TYR Pro Series: Caeleb Dressel Grabs Top Seed in Prelims of 100 Freestyle; Michael Andrew Strong in 200 IM
Based on the first two days, the last session of preliminaries at the TYR Pro Series stop in Mission Viejo is expected to produce additional quick times. USA Swimming’s decision to go with a Tokyo Twist and adopt a morning-finals format for this weekend, a la the upcoming Olympic Games, has produced several strong performances and has allowed the athletes to acclimate to what they will see if able to earn an Olympic invitation.
Here is a look at the prelim action from Saturday night.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
The 200 medley might be one of the toughest events to forecast for the Olympic Trials, with several athletes capable of wearing the Team USA colors in Tokyo. Three of the leading contenders posted times under 2:12 during prelims in Mission Viejo, led by Madisyn Cox at 2:11.33. She was followed by Kathleen Baker, who went 2:11.56, while Melanie Margalis was third in 2:11.86. Margalis was coming off a win in the 400 medley earlier in the meet.
Event 23 Women 200 LC Meter IM
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World: W 2:06.12 8/3/2015 Katinka Hosszu, HUN
American: A 2:06.15 7/27/2009 Ariana Kukors, USA
U.S. Open: O 2:08.32 7/29/2018 Kathleen Baker, Team Elite-NC
Jr World: J 2:09.98 1/29/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
Pro Swim: P 2:08.66 2015 Katinka Hosszu
2:15.26 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:17.39 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Madisyn Cox 25 Longhorn Aquatic 2:09.03 2:11.33 q
r:+0.72 28.79 1:02.23 (33.44)
1:40.11 (37.88) 2:11.33 (31.22)
2 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite-NC/NY 2:08.75 2:11.56 q
r:+0.66 28.08 1:01.16 (33.08)
1:39.73 (38.57) 2:11.56 (31.83)
3 Melanie Margali 29 Saint Petersburg 2:08.84 2:11.86 q
r:+0.70 29.01 1:02.39 (33.38)
1:40.59 (38.20) 2:11.86 (31.27)
4 Brooke Forde 22 Alto Swim Club-P 2:14.04 2:12.91 q
r:+0.70 29.09 1:03.60 (34.51)
1:42.13 (38.53) 2:12.91 (30.78)
5 Leah Smith 25 Unattached-AZ 2:13.13 2:13.19 q
r:+0.70 29.15 1:03.35 (34.20)
1:42.25 (38.90) 2:13.19 (30.94)
6 Meghan Small 22 Tennessee Aquati 2:11.36 2:13.25 q
r:+0.71 28.81 1:04.21 (35.40)
1:42.08 (37.87) 2:13.25 (31.17)
7 Katie Drabot 23 Alto Swim Club-P 2:14.46 2:14.78 q
r:+0.74 28.57 1:04.46 (35.89)
1:43.70 (39.24) 2:14.78 (31.08)
8 *Robin Neumann 23 Unattached-PC 2:18.41 2:15.49 q
r:+0.62 28.69 1:02.69 (34.00)
1:44.86 (42.17) 2:15.49 (30.63)
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
Blasting out to the front of the pack in the last heat, Michael Andrew packaged a high-quality outing to grab the top seed for the final. Andrew was the only swimmer to break the two-minute barrier in the evening session, going 1:58.23. That time was nearly two seconds quicker than the 2:00.13 effort of Caeleb Dressel.
The third seed went to Ryan Lochte, who is chasing a bid to his fifth Olympics. Lochte medaled in the 200 medley at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games and turned in a time in Mission Viejo of 2:00.90. Next was Andrew Seliskar in 2:01.33, setting up a final loaded with top names.
Event 24 Men 200 LC Meter IM
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World: W 1:54.00 7/28/2011 Ryan Lochte, USA
American: A 1:54.00 7/28/2011 Ryan Lochte, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:54.56 7/10/2009 Ryan Lochte, Daytona Beach
Jr World: J 1:57.06 7/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
Pro Swim: P 1:56.32 2012 Michael Phelps
2:03.02 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:04.09 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Michael Andrew 21 Race Pace Club-S 1:56.83 1:58.23 q
r:+0.69 24.54 54.43 (29.89)
1:28.80 (34.37) 1:58.23 (29.43)
2 Caeleb Dressel 24 Gator Swim Club- 1:59.97 2:00.13 q
r:+0.62 25.85 56.40 (30.55)
1:32.14 (35.74) 2:00.13 (27.99)
3 Ryan Lochte 36 Gator Swim Club- 1:57.76 2:00.90 q
r:+0.62 25.85 56.76 (30.91)
1:31.91 (35.15) 2:00.90 (28.99)
4 Andrew Seliskar 24 California Aquat 1:58.01 2:01.33 q
r:+0.67 26.03 57.63 (31.60)
1:32.74 (35.11) 2:01.33 (28.59)
5 Jay Litherland 25 Dynamo Swim Club 2:00.64 2:01.44 q
r:+0.72 26.22 57.21 (30.99)
1:32.76 (35.55) 2:01.44 (28.68)
6 *Tom Peribonio 25 Gator Swim Club- 2:00.07 2:01.59 q
r:+0.63 25.88 56.53 (30.65)
1:32.33 (35.80) 2:01.59 (29.26)
7 Sean Grieshop 22 Unattached-PC 2:05.33 2:01.76 q
r:+0.65 26.70 57.10 (30.40)
1:33.30 (36.20) 2:01.76 (28.46)
8 Tommy Cope 23 Club Wolverine-M 2:00.40 2:02.55 q
r:+0.62 26.11 58.68 (32.57)
1:32.60 (33.92) 2:02.55 (29.95)
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Just a few weeks removed from completing her college campaign for the University of Alabama, Rhyan White recorded the fastest time of prelims in the 200 back, touching the wall in 2:08.71. The second seed for the final will be Olivia Smoliga, who won the 100 backstroke on Saturday morning. Smoliga was timed in 2:10.97 and was followed by Isabelle Stadden in 2:11.23.
Event 25 Women 200 LC Meter Backstroke
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World: W 2:03.35 7/26/2019 Regan Smith, USA
American: A 2:03.35 7/26/2019 Regan Smith, USA
U.S. Open: O 2:05.68 6/25/2013 Missy Franklin, Colorado STARS-C
Jr World: J 2:03.35 7/26/2019 Regan Smith, USA
Pro Swim: P 2:05.94 1/19/2020 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
2:12.94 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:14.69 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Rhyan White 21 Univ Alabama Swi 2:12.87 2:08.71 q
r:+0.88 30.40 1:02.79 (32.39)
1:35.88 (33.09) 2:08.71 (32.83)
2 Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 2:10.64 2:10.97 q
r:+0.86 30.48 1:04.54 (34.06)
1:38.13 (33.59) 2:10.97 (32.84)
3 Isabelle Stadde 18 Unattached-PC 2:08.16 2:11.23 q
r:+0.71 30.47 1:03.41 (32.94)
1:37.19 (33.78) 2:11.23 (34.04)
4 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club- 2:07.91 2:11.66 q
r:+0.79 31.21 1:04.73 (33.52)
1:38.29 (33.56) 2:11.66 (33.37)
5 Emma Karam 16 Reno Aquatic Clu 2:14.25 2:12.43 q
r:+0.66 31.59 1:04.34 (32.75)
1:38.10 (33.76) 2:12.43 (34.33)
6 Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:08.36 2:13.86 q
r:+0.76 31.36 1:05.56 (34.20)
1:40.14 (34.58) 2:13.86 (33.72)
7 Ayla Spitz 20 Unattached-PC 2:19.44 2:14.65 q
r:+0.73 31.56 1:05.80 (34.24)
1:40.12 (34.32) 2:14.65 (34.53)
8 Sherridon Dress 22 Una GSC-FL 2:12.03 2:14.92 q
r:+0.82 31.83 1:06.02 (34.19)
1:40.38 (34.36) 2:14.92 (34.54)
Men’s 200 Backstroke
As was the case in the 100 backstroke, the guys from Cal were dominant by claiming six of the eight spots for the final. Daniel Carr logged a pacesetting time of 1:58.44 and was the only swimmer to break two minutes in prelims. Bryce Mefford was second in 2:00.23, with SwimAtlanta’s Jack Aikins going 2:00.77 for third.
Reigning Olympic champion Ryan Murphy qualified fourth in 2:01.21, having cruised through his heat. Murphy won the 100 backstroke earlier in the day.
Event 26 Men 200 LC Meter Backstroke
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World: W 1:51.92 7/31/2009 Aaron Peirsol, USA
American: A 1:51.92 7/31/2009 Aaron Peirsol, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:53.08 7/11/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
Jr World: J 1:55.14 6/28/2017 Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
Pro Swim: P 1:55.04 2017 Xu Jiayu
2:00.81 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:02.99 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Daniel Carr 22 Unattached-PC 1:58.13 1:58.44 q
r:+0.78 27.70 57.57 (29.87)
1:27.83 (30.26) 1:58.44 (30.61)
2 Bryce Mefford 22 Unattached-PC 1:57.39 2:00.23 q
r:+0.76 28.93 1:00.00 (31.07)
1:29.70 (29.70) 2:00.23 (30.53)
3 Jack Aikins 18 SwimAtlanta-GA 2:02.01 2:00.77 q
r:+0.66 27.33 57.37 (30.04)
1:28.89 (31.52) 2:00.77 (31.88)
4 Ryan Murphy 25 California Aquat 1:54.12 2:01.21 q
r:+0.76 28.85 1:00.07 (31.22)
1:31.75 (31.68) 2:01.21 (29.46)
5 *Andy Xianyang 22 California Aquat 2:01.34 2:01.65 q
r:+0.81 28.55 58.98 (30.43)
1:29.80 (30.82) 2:01.65 (31.85)
6 Destin Lasco 19 Unattached-PC 2:01.81 2:01.79 q
r:+0.67 28.83 1:00.27 (31.44)
1:31.31 (31.04) 2:01.79 (30.48)
7 *Hugo Gonzalez 22 Una CAL-PC 1:58.35 2:01.85 q
r:+0.71 29.37 1:01.09 (31.72)
1:32.45 (31.36) 2:01.85 (29.40)
8 Chase Kalisz 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:00.14 2:02.44 q
r:+0.79 29.21 1:00.66 (31.45)
1:32.01 (31.35) 2:02.44 (30.43)
Women’s 100 Freestyle
Abbey Weitzeil, a 2016 Olympic for the United States, continued her strong preparation for the Olympic Trials. Already the winner of the 50 freestyle, Weitzeil qualified first for the final of the 100 free, behind a time of 53.94. Right behind Weitzeil was distance star Katie Ledecky, who covered her two laps in 54.26. Ledecky has been exceptional this weekend, going sub-1:55 in the 200 freestyle and sub-4:00 in the 400 free. She is scheduled to race the 1500 freestyle on Sunday.
Taking the third seed for the final was Natalie Hinds, who was timed in 54.29.
Event 27 Women 100 LC Meter Freestyle
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World: W 51.71 7/23/2017 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
American: A 52.04 7/26/2019 Simone Manuel, USA
U.S. Open: O 52.54 7/25/2018 Simone Manuel, Stanford Swimmin
Jr World: J 52.70 8/11/2016 Penny Oleksiak, CAN
Pro Swim: P 53.12 2016 Sarah Sjostrom
55.56 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
56.29 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Abbey Weitzeil 24 California Aquat 53.18 53.94 q
r:+0.64 25.75 53.94 (28.19)
2 Katie Ledecky 24 Nation's Capital 54.74 54.26 q
r:+0.65 26.43 54.26 (27.83)
3 Natalie Hinds 27 Athens Bulldog S 54.34 54.29 q
r:+0.62 25.82 54.29 (28.47)
4 *Beryl Gastalde 26 Aggie Swim Club- 53.40 54.63 q
r:+0.62 26.42 54.63 (28.21)
5 *Katarzyna Wasi 29 Team Rebel Aquat 54.45 54.66 q
r:+0.67 26.16 54.66 (28.50)
6 Allison Schmitt 30 Sun Devil Swimmi 53.80 54.68 q
r:+0.70 26.41 54.68 (28.27)
7 Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 54.15 54.82 q
r:+0.65 26.57 54.82 (28.25)
8 Katie McLaughli 23 California Aquat 54.15 54.84 q
r:+0.68 26.77 54.84 (28.07)
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Two-time defending world champion Caeleb Dressel and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian finished first and second in the last heat and secured the top-two seeds for the final. Dressel was timed in 48.82 and Adrian went 48.98 for the only sub-49 markers of the session. Zach Apple was next with a 49.13 effort and Singapore’s Zheng Quah qualified fourth in 49.34.
Event 28 Men 100 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 46.91 7/30/2009 Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
American: A 46.96 7/25/2019 Caeleb Dressel, USA
U.S. Open: O 47.39 7/31/2019 Ryan Held, New York Athleti
Jr World: J 47.57 10/30/2020Andrei Minakov, RUS
Pro Swim: P 48.00 2016 Nathan Adrian
49.74 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
50.49 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Caeleb Dressel 24 Gator Swim Club- 46.96 48.82 q
r:+0.62 23.63 48.82 (25.19)
2 Nathan Adrian 32 Una CAL-PC 48.17 48.98 q
r:+0.67 23.24 48.98 (25.74)
3 Zach Apple 23 Mission Viejo Na 47.69 49.13 q
r:+0.62 23.61 49.13 (25.52)
4 *Zheng Quah 24 California Aquat 49.40 49.34 q
r:+0.58 23.52 49.34 (25.82)
5 *Khader Baqlah 22 Gator Swim Club- 49.09 49.38 q
r:+0.66 23.86 49.38 (25.52)
6 *Dylan Carter 25 Team Elite-NC 48.52 49.55 q
r:+0.64 23.82 49.55 (25.73)
7 *Eric Friese 22 Una GSC-FL 49.91 49.61 q
r:+0.67 24.00 49.61 (25.61)
7 Michael Chadwic 25 North Carolina A 48.70 49.61 q
r:+0.66 23.91 49.61 (25.70)
7 Luke Maurer 19 Unattached-PC 49.90 49.61 q
r:+0.61 24.01 49.61 (25.60)
