TYR Pro Series: Simone Manuel Clocks 24.70 to Best Field in 50 Freestyle
In a nation as stacked as the United States, there are only a handful of athletes have created considerable separation from their fellow competitors. Count Simone Manuel in that category, as the Stanford product – over the past five years – has established herself as America’s premier sprinter.
On the final night of the TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio, Manuel comfortably won the 50-meter freestyle, going 24.70 for the only sub-25 performance of the evening. Manuel’s triumph complemented a victory earlier in the meet in the 100 freestyle. This week has marked Manuel’s first competition in a year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Manuel was followed in second place by fellow 2016 Olympic Abbey Weitzeil (25.00) while Poland’s Kasia Wasick was third in 25.12.
Aside from the speed display Manuel has become known for, the 24-year-old has etched herself as one of the most-clutch swimmers in the sport. En route to her Olympic gold and back-to-back world championships in the 100 freestyle, Manuel was never the favorite, but on each occasion came through under pressure. The same can be said for her world crown in the 50 freestyle at the 2019 World Champs. Obviously, her clutch trait fits perfectly for global competitions and must be appreciated.
Manuel said that while she was not terribly pleased with the time, she was happy with some of the technical aspects of her swim that she’s been working on.
“I would’ve liked to swim faster,” Manuel said during a virtual mixed zone via Zoom. “I’m always going to think that. I think I have some goal times at this meet that I wanted to hit that I didn’t quite hit. But I think there’s a lot of positives that I can take from this meet. I haven’t been to a meet during COVID and that’s a different experience than I’m used to. Obviously we’re used to masks and everything, but just showing up and all the elements that come with swimming during COVID. You don’t have fans, the atmosphere is a little different, so that’s something that takes a little bit of adjustment. Having to get to and from the hotel, that’s something I haven’t had to do for a year. These are things you kind of take for granted, but when you don’t have it, you realize that it’s something that is so normal and essential to getting prepared for swim meets.
“It’s just nice to go through that routine, and that is something that I think is a positive. I’ll be more prepared when we get to Mission Viejo.”
In the men’s 50 freestyle, Italian Santo Condorelli, who formerly represented Canada on the international stage, took top honors in 22.49, slightly quicker than the 22.56 of Nathan Adrian and the 22.57 of Bowe Becker.
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 Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Simone Manuel 24 Alto Swim Club 25.06 24.70
r:+0.68
2 Abbey Weitzeil 24 California Aquat 24.99 25.00
r:+0.64
3 *Kasia Wasick 28 Una TRA/UNLV 24.92 25.12
r:+0.67
4 Linnea Mack 25 Team Elite 25.45 25.24
r:+0.71
5 Casey Fanz 22 Cardinal Aquatic 25.62 25.40
r:+0.67
6 Alyssa Marsh 23 Team Elite 25.72 25.43
r:+0.65
7 Julie Meynen 23 Unattached 25.77 25.50
r:+0.63
8 *Anika Apostalo 26 Irvine Novaquati 25.63 25.61
r:+0.66
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 Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 *Santo Condorel 26 The Dolphins Por 22.70 22.49
r:+0.63
2 Nathan Adrian 32 Una CAL 22.50 22.56
r:+0.63
3 Bowe Becker 23 Sandpipers Of Ne 22.89 22.57
r:+0.64
4 Ryan Held 25 New York Athleti 23.01 22.64
r:+0.61
5 Justin Ress 23 Wolfpack Elite 22.79 22.65
r:+0.63
6 Payton Sorenson 27 Unattached 22.85 22.72
r:+0.74
7 Zach Apple 23 Mission Viejo Na 22.71 22.79
r:+0.63
8 Dean Farris 23 Veritas Swimming 22.96 22.81
r:+0.67
