2015 Arena Pro Swim Series – Austin: Day Two Finals Real-Time Recap

Katinka Hosszu is looking to get her first win of the Austin Pro Swim Series meet after coming up short on day one. She leads the field after prelims in the women’s 200 IM by two and half seconds. The men’s 400 IM will be fun to watch with veterans Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary fighting to hold off the up-and-coming generation of US Swimmers. Josh Prenot and Andrew Seliskar are both capable of hanging with the field.

Katie Ledecky will be going for her third individual victory in the 200 freestyle. Conor Dwyer holds the top seed in the men’s 200 free and was the only swimmer under 1:50 during prelims.

The men’s 200 backstroke will be a battle, with the army from Cal (Ryan Murphy, Jacob Pebley, & Connor Green) trying to stay in front of big names like Clary and Matt Grevers. Jack Conger is also having a great meet after his 51.6 100 fly yesterday, watch for him to make a move in this race as well.

Egyptian Olympian from Cal, Farida Osman, posted the fastest time of the morning in the women’s 50 freestyle, finishing at 25.24. With Katie Meili and Ariana Vanderpool-Wallace on either side of her tonight, hopefully we will see someone under 25 seconds.

Bruno Fratus claimed the top seed in the men’s 50 freestyle. Watch for Nathan Adrian, though. As hard as it is to say an athlete could cruise through the prelims of the 50 freestyle, it is accurate. Adrian always seems to have something more to bring to the table during finals.

2015 PRO SWIM SERIES AT AUSTIN

• Thursday, January 15 – Saturday, January 17
• Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, University of Texas
• Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM (Central Time)
• Psych Sheets
• Live stream
• Live results
• Friday’s Events: 400 IM, 200 free, 200 back, 50 free, 800 free relay (timed finals)

Women’s 400 IM – Finals

The women put on a great show to start of the session. Katinka Hosszu led early on, but Elizabeth Beisel and Caitlin Leverenz took control of the race and pulled ahead of Hosszu during the breaststroke leg. Even during the breaststroke Beisel was able to pull ahead of Leverenz, which set her up well to finish that race. She reached in with the top time of 3:36.71. Caitlin Leverenz picks up a second place finish at 4:38.35 and Katinka Hosszu adds a third place finish at 4:39.93.

Sarah Henry finished fourth with her time of 4:45.74 and Cammile Adams was fifth at 4:49.10.

In her post race interview with Rowdy Gaines, Beisel commented on her breaststroke, stating she was thankful it was coming along. It’s hard to disagree with that. Her breaststroke looked the best I’ve seen it in a long time. After the season she had last year, she is setting herself up to do really well this summer.

Men’s 400 IM – Finals

It was a four way race through breaststroke between Tyler Clary, Ryan Lochte, Andrew Seliskar, and Josh Prenot. Clary and Prenot were able to utilize their breaststrokes to pull ahead, making it a two man race with only the freestyle leg to go. It was a great race all the way through, but Josh Prenot had a great backhalf to win with a time of 4:16.08. Prenot beat Clary at the wall, touching him out by .2 seconds. Clary’s second place time was 4:16.28. Ryan Lochte added third place points with his time of 4:18.68.

Andrew Seliskar finished fourth at 4:21.41, a four second drop from his morning swim, and Tristan Cote was fifth at 4:25.71.

If Prenot can hold on to the back half of his races at NCAA’s as well as he is today, we may have a few upsets on our hands this year.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

Katie Ledecky is an animal! Taking out her first 100 in 56.61, she had a body length lead on Megan Romano at the halfway point. Ledecky made it look easy, reaching in for her third win at 1:56.16. Megan Romano added a second place finish with a solid January time of 1:58.99. Another 17 year old, Katie McLaughlin, had a great swim to finish third at 1:59.70.

With only a short break between the 400 IM and the 200 freestyle, Sarah Henry finished fourth in 2:01.66 and Sycerika McMahon finished fifth at 2:01.70.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

Conor Dwyer looked great taking out his first 50 and he held onto that speed all the way through the finish. He posted a great early January time of 1:47.76. Bobby Hurley had a strong swim, dipping under 1:50 to finish second at 1:49.59. Dion Dreesens added a third place finish with his time of 1:50.15.

Michael Weiss finished in fourth at 1:50.10 and Michael Klueh was fifth at 1:50.65.

Women’s 200 Backstroke – Finals

The young Tayor Ruck looked great taking out her 200 backstroke from the middle of the pool. She was out ahead of the swimmers on either side of her, with the exception of Megan Romano from the outside lane. Ruck looked great through the second half of her race, but you could tell she was fading with 15 meters to go. Domonique Bouchard and Elizabeth Beisel snuck in during their final 15 meters to pull ahead of Ruck. Bouchard won the race with her time of 2:10.02, followed by Beisel in 2:10.09 for second, and then Taylor Ruck in third at 2:10.22.

Lisa Bratton finished fourth at 2:10.61 and Megan Romano finished fifth at 2:11.26.

Kirsty Coventry won the B-final of the women’s 200 backstroke in 2:13.17 in her return to competition.

Men’s 200 Backstroke – Finals

Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley looked great through the front half, leading out Matt Grevers through the 100. Ryan Murphy was able to hold on to the back half of his race like his teammate, Josh Prenot, was able to do in the 400 IM. California just spent some time in Colorado training in altitude. Murphy finished first with his time of 1:56.91, followed by Matt Grevers at 1:57.43 for second. Jacob Pebley added a third place finish with his time of 1:58.47.

Jack Conger finished fourth at 1:59.94 and Jonathan Roberts was fifth at 2:00.13.

Women’s 50 Freestyle – Finals

Farida Osman broke the Egyptain National Record to win the women’s 50 freestyle with her time of 24.92. She held off Ariana Vanderpool-Wallace who finished second at 25.12 and Katie Meili in third at 25.43.

Megan Romano had a busy night finishing fourth in her final event of the day at 25.69. Arlene Semeco was fifth at 25.73.

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Finals

Bruno Fratus looked untouchable in the final of the men’s 50 freestyle with his final time of 21.91. His turnover rate was through the roof all the way to the finish, which helped him to his first sub-22 second 50 freestyle in season. Nathan Adrian added a second place finish with his time of 22.17, and 2014 NCAA Champion Kristian Gkolomeev was third at 22.31.

Jimmy Feigen finished fourth with his time of 22.35 and Miguel Ortiz was fifth at 22.49.