TYR Pro Series, Day Four Prelims: Michael Andrew Secures Top Seed in 200 Medley; Kalisz & Lochte Follow
Action at the USA Swimming TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio picked up on Night Three, with Kathleen Baker and Ryan Murphy producing quick performances in the 200 backstroke and Katie Ledecky and Andrew Seliskar posting impressive marks in the 200 freestyle. Will the surge in momentum carry through to Day Four? Here is a look at what unfolded during the final day of preliminaries at the Bill Walker Pool.
Women’s 100 Backstroke
An excellent final is on tap for the evening session after three athletes cracked the minute barrier during prelims, headlined by world-record holder Regan Smith. The 19-year-old covered her two laps in 59.39, which was a half-second clear of No. 2 qualifier Olivia Smoliga, who went 59.89. Kathleen Baker took the third position for the final with a mark of 59.97.
The final could be a preview of the final at this summer’s Olympic Trials, where all three of the aforementioned women will seek a bid to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Event 19 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
American: A 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
U.S. Open: O 58.00 7/28/2018 Kathleen Baker, Team Elite-NC
Jr World: J 57.57 7/28/2019 Regan Smith, USA
Pro Swim: P 58.18 3/7/2020 Regan Smith, Riptide-MN
1:01.49 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
1:02.69 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Regan Smith 19 Riptide 57.57 59.39 q
r:+0.60 28.87 59.39 (30.52)
2 Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 58.73 59.89 q
r:+0.66 29.54 59.89 (30.35)
3 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite/NYAC 58.56 59.97 q
r:+0.66 28.82 59.97 (31.15)
4 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club 1:00.22 1:01.16 q
r:+0.61 29.96 1:01.16 (31.20)
5 Levenia Sim 14 TNT Swimming 1:00.94 1:01.66 q
r:+0.57 29.85 1:01.66 (31.81)
6 Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 1:00.28 1:01.82 q
r:+0.68 29.92 1:01.82 (31.90)
7 Linnea Mack 25 Team Elite 1:02.04 1:02.03 q
r:+0.65 29.55 1:02.03 (32.48)
8 Sherridon Dress 22 Una GSC 1:01.66 1:02.61 q
r:+0.64 30.59 1:02.61 (32.02)
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Justin Ress and Ryan Murphy were the only swimmers to go sub-55 in the prelims of the 100 backstroke, with Ress topping the morning heats at 54.38. Murphy, the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder, took the second slot in 54.87 and figures to be much faster in the final. On Friday night, Murphy won the 200 backstroke in impressive fashion, thanks to a time of 1:56.06.
In addition to Ress, the North Carolina State contingent will be represented in the final by Kacper Stokowski (55.28) and Coleman Stewart (55.30) as the third and fourth seeds, and Paul Le and Chris Reid in fifth and seventh.
Event 20 Men 100 LC Meter Backstroke
==================================================================
World: W 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
American: A 51.85 8/13/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
U.S. Open: O 51.94 7/8/2009 Aaron Peirsol, Longhorn
Jr World: J 52.53 8/6/2018 Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS
Pro Swim: P 52.40 2016 David Plummer
55.51 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
56.59 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Justin Ress 23 Wolfpack Elite 53.31 54.38 q
r:+0.94 26.30 54.38 (28.08)
2 Ryan Murphy 25 California Aquat 52.44 54.87 q
r:+0.91 26.58 54.87 (28.29)
3 *Kacper Stokows 22 NC State Univers 54.87 55.28 q
r:+0.64 26.67 55.28 (28.61)
4 Coleman Stewart 23 Wolfpack Elite 53.85 55.30 q
r:+0.60 27.50 55.30 (27.80)
5 *Paul Le 28 Wolfpack Elite 55.98 55.94 q
r:+0.59 27.07 55.94 (28.87)
6 Drew Carbone 21 Unattached 55.86 56.16 q
r:+0.61 27.50 56.16 (28.66)
7 *Chris Reid 25 Wolfpack Elite 54.12 56.17 q
r:+0.68 26.89 56.17 (29.28)
8 *Zheng Quah 24 California Aquat 53.79 56.19 q
r:+0.57 27.08 56.19 (29.11)
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
One of the wide-open events for the U.S. Trials is expected to be the women’s 200 breaststroke, and the prelims reaffirmed that scenario when the top-three seeds recorded times in the 2:27 range. Annie Lazor, whose comeback from retirement has been impressive in nature, will be the top seed in the final after a morning effort of 2:27.05. She was followed in second and third by 2012 Olympian Micah Sumrall (2:27.64) and Emily Escobedo (2:27.91).
Madisyn Cox and Molly Hannis will also be in the final, which will be missing Lilly King, who opted to bypass this stop on the Pro Series circuit.
Event 21 Women 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:19.11 8/1/2013 Rikke Moeller Pedersen, DEN
American: A 2:19.59 8/2/2012 Rebecca Soni, USA Olympic Team
U.S. Open: O 2:20.38 7/7/2009 Rebecca Soni, Trojan
Jr World: J 2:19.64 8/30/2015 Viktoria Gunes, TUR
Pro Swim: P 2:20.77 5/19/2019 Annie Lazor, Mission Viejo Na
2:30.49 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:33.29 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Annie Lazor 26 Mission Viejo Na 2:20.77 2:27.05 q
r:+0.71 34.13 1:11.95 (37.82)
1:48.73 (36.78) 2:27.05 (38.32)
2 Micah Sumrall 30 Gamecock Aquatic 2:23.88 2:27.64 q
r:+0.72 34.44 1:12.32 (37.88)
1:50.47 (38.15) 2:27.64 (37.17)
3 Emily Escobedo 25 Condors Swim Clu 2:22.00 2:27.91 q
r:+0.71 33.83 1:11.48 (37.65)
1:49.38 (37.90) 2:27.91 (38.53)
4 Madisyn Cox 25 Longhorn Aquatic 2:23.84 2:28.93 q
r:+0.73 33.97 1:11.28 (37.31)
1:49.54 (38.26) 2:28.93 (39.39)
5 Molly Hannis 28 Tennessee Aquati 2:29.45 2:31.25 q
r:+0.72 34.37 1:13.60 (39.23)
1:51.75 (38.15) 2:31.25 (39.50)
6 Gracie Weyant 15 Sarasota Sharks 2:31.15 2:31.64 q
r:+0.70 35.21 1:13.32 (38.11)
1:52.74 (39.42) 2:31.64 (38.90)
7 *Laura Morley 24 Indiana Swim Clu 2:27.83 2:32.05 q
r:+0.76 35.12 1:13.59 (38.47)
1:52.85 (39.26) 2:32.05 (39.20)
8 Brooke Forde 21 Alto Swim Club 2:30.49 2:32.55 q
r:+0.73 35.15 1:13.56 (38.41)
1:52.75 (39.19) 2:32.55 (39.80)
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
After the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet produced mediocre results, will we see similar results in the 200 breast? Kevin Cordes leads a veteran field into the final, with the 27-year-old going 2:13.95 for the No. 1 seed. Josh Prenot (2:14.78) and Andrew Wilson (2:14.97) followed Cordes while Brandon Fischer, Will Licon and Nic Fink took the fourth through sixth seeds.
Event 22 Men 200 LC Meter Breaststroke
==================================================================
World: W 2:06.12 7/26/2019 Anton Chupkov, RUS
American: A 2:07.17 6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
U.S. Open: O 2:07.17 6/30/2016 Josh Prenot, Cal Aquatics
Jr World: J 2:09.39 7/27/2017 Qin Haiyang, CHN
Pro Swim: P 2:08.95 2018 Andrew Wilson
2:15.28 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
2:17.89 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Kevin Cordes 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:10.52 2:13.95 q
r:+0.71 30.44 1:04.51 (34.07)
1:39.34 (34.83) 2:13.95 (34.61)
2 Josh Prenot 27 California Aquat 2:08.77 2:14.78 q
r:+0.68 31.15 1:05.68 (34.53)
1:40.42 (34.74) 2:14.78 (34.36)
3 Andrew Wilson 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:07.77 2:14.97 q
r:+0.63 30.71 1:05.53 (34.82)
1:40.35 (34.82) 2:14.97 (34.62)
4 Brandon Fischer 32 Livermore Aqua C 2:11.91 2:15.63 q
r:+0.70 31.13 1:05.93 (34.80)
1:41.00 (35.07) 2:15.63 (34.63)
5 Will Licon 26 Longhorn Aquatic 2:07.62 2:15.76 q
r:+0.72 31.31 1:06.12 (34.81)
1:41.00 (34.88) 2:15.76 (34.76)
6 Nic Fink 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:08.16 2:15.81 q
r:+0.71 30.94 1:05.62 (34.68)
1:41.13 (35.51) 2:15.81 (34.68)
7 Grant Sanders 23 Gator Swim Club 2:14.58 2:16.21 q
r:+0.72 31.32 1:06.32 (35.00)
1:41.29 (34.97) 2:16.21 (34.92)
7 Chase Kalisz 26 Athens Bulldog S 2:11.61 2:16.21 q
r:+0.71 31.18 1:06.02 (34.84)
1:41.43 (35.41) 2:16.21 (34.78)
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Poland’s Kasia Wasick, who produced several strong performances during last year’s International Swimming League, claimed the top seed in the 50 freestyle with one of two sub-25 efforts. Wasick covered her lap in 24.92, slightly ahead of the 24.99 by 2016 Olympian Abbey Weitzeil. Simone Manuel, the reigning world champ in the event, qualified third in 25.06.
There was a three-way tie for eighth between Kelsi Dahlia, Andi Murez and Julie Meynen, necessitating a swimoff for the last spot in the final.
Event 23 Women 50 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 23.67 7/29/2017 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
American: A 23.97 7/30/2017 Simone Manuel, USA
U.S. Open: O 24.08 6/1/2019 Pernille Blume, DEN
Jr World: J 24.33 9/15/2017 Rikako Ikee, JPN
Pro Swim: P 24.17 2016 Sarah Sjostrom
25.65 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
25.99 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 *Kasia Wasick 28 Una TRA/UNLV 24.58 24.92 q
r:+0.63
2 Abbey Weitzeil 24 California Aquat 24.47 24.99 q
r:+0.65
3 Simone Manuel 24 Alto Swim Club 24.05 25.06 q
r:+0.69
4 Linnea Mack 25 Team Elite 25.35 25.45 q
r:+0.72
5 Casey Fanz 22 Cardinal Aquatic 25.27 25.62 q
r:+0.68
6 *Anika Apostalo 26 Irvine Novaquati 25.30 25.63 q
r:+0.70
7 Alyssa Marsh 23 Team Elite 24.95 25.72 q
r:+0.64
8 *Andi Murez 29 Team Elite 25.11 25.77 q
r:+0.69
8 Julie Meynen 23 Unattached 24.78 25.77 q
r:+0.64
8 Kelsi Dahlia 26 Cardinal Aquatic 25.00 25.77 q
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Veteran Team USA member and new father Nathan Adrian nailed down the top seed in the 50 freestyle with a morning swim of 22.50, which was quick enough to hold off Jeff Newkirk (22.64) and Italian Santo Condorelli (22.70). Zach Apple is the fourth seed after a 22.71 showing while Justin Ress (22.79) qualified for his second final of the night, complementing the 100 backstroke. Michael Andrew passed on the event to focus on the 200 individual medley.
Event 24 Men 50 LC Meter Freestyle
==================================================================
World: W 20.91 12/18/2009Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA
American: A 21.04 7/27/2019 Caeleb Dressel, USA
U.S. Open: O 21.14 7/9/2009 Cesar Cielo, Auburn/BRA
Jr World: J 21.75 8/25/2017 Michael Andrew, USA
Pro Swim: P 21.51 3/7/2020 Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club-
22.71 W-II Oly Trials Wave II
23.19 W-I Oly Trials Wave I
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Nathan Adrian 32 Una CAL 21.87 22.50 q
r:+0.64
2 Jeff Newkirk 24 Longhorn Aquatic 22.82 22.64 q
r:+0.67
3 *Santo Condorel 26 The Dolphins Por 22.06 22.70 q
r:+0.63
4 Zach Apple 23 Mission Viejo Na 21.81 22.71 q
r:+0.63
5 Justin Ress 23 Wolfpack Elite 22.66 22.79 q
r:+0.65
6 Payton Sorenson 27 Unattached 22.18 22.85 q
r:+0.73
7 Bowe Becker 23 Sandpipers Of Ne 22.00 22.89 q
r:+0.65
8 Tate Jackson 24 Longhorn Aquatic 22.35 22.90 q
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
Some prominent names will duel in the final of the women’2 200 medley, with Madisyn Cox going into the evening as the top seed. Cox posted a time of 2:13.99 to finish ahead of Kathleen Baker (2:15.34) and Melanie Margalis (2:15.47). Hali Flickinger (2:15.49) and Leah Smith (2:15.74) also advanced to the final. Baker (200 backstroke), Margalis (400 IM) and Flickinger (200 butterfly) already own victories this week.
Event 25 Women 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
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 2:13.99 q
r:+0.67 29.10 1:03.20 (34.10)
1:41.80 (38.60) 2:13.99 (32.19)
2 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite/NYAC 2:08.75 2:15.34 q
r:+0.69 28.92 1:03.20 (34.28)
1:42.39 (39.19) 2:15.34 (32.95)
3 Melanie Margali 29 Saint Petersburg 2:08.84 2:15.47 q
r:+0.70 29.55 1:03.96 (34.41)
1:43.39 (39.43) 2:15.47 (32.08)
4 Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:13.31 2:15.49 q
r:+0.74 28.82 1:03.12 (34.30)
1:44.22 (41.10) 2:15.49 (31.27)
5 Leah Smith 25 Unattached 2:13.13 2:15.74 q
r:+0.70 28.80 1:03.51 (34.71)
1:44.49 (40.98) 2:15.74 (31.25)
6 *Bailey Andison 23 Una ISC 2:11.33 2:16.04 q
r:+0.66 29.38 1:04.46 (35.08)
1:44.24 (39.78) 2:16.04 (31.80)
7 Kathryn McLaugh 23 California Aquat 2:15.57 2:16.40 q
r:+0.72 28.57 1:03.77 (35.20)
1:46.30 (42.53) 2:16.40 (30.10)
8 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club 2:15.10 2:17.30 q
r:+0.71 29.98 1:04.45 (34.47)
1:45.42 (40.97) 2:17.30 (31.88)
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
When Michael Andrew skipped the 50 freestyle, it was clear the 21-year-old was placing his emphasis on the 200 individual medley. That focus paid off in prelims as Andrew recorded the only sub-2:00 time, touching the wall in 1:59.45. Andrew will face some quality competition in the final as Chase Kalisz (2:01.66), Ryan Lochte (2:02.03) and Andrew Seliskar (2:02.60) also advanced.
Event 26 Men 200 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
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 1:56.83 1:59.45 q
r:+0.74 25.38 56.43 (31.05)
1:29.78 (33.35) 1:59.45 (29.67)
2 Chase Kalisz 26 Athens Bulldog S 1:56.78 2:01.66 q
r:+0.71 26.41 57.90 (31.49)
1:32.18 (34.28) 2:01.66 (29.48)
3 Ryan Lochte 36 Gator Swim Club 1:57.76 2:02.03 q
r:+0.65 26.61 58.23 (31.62)
1:32.90 (34.67) 2:02.03 (29.13)
4 Andrew Seliskar 24 California Aquat 1:58.01 2:02.60 q
r:+0.67 26.78 58.17 (31.39)
1:33.64 (35.47) 2:02.60 (28.96)
5 Grant Sanders 23 Gator Swim Club 2:00.14 2:02.62 q
r:+0.71 26.04 56.90 (30.86)
1:33.21 (36.31) 2:02.62 (29.41)
6 Abrahm DeVine 24 Team Elite 1:57.66 2:02.77 q
r:+0.71 26.64 57.72 (31.08)
1:33.69 (35.97) 2:02.77 (29.08)
7 Jay Litherland 25 Dynamo Swim Club 2:00.64 2:03.15 q
r:+0.75 26.45 57.71 (31.26)
1:33.73 (36.02) 2:03.15 (29.42)
8 *Jacob Heidtman 26 Team Elite 1:59.78 2:03.41 q
r:+0.72 26.57 59.02 (32.45)
1:34.04 (35.02) 2:03.41 (29.37)
