TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville Prelims: Summer McIntosh Sets Pace in 200 Free

Photo Courtesy: Emily Cameron

TYR Pro Swim Series Knoxville Prelims: Summer McIntosh Sets Pace in 200 Free

Fresh off a commanding win in the 200 butterfly Thursday night, Summer McIntosh started Friday morning’s prelim session at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville by setting the top time in the 200 freestyle.

The Canadian international went 1:57.43, the fastest time by nearly two seconds. She was followed by Erin Gemmell in 1:59.10. Leah Smith and Paige Madden also broke two minutes in a veteran-laden field, albeit one without Katie Ledecky, who is swimming the 400 individual medley later in the morning.

Also making the A final was Simone Manuel, who went 2:00.06. The 27-year-old finished third in the 100 free the night before as she seeks to return to form.

The top two in the 200 free prelims on the men’s side are the same as the finishing order in Thursday’s 400 free. Austrian international Felix Aubock qualified with the top seed in 1:48.06, followed by Lucas Henveaux of Belgium in 1:48.61.

Luca Urlando joined them under 1:49, grabbing the third spot. Third-place finisher in the 400, Kieran Smith, was seventh, while 100 free runner-up Brooks Curry was eighth. A passel of American relay contenders for the Paris Olympics followed in between, with Grant House, Luke Hobson and Jack Dahlgren all making the final eight.

Olympian Rhyan White led the way in the women’s 200 backstroke. Her time of 2:09.85 was a clean second ahead of Josephine Fuller. Claire Curzan was third in 2:11.51. The A final will feature teens Delia Lloyd of Canada, Leah Shackley and Charlotte Crush.

Hunter Tapp led the way in the men’s 200 back, one that is missing Ryan Murphy due to illness. The NC State vet went 1:59.82, edging out Jack Aikins for the top seed by .04 seconds. Daniel Diehl finished third din prelims. Shaine Casas is the other big name in the final, having gone 2:01.84 to earn the fifth seed.

Tess Cieplucha led the field in the 400 IM with a time of 4:42.85, the Tennessee swimmer and Canadian Olympian finding home water to her liking. Ledecky was second in 4:44.20, which may be enough to get her to swim the event in finals. Leah Smith finished third in her second swi of the morning. Also in the A final is Lilly King, who went 4:51.36 to finish fifth.

Carson Foster secured the top seed in finals of the men’s 400 IM with a time of 4:23.16. He was just ahead of Jay Litherland, with Landon Driggers leading four swimmers in the 4:25s, among them Bobby Finke.

The Walsh sisters are on top in the 100 fly. Gretchen Walsh won prelims in 58.05, .18 seconds up on big sister Alex Walsh. Kelly Pash of Texas was third.

The A final is stacked. Maggie MacNeil posted the fourth fastest time of prelims. Fifth was Claire Curzan. Veteran Beata Nelson and teen Leah Shackley are in the A final, the latter eighth in 59.22, a clear second back to ninth. Emma Sticklen rounds out the top eight.

Santo Condorelli finished up the morning by securing the top seed in the 100 fly, an event that is without Caeleb Dressel this week. The 28-year-old Condorelli went 52.24, .05 seconds ahead of Shaine Casas. Dare Rose, Trenton Julian and Luke Miller made the A final with times in the 52s. Michael Andrew posted the eighth best time to sneak into the A final. One interesting scratch from the top 10 was Luca Urlando.

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