Michael Andrew threw down one of the best performances of his career on Thursday morning at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis with a 58.82 in the 100 breaststroke heats. That time puts Andrew as the number one swimmer in the nation 32 days ahead of the 100 breast final in Omaha as he is pushing for his first Olympic berth. Andrew broke the Pro Series record that was set by current world record holder Adam Peaty in March 2017 in this same pool at 58.86.
Andrew now sits sixth in the world rankings as he is leading the prelims field ahead of Colombia’s Jorge Murillo (1:00.74) and Tommy Cope (1:01.11).
2021 World Rankings Men’s 100 Breast
- 57.39, Adam Peaty, GBR
- 57.90, Arno Kamminga, NED
- 58.37, Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA
- 58.68, Ilya Shymanovich, BLR
- 58.76, James Wilby, GBR
- 58.82, Michael Andrew, USA
- 58.95, Fabian Schwingenschlogl, GER
- 59.11, Kirill Prigoda, RUS
- 59.18, Shoma Sato, JPN
- 59.21, Yan Zibei, CHN
In the women’s 100 free, UCLA grad Linnea Mack put up a very impressive 53.78 to lead the qualifiers as the fourth fastest American in 2021. Mack has been an underrated star since her collegiate days at UCLA where she was a B finalist in her senior year in the 100 free in 2017, and was a contributing star for the DC Trident at the ISL this past fall.
Mack is leading the 100 free field ahead of Virginia’s Kate Douglass (54.30) and Catie DeLoof (54.32) who appear to be outside chances to make the 4×100 free relay come Omaha next month as they now sit eighth and ninth respectively in the national rankings in the 100 free. Allison Schmitt (54.84) and Erika Brown (54.87) also broke 55 seconds in the heats.
In the men’s 100 free, Blake Pieroni swam the fastest heats time with a 48.78, which makes him the third fastest swimmer in the US this year as he improved on his season best of 49.19. Ryan Held, who currently has the fastest time in the country, sits second in Indy at 49.03 ahead of Michael Chadwick (49.29), Alfonso Mestre (49.31) and Nathan Adrian (49.35).
Hali Flickinger swam a strong 2:07.41 in the heats of the 200 fly as she is leading Regan Smith (2:07.95), who improved on her season best to now sit second in the national rankings. Charlotte Hook swam a 2:10.87 to currently sit third as she was the second fastest swimmer in the nation before Smith overtook her. It should be a fast race in finals between the top three as Texas A&M’s Jing Quah (2:11.10), NCAA champ Olivia Carter (2:11.12) and rising star Tess Howley (2:11.28) should also factor into the race.
Leah Smith posted a 4:07.13 in the 400 free heats as she is leading in-state rival in Arizona State’s Emma Nordin (4:07.78) who was just off her season best from Mission Viejo. Smith and Nordin sit third and fourth in the national rankings ahead of Trials as Joanna Evans (4:07.95) of the Bahamas should factor into the race tonight as well. Evans was just off the FINA A standard of 4:07.90 as she is in line to qualify for Tokyo for the Bahamas. NCAA champ Paige Madden (4:09.23) and last night’s 1500 champ Ally McHugh (4:10.29) should also put up some solid times in the final.
Alfonso Mestre is the top seed in the men’s 400 free as the Florida Gator swam a 3:50.76 while Michigan junior Patrick Callan is second at 3:53.61. Callan is currently sitting third in the national rankings in the 400 free.
Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Lilly King is the top seed in the 100 breast at 1:07.59 ahead of Miranda Tucker (1:08.13) and Emily Escobedo (1:08.35), while Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz is leading the 200 fly field at 1:57.91 ahead of Cory Gambardella (1:58.13) and Miles Smachlo (1:58.27).
