TYR Pro Series: Michael Andrew Tops Big-Name Field in 200 IM
As the United States Olympic Trials get closer, Michael Andrew will be forced to make some decisions concerning the program he will tackle in Omaha. With numerous options due to his all-stroke skills, it is likely that Andrew will have to put an event or two on the shelf in order to maintain freshness for the duration of the meet. Consider the 200 individual medley an event that will almost surely dodge the ax.
Although he faded on the closing freestyle leg, Andrew built a big enough lead over the first three strokes to easily win the 200 individual medley on Saturday night at the USA Swimming TYR Pro Series in San Antonio. Andrew, who won the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet, posted a time of 1:58.05 to beat Abrahm Devine (1:59.65). The third through fifth positions were occupied by big names Andrew Seliskar (2:00.59), Chase Kalisz (2:00.79) and Ryan Lochte (2:01.71).
That final 50 remains a point of emphasis in his training.
“I wanted to be mid-57. I would’ve been really happy with that,” Andrew said via a virtual mixed zone. “But after the morning swim, we kind of assessed where we’re at and the goal was to really focus on a really quick last 50. We got that 29.6 (in the morning), which is still pretty average in terms of the competition and where we need to be at Trials, but it was a big improvement off my 1:56.8 in Des Moines last year. … But obviously that 30-point is still very slow in comparison to where it needs to be, so we have plenty to work on, but happy with the improvement over the morning and overall a good weekend and ready to get back to work.”
Andrew chose to bypass the 50 freestyle in San Antonio and place his focus on the 200 medley, but when Trials roll around, those events will not conflict on the schedule. Andrew is also likely to contest the 100 breaststroke, which is early in the program. What else he decides to race remains to be seen, but Andrew will need to be thoughtful about not overloading himself.
For Lochte, who is in the middle of heavy training, the 200 medley is probably his best opportunity to secure a ticket to a fifth Olympiad. Lochte noted in an interview on Friday night that he has been pleased with his work in practice and is optimistic about what is to come.
In the women’s version of the event, Madisyn Cox opened up a close battle with Kathleen Baker on the breaststroke leg and won in 2:10.84, with Baker following in 2:11.96. Cox was just .15 ahead of Baker at the midway point, but benefited from a 37.87 split on the breaststroke to take a comfortable lead. Melanie Margalis, the winner of the 400 IM earlier in the meet, was third in 2:12.68.
Event 25 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 Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Madisyn Cox 25 Longhorn Aquatic 2:13.99 2:10.84
r:+0.65 28.74 1:01.75 (33.01)
1:39.62 (37.87) 2:10.84 (31.22)
2 Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite/NYAC 2:15.34 2:11.96
r:+0.66 29.01 1:01.90 (32.89)
1:40.57 (38.67) 2:11.96 (31.39)
3 Melanie Margali 29 Saint Petersburg 2:15.47 2:12.68
r:+0.70 29.53 1:03.46 (33.93)
1:41.57 (38.11) 2:12.68 (31.11)
4 *Bailey Andison 23 Una ISC 2:16.04 2:13.43
r:+0.67 29.51 1:04.04 (34.53)
1:42.42 (38.38) 2:13.43 (31.01)
5 Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:15.49 2:13.78
r:+0.74 28.79 1:02.65 (33.86)
1:43.14 (40.49) 2:13.78 (30.64)
6 Kathryn McLaugh 23 California Aquat 2:16.40 2:13.80
r:+0.73 28.27 1:02.88 (34.61)
1:43.93 (41.05) 2:13.80 (29.87)
7 *Monika Gonzale 25 Aggie Swim Club 2:18.01 2:18.36
r:+0.76 29.71 1:04.96 (35.25)
1:45.27 (40.31) 2:18.36 (33.09)
8 Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club 2:17.30 2:19.04
r:+0.70 29.91 1:04.20 (34.29)
1:46.18 (41.98) 2:19.04 (32.86)
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 Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Michael Andrew 21 Race Pace Club 1:59.45 1:58.05
r:+0.74 24.82 54.75 (29.93)
1:28.04 (33.29) 1:58.05 (30.01)
2 Abrahm DeVine 24 Team Elite 2:02.77 1:59.65
r:+0.69 25.98 56.02 (30.04)
1:30.93 (34.91) 1:59.65 (28.72)
3 Andrew Seliskar 24 California Aquat 2:02.60 2:00.59
r:+0.63 25.69 55.52 (29.83)
1:31.06 (35.54) 2:00.59 (29.53)
4 Chase Kalisz 26 Athens Bulldog S 2:01.66 2:00.79
r:+0.70 26.23 57.34 (31.11)
1:31.64 (34.30) 2:00.79 (29.15)
5 Ryan Lochte 36 Gator Swim Club 2:02.03 2:01.71
r:+0.66 26.22 56.99 (30.77)
1:32.37 (35.38) 2:01.71 (29.34)
6 *Jacob Heidtman 26 Team Elite 2:03.41 2:02.42
r:+0.72 26.75 58.92 (32.17)
1:33.94 (35.02) 2:02.42 (28.48)
7 Jay Litherland 25 Dynamo Swim Club 2:03.15 2:03.32
r:+0.73 26.45 57.72 (31.27)
1:34.03 (36.31) 2:03.32 (29.29)
8 Grant Sanders 23 Gator Swim Club 2:02.62 2:05.81
r:+0.71 26.37 57.84 (31.47)
1:34.87 (37.03) 2:05.81 (30.94)
Interesting that Katie Ledecky’s last 50 on her 800 was faster than Andrews’ in this race.