Hali Flickinger and Regan Smith put together an epic showdown to highlight Thursday’s finals of Day 2 of the 2020 TYR Pro Swim Series in Des Moines.
In the 200 butterfly, Flickinger held off Smith for victory, finishing in 2:06.11, a Pro Swim Series record. It was the No. 1 time in the world this year and faster than her time that won the silver at Worlds last summer (2:06.95, though she went 2:05.96 in prelims in Gwanju). The meet record had stood to Cammile Adams at 2:06.76 since 2012.
Flickinger’s effort follows a switch of programs from Jack Bauerle‘s University of Georgia to Bob Bowman at Arizona State that appears to working well for the ‘fly ace. In need of a change of scene, not the type of coaching or program, she said she had decided on Bowman because of the similarities of approach to excellence.
Hali Flickinger – Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona
After World Championships, she told Swimming World that she felt she had learned a valuable lesson in a 2:05.9 in the rounds, a second slower in the final – it was all about mental strength and confidence in the physical strengths she had already proven she was capable of executing:
Hali Flickinger – Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
“It stunk to get out of that pool, knowing what I had in me. I learned what I needed to stop doing what I do in my head. I was the most physically prepared athlete in that race.”
Today, Flickinger noted:
“I was hoping to be close to [Adams’ time]. We’re working on different things with Bob [Bowman], I’m trying to learn how to swim my own race and not let other people effect the way I swim. I’m really happy that I was able to control that race the way that I needed to, so yeah I’m happy.”
On her last lap inside 32sec, she said: “I usually try to control the first 100 and a lot of these competitors don’t, so it’s kind of hard for me because I’m not always the first out. It’s really hard to tell myself that’s okay. So usually the first part is controlled and then the last 100 is where I thrive.”
Meanwhile, Smith broke the 17-18 National Age Group Record to finish second in 2:06.39. The previous mark was set by Katie McLaughlin in 2015 (2:07.68).
Remedy Rule finished third in 2:10.99, breaking her own Filipino national record.
TYR Pro Swim Series, Des Moines
- Night 1: TYR Pro Series: Katie Ledecky Pops Fifth-Fastest 1500 Free in History
- Live Results
- Evening Heat Sheets
- TYR Pro Swim Series Day 2 Prelims: Caeleb Dressel, Nathan Adrian Miss 100 Free A Final
Siobhan Haughey started the night with a little bit of a surprise in the women’s 100 freestyle, going 53.30 to upstage Simone Manuel, who settled for second in 53.55. It’s a Hong Kong record for Haughey, breaking her own mark.
Third was Allison Schmitt in 53.80. It’s the first time she’s been under 54 since the 2016 Olympic Trials.
The interest in the men’s 100 free was split between the A and B finals. Zach Apple won the title in 48.59 with Tate Jackson second (48.72) and Dean Farris third (49.97). But Nathan Adrian won the B final in 48.62, with Caeleb Dressel second in 48.68 after both missed the A final with rough morning swims. Apple alluded to the state of training everyone is in when he noted:
“We’re definitely still in heavy training; Monday was a little lighter but the weeks coming up are no different than normal. I’m feeling really good, I’m really excited to get to this summer. We’ve got a little bit more hard training to get through and then some rest and then we’ll see where we are.”
King Is Queen Of Early 2020 Speed With First Sub-1:06 Of The Year
Lilly King – Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D’Alberto/LaPresse
Lilly King led wire-to-wire in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:05.74 (home 50m at 34.89), the first sub-1:06 of the year as fastest time in the world this year for an Olympic champion in fine form on the way to defence mode. She got past Molly Hannis (1:06.43) and Annie Lazor (1:06.54) after both beat her in the morning. Looking ahead to bigger moments this year, King said:
“I’m feeling good. It’s crazy to think that Trials and the Olympics are coming up already again. It seems like it’s been such a long time and it also seems like it’s flown by. I think that [100m breaststroke performance] was pretty good, I think especially for how heavy I’ve been training recently. I haven’t swam a meet since ISL finals, so I was pretty pleased with it.”
On her last-lap 34.89, she said: “I was really nervous [before the swim] because I haven’t been racing that much recently, but I tried to hold back a little bit that first 50 and have some easy speed and then turn the gas on the last 50, and that’s what happened.”
Michael Andrew On Peaty Watch
Michael Andrew – Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Michael Andrew was still the only one to crack a minute in the men’s 100 breast, following up his 59.83 in the morning with a 59.14 to win by more than a second. It’s a season-best time for him. Kevin Cordes took second in 1:0045 with Nic Fink third (1:00.52) and Andrew Wilson fourth (1:00.64). Said Andrew on his speedy effort:
“It was very good. It’s nice racing these guys, I’ve been racing them for so many years now, so I get comfortable racing them which is good. I knew it was a fast field and that I had to be on my A-game. I felt amazing this morning and just wanted to come back and give it everything. It was good— there were a few things that I could fix, I kind of got out of my head. But I think that 58[sec] is going to be an easy one to break so I’m looking forward to getting there.”
He had been watching Adam Peaty and learning:
“I think right now, what’s feeling best is the rhythm and the timing of the stroke. It’s been really clean. We’ve been working on a lot of things, watching Peaty’s stroke a lot. We’ve been studying it and trying to figure out how do I maximize my body for all its worth in the pool and I think we’re getting close to it.”
The men’s 200 fly was less eventful, with Gunnar Bentz going out fast and winning in 1:56.20, more than a second clear of Chase Kalisz (1:57.28). Third was Jay Litherland in 1:58.02.
The women’s 400 free is, as usual, the Katie Ledecky show. She won in 3:59.66, remaining one of only three women to ever break four minutes (with Ariarne Titmus and Federica Pellegrini). Leah Smith was second in 4:06.81. Melanie Margalis dropped 11 seconds from the morning to finish in 4:09.00 for third. Schmitt was fourth in 4:09.40. The swim was Ledecky’s 19th sub-4:00 performance, the next most being Titmus’ four such swims. Said Ledecky:
“I was happy with it. It was a good swim, I put it together well and my stroke felt good. It’s a really good field here in Iowa in every event, so it’s good to get some good race prep here and I’m excited to move forward with training after this.”
Among readers of this report, Jim Gaughran, Stanford swim coach 1960-1980, left a cheering comment for Ledecky:
“It’s been so thrilling to watch, in person, or on t.v. You’re the leading person in all sports to show to all coming athletes that glass ceilings are there to be broken, and not just to to be aimed for. Looking forward, along with all Stanford swimmers, present and past, to the coming Olympics. We’ll all be yelling for you so loud over the last 100 of the 1500, that I’m sure you’ll hear us, even with your head underwater. One of your greatest fans.”
The men’s 400 free went to Marwan El Kamash, defending his top seed from the morning in 3:48.62. Second was Zane Grothe, clocking in at 3:50.89.
The podiums:
Women’s 100m Freestyle
- Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong), 53.30
- Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas/Alto Swim Club), 53.55
- Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich./Sun Devil Swimming), 53.80
Men’s 100m Freestyle
- Zach Apple (Trenton, Ohio/Mission Viejo Nadadores), 48.59
- Tate Jackson (Austin, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), 48.72
- Dean Farris (Atlanta, Ga./Harvard Swimming), 48.97
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
- Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club), 1:05.74
- Molly Hannis (Santa Rosa, Calif./Tennessee Aquatics), 1:06.43
- Annie Lazor (Beverly Hills, Mich./Mission Viejo Nadadores), 1:06.54
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
- Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./Race Pace Club), 59.14
- Kevin Cordes (Naperville, Ill./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:00.45
- Nic Fink (Morristown, N.J./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:00.52
Women’s 200m Butterfly
- Hali Flickinger (Spring Grove, Pa./Sun Devil Swimming), 2:06.11
- Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Riptide Swim Team), 2:06.39
- Remedy Rule (Crozet, Va./Longhorn Aquatics), 2:09.58
Men’s 200m Butterfly
- Gunnar Bentz (Atlanta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 1:56.20
- Chase Kalisz (Bel Air, Md./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:57.82
- Jay Litherland (Alpharetta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 1:58.02
Women’s 400m Freestyle
- Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Alto Swim Club), 3:59.66
- Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa. Tucson/Ford Dealers Aquatics), 4:06.81
- Melanie Margalis (Clearwater, Fla./St. Petersburg Aquatics), 4:09.00
Men’s 400m Freestyle
- Marwan El Kamash (Egypt), 3:48.62
- Zane Grothe (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City Henderson Swim Team), 3:50.89
- Nick Norman (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./California Aquatics), 3:52.80
Congratulations great job