Bobby Finke Edges Jay Litherland in 400 IM, Justin Ress Rocks 50 Back at TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville
During the Thursday night finals session at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Tenn., two men known for scintillating finishes in the 400 IM faced off in a race that came down to the wire while the top two swimmers from the 50 backstroke at last year’s World Championships faced off in the one-lap final. Additionally, a teenager beat a field in the 200 freestyle that included some of the top swimmers in the United States while positioning himself for a run at senior elite status in the near future.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
With 50 meters remaining in the final, Kieran Smith held a comfortable lead over the trailing pack of three swimmers including Cal teammates Gabriel Jett and Robin Hanson plus Jersey Wahoos teenager Henry McFadden. But on the last length, Smith fell off the pace while McFadden surged home with a 26.66 closing split. McFadden got to the wall in 1:47.23, one tenth ahead of Smith’s 1:47.33.
McFadden, a 17-year-old Jersey Wahoos swimmer heading to Stanford University next fall, knocked a full second off his previous lifetime best of 1:48.27. This 1:47.23 would have already been quick enough for McFadden to qualify for the final at last year’s U.S. International Team Trials, so he could be in contention for a spot on the U.S. men’s 800 free relay in short order.
Jett took third in 1:47.41, and he could also be in position for a big future in the 200 free as his time was three hundredths under his previous best time. Hanson ended up fourth in 1:48.81, while Drew Kibler, who finished fourth in the 200 free at last year’s World Championships (one spot ahead of Smith), ended up fifth in 1:49.59.
Event 4 Men 200 LC Meter Freestyle
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World: W 1:42.00 7/28/2009 Paul Biedermann, GER
American: A 1:42.96 8/12/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:44.10 7/1/2008 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
Pro Swim: P 1:44.82 2016 Sun Yang
Jr World: j 1:42.97 8/15/2022 David Popovici, ROM
Oly Trials: T 1:49.99
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Henry McFadden 17 JW-MA 1:48.81 1:47.23T
r:+0.71 25.98 53.10 (27.12)
1:20.57 (27.47) 1:47.23 (26.66)
2 Kieran Smith 22 Ridgefield Aq-CT 1:49.13 1:47.33T
r:+0.68 25.45 52.41 (26.96)
1:19.85 (27.44) 1:47.33 (27.48)
3 Gabriel Jett 20 Unattached-PC 1:49.59 1:47.41T
r:+0.66 25.24 52.49 (27.25)
1:20.47 (27.98) 1:47.41 (26.94)
4 Robin Hanson 21 Unattached-PC 1:49.61 1:48.81T
r:+0.67 25.15 52.57 (27.42)
1:20.51 (27.94) 1:48.81 (28.30)
5 Drew Kibler 22 CSC-IN 1:51.73 1:49.59T
25.73 53.27 (27.54)
1:21.74 (28.47) 1:49.59 (27.85)
6 Zane Grothe 30 BCH-CA 1:51.22 1:50.01
r:+0.72 26.13 54.38 (28.25)
1:22.48 (28.10) 1:50.01 (27.53)
7 Jay Litherland 27 SUN-AZ 1:50.42 1:51.02
r:+0.74 25.96 54.09 (28.13)
1:22.23 (28.14) 1:51.02 (28.79)
8 Jack Dahlgren 23 Missouri-MV 1:50.49 1:52.19
r:+0.64 25.83 53.96 (28.13)
1:22.96 (29.00) 1:52.19 (29.23)
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Tennessee’s Lyubomir Epitropov pulled away from the field to score a Pro Series win in the 100 breast. The Bulgaria-native touched in 1:01.35, a half-second ahead of the field. Tommy Cope (1:01.82) and Brandon Fischer (1:01.92) rounded out the top three while Canadian James Dergousof was just behind (1:01.95). Veteran IM swimmer Chase Kalisz, swimming off-events this weekend instead of his usual focus races, was fifth in 1:02.01.
Event 6 Men 100 LC Meter Breaststroke
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World: W 56.88 7/21/2019 Adam Peaty, GBR
American: A 58.14 6/13/2021 Michael Andrew, Race Pace Club-S
U.S. Open: O 58.14 6/13/2021 Michael Andrew, Race Pace Club-S
Pro Swim: P 58.86 2017 Adam Peaty
Jr World: j 59.01 8/23/2017 Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA
Oly Trials: T 1:02.19
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 *Lyubomir Epitr 23 Tennessee-SE 1:01.78 1:01.35
r:+0.66 29.32 1:01.35 (32.03)
2 Thomas Cope 25 CW-MI 1:01.66 1:01.82T
r:+0.62 29.65 1:01.82 (32.17)
3 Brandon Fischer 34 TRIV-PC 1:02.57 1:01.92T
r:+0.75 29.02 1:01.92 (32.90)
4 James Dergousof 26 Canada 1:02.77 1:01.95T
r:+0.68 29.42 1:01.95 (32.53)
5 Chase Kalisz 28 SUN-AZ 1:02.04 1:02.01T
r:+0.69 29.48 1:02.01 (32.53)
6 Finlay Knox 22 Canada 1:02.73 1:02.09T
r:+0.67 28.99 1:02.09 (33.10)
7 *Michael Houlie 22 Tennessee-SE 1:02.91 1:02.38
r:+0.63 27.90 1:02.38 (34.48)
8 Brayden Taivass 18 Canada 1:03.03 1:02.40
r:+0.63 29.57 1:02.40 (32.83)
Men’s 50 Backstroke
In a memorable race at last summer’s World Championships, Justin Ress won the world title in the 50 backstroke before he was disqualified for an illegal finish and then reinstated as gold medalist. American teammate and world-record holder Hunter Armstrong ended up with the silver medal after the ordeal was finished, and the two raced for the first time since Thursday evening. This time, Mission Viejo’s Ress again finished first in 24.49, with Cal Aquatics’ Armstrong finishing two tenths behind in 24.70.
Cumberland YMCA’s Daniel Diehl placed third in 25.28 while Cal sprinter Bjorn Seeliger took fourth in 25.38.
Event 8 Men 50 LC Meter Backstroke
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World: W 23.71 4/28/2022 Hunter Armstrong, USA
American: A 23.71 4/28/2022 Hunter Armstrong, USA
U.S. Open: O 23.71 4/28/2022 Hunter Armstrong, Ohio State Unive
Pro Swim: P 24.49 1/12/2023 Justin Ress, MVN -CA
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Justin Ress 25 MVN-CA 24.88 24.49P
r:+0.59
2 Hunter Armstron 21 California Aq.-P 25.03 24.70
r:+0.62
3 Daniel Diehl 17 CUY-MD 25.51 25.28
r:+0.59
4 Bjorn Seeliger 23 Unattached-PC 25.59 25.38
r:+0.59
5 Hunter Tapp 21 NC State-NC 25.77 25.55
r:+0.63
6 Ryan Held 27 NYAC-MR 25.49 25.68
r:+0.74
7 Destin Lasco 21 Unattached-PC 25.82 25.93
r:+0.57
7 Manuel Martos 22 Spain 25.75 25.93
r:+0.51
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Less than eight tenths split the field in the 100 fly in Knoxville, and after touching in a tie for fifth place at the halfway point, NC State’s Luke Miller accelerated on the second length and got to the wall in 52.24, just off his best time of 52.06 from last month’s U.S. Open. Miller finished 0.17 ahead of a tie between former Cal teammates Trenton Julian and Ryan Murphy, who both swam a mark of 52.41. Murphy, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in backstroke events, had the early lead before fading down the stretch. Sandpipers’ Ilya Kharun took fourth in 52.53.
Event 10 Men 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
World: W 49.45 7/30/2021 Caeleb Dressel, USA
American: A 49.45 7/30/2021 Caeleb Dressel, USA
U.S. Open: O 49.76 6/18/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
Pro Swim: P 50.92 3/6/2020 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
Jr World: j 50.62 6/30/2017 Kristof Milak, HUN
Oly Trials: T 53.59
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Luke Miller 20 NC State-NC 53.08 52.24T
r:+0.62 24.93 52.24 (27.31)
2 Trenton Julian 24 MVN-CA 53.16 52.41T
r:+0.64 24.81 52.41 (27.60)
2 Ryan Murphy 27 California Aq.-P 53.20 52.41T
r:+0.60 24.46 52.41 (27.95)
4 Ilya Kharun 17 SAND-CA 53.00 52.53T
r:+0.67 25.16 52.53 (27.37)
5 *Clement Secchi 22 Missouri-MV 53.04 52.56
r:+0.60 24.81 52.56 (27.75)
6 Zach Harting 25 CARD-KY 53.05 52.59T
r:+0.63 24.93 52.59 (27.66)
7 Dare Rose 20 Unattached-PC 53.28 52.79T
r:+0.63 24.62 52.79 (28.17)
8 Nicolas Albiero 23 CARD-KY 53.06 52.95T
r:+0.62 24.96 52.95 (27.99)
Men’s 400 IM
In July 2022, Jay Litherland stormed from behind to claim Olympic silver in the 400 IM, and twice in his career, Litherland has used phenomenal freestyle splits to earn spots on the U.S. Olympic team in the 400 IM, but even he was no match for the finishing speed of distance ace Bobby Finke. In Knoxville, Litherland was aiming for a wire-to-wire win, but Finke was within a second heading into the final 100 meters, and as Europe’s best distance swimmers have witness on numerous occasions, Finke can finish unlike anyone else in the world.
Finke came home in 57.79, while Litherland finished in 58.96, and that helped the 23-year-old former Florida Gator finish in 4:17.64, three tenths ahead of Litherland’s 4:17.97. Kieran Smith, a training partner of Finke’s at Florida, touched third in 4:19.67.
Event 12 Men 400 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
World: W 4:03.84 8/10/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
American: A 4:03.84 8/10/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
U.S. Open: O 4:05.25 6/29/2008 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
Pro Swim: P 4:08.92 2018 Chase Kalisz
Jr World: j 4:10.02 5/23/2021 Ilia Borodin, RUS
Oly Trials: T 4:25.19
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Bobby Finke 23 SPA-FL 4:22.33 4:17.64T
r:+0.71 27.75 58.65 (30.90)
1:31.38 (32.73) 2:03.36 (31.98)
2:41.48 (38.12) 3:19.85 (38.37)
3:49.65 (29.80) 4:17.64 (27.99)
2 Jay Litherland 27 SUN-AZ 4:22.26 4:17.97T
r:+0.71 27.29 58.11 (30.82)
1:31.44 (33.33) 2:04.76 (33.32)
2:41.20 (36.44) 3:19.01 (37.81)
3:49.43 (30.42) 4:17.97 (28.54)
3 Kieran Smith 22 Ridgefield Aq-CT 4:25.35 4:19.67T
r:+0.71 27.45 59.12 (31.67)
1:33.26 (34.14) 2:06.14 (32.88)
2:42.94 (36.80) 3:20.58 (37.64)
3:50.99 (30.41) 4:19.67 (28.68)
4 Sean Grieshop Unattached-PC 4:27.70 4:24.27T
r:+0.69 27.99 59.82 (31.83)
1:34.37 (34.55) 2:07.53 (33.16)
2:46.14 (38.61) 3:24.23 (38.09)
3:54.84 (30.61) 4:24.27 (29.43)
5 Trenton Julian 24 MVN-CA 4:26.89 4:24.41T
r:+0.72 26.91 57.34 (30.43)
1:32.86 (35.52) 2:07.55 (34.69)
2:45.27 (37.72) 3:23.93 (38.66)
3:55.34 (31.41) 4:24.41 (29.07)
6 Landon Driggers 21 Tennessee-SE 4:22.56 4:25.60
r:+0.74 27.93 1:00.25 (32.32)
1:32.89 (32.64) 2:06.04 (33.15)
2:44.76 (38.72) 3:24.28 (39.52)
3:55.70 (31.42) 4:25.60 (29.90)
7 Ilya Kharun 17 SAND-CA 4:27.84 4:26.99
r:+0.71 26.87 58.35 (31.48)
1:33.97 (35.62) 2:08.93 (34.96)
2:47.10 (38.17) 3:26.10 (39.00)
3:57.70 (31.60) 4:26.99 (29.29)
8 Matthew Mortens 17 RIPT-MN 4:31.22 4:30.75
r:+0.77 28.68 1:01.19 (32.51)
1:36.09 (34.90) 2:09.95 (33.86)
2:48.63 (38.68) 3:26.52 (37.89)
3:59.22 (32.70) 4:30.75 (31.53)
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