but he was the short course yards American record holder and has been a continual breaststroke force. Cody Miller topped the podium in this event in Charlotte. University of Georgia post grad Nic Fink should also be in the mix.

3. Women’s 100 Backstroke

At the 2015 Duel in the Pool, Claire Adams finished third in the short course meters version of this event in this very pool. She is the leader headed into the long course meters edition this weekend. Dominique Bouchard is already on the Canadian Olympic Team in this event and will go head to head with Adams.

4. Men’s 200 Freestyle

With training and focuses at varying levels in the lead up to Trials, this race could be anyone’s, with a field this tightly packed. Joao De Lucca leads the way with a seed of 1:46.42, but the next seven swimmers are all seeded within eight tenths of each other.

Other top names include Michael Weiss, who anchored the US to 800 freestyle relay silver at last summer‘s world championships, and Michael Klueh. Connor Jaeger will race the 200, in addition to his usually more dominant, longer distance freestyle races.

5. Women’s 400 Freestyle

In February Leah Smith took down Brittany MacLean‘s 1000 and 1650 NCAA records. When the two matched up in March, Smith came out on top. Smith also got the upper hand in the 500 earlier this year, and this weekend the duo will go head to head in the 400. With MacLean already qualified for the Canadian Olympic team, and Smith dialing in her focus for next month’s Trials, this race could go to either woman this weekend.

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