2016 Arena Pro Swim Series Austin: Ledecky, Sjostrom Star At Day 2 Finals

2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT AUSTIN

Saturday night’s finals feature perhaps the showdown of the meet: 100 free champ Sarah Sjostrom meeting 400 free champ Katie Ledecky in the 200 freestyle. Night 2 also features a return to the 400 IM for Olympic champ Ryan Lochteplus college star Ryan Murphy‘s 200 back and a potential 200 back/400 IM double for Katinka Hosszunot to mention the splash-and-dash 50 frees for both men and women.

Keep refreshing this page for live event-by-event recaps, and follow @SwimSwamLive on Twitter for up-to-the-second results from Austin.

Women’s 400 IM – Finals

The first win of the night went to defending series points champion Katinka Hosszuwho defended her first of two top seeds out of prelims with a 4:36.27. The Hungarian was dominant the whole way, swimming with a high tempo and powering away over the final 200 meters for a crushing win.

American high school senior Becca Mann went 4:39.03 with a very poised swim alongside the reigning world champ. That’s just about two seconds off Mann’s lifetime-best – after just missing the Olympic cutoff in the open water 10K, Mann could be shooting for a berth in this race or the 400 or 800 frees.

Third, fourth and fifth went to products of Texas colleges. Former Texas A&M Aggie teammates Sarah Henry (4:40.92) and Cammile Adams (4:41.50) were third and fourth with current Texas Longhorn Madisyn Cox (4:43.46) fifth after scratching the 200 free to focus on this event tonight.

2012 Olympians Caitlin Leverenz (4:43.54) and Elizabeth Beisel (4:44.02) were sixth and seventh, with Texas A&M’s Sydney Pickrem, a Canadian, rounding out the A final in 4:45.34.

The B final went to Patricia Castro Ortega of Division II Queens University in 4:45.34.

Men’s 400 IM – Finals

The men’s 400 IM felt a bit like a throwback to days gone by, with Ryan Lochte crushing the field to win comfortably in just his 7th time swimming the event since winning Olympic gold in 2012. Lochte’s time of 4:12.66 was easily the fastest he’s been since May of 2013.

At age 31, it appeared Lochte might be focusing more on sprint races and giving up the 400 IM he won in London, but his dominant performance this weekend suggests the 400 IM might at least be a possibility for Lochte, who beat most of the main contenders for the U.S. Olympic team in the race here.

World Champs bronze medalist Chase Kalisz, the fastest American in the event last year, went 4:14.64 for second, and California Golden Bear Josh Prenot was 4:15.07 for third place honors.

Scotland’s Dan Wallace took 5th in 4:18.37 for Gator Swim Club. Behind him, a pair of young talents battled for 6th, with 17-year-old Sean Grieshop topping Cal freshman Andrew Seliskar 4:21.24 to 4:21.90.

Tunisian Olympic mile champ Ous Mellouli was 4:23.51 to take 8th in that heat.

South African Michael Meyer went 4:22.17 to win the B final by a wide margin.

Women’s 200 Free – Finals

What looked like the closest race of the night turned into yet another Katie Ledecky blowout as the reigning world champ crushed a new lifetime-best of 1:54.43 in the 200 free to top Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom by more than a body length.

That time for Ledecky nearly broke the U.S. Open record for the fastest swim ever done on American soil, and it did take down the 17-18 National Age Group record preiously held by Missy Franklin at 1:54.81.

What’s impressive is how effortlessly Ledecky is still dropping time despite already being the best freestyler in the world from 200 meters on up.

Sjostrom, who could very well challenge Ledecky for the 200 free gold medal in Rio if she enters the race, was 1:56.14, losing track of Ledecky early and not quite coming up with the firepower to run her down late. Still, Sjostrom beat Franklin by well over a second, as Franklin was 1:57.49 for bronze.

Melanie Margalis beat out Leah Smith for fourth, 1:58.01 to 1:58.32. Behind them, Sarah Henry was 2:00.34, swimming back to back races with the 400 IM. Mission Viejo’s Stephanie Peacock was 2:00.84 for 7th and Shannon Vreeland took 8th in 2:02.26.

Canadian 15-year-old Taylor Ruck won the B final in 1:58.74, crushing the consolation final at the age of 15.

Men’s 200 Free – Finals

It was French domination in the men’s 200 free, with Jeremy Stravius and Jordan Pothain taking 1st and 3rd. Stravius was 1:47.56 to roll away from the field, and Pothain really charged through the third 50 to jump into the lead of the pack behind Stravius.

In between was Texas Longhorn freshman Townley Haas, who went 1:48.35 to come within a second of his personal best in the pool he now calls his training home. Pothain was 1:48.62 for third.

Michael Phelps took fourth, just two tenths back of Pothain at 1:48.87. Phelps had a solid front half, but fell out of the hunt a bit at the 150-mark in what will be his only swim tonight.

Scotland’s Dan Wallace was fifth in 1:49.56, followed by Queens University’s Dion Dreesens (1:49.57) and Cal’s Long Gutierrez (1:50.51). Rounding out the heat was Badger Swim Club’s Zane Grothe at 1:52.27.

The B Final went to Singapore’s Zheng Wen Quah. The Southeast Asian Games star went 1:49.68 to beat Junior World Record-holder Maxime Rooney‘s 1:50.07.

Women’s 200 Back – Finals

After scratching out of the 400 IM, Stanford pro Maya DiRado found some outside smoke to win the 200 back. Swimming from lane 7, DiRado went 2:08.19 to pull off a big win against Pro Swim Series champ Katinka Hosszu and reigning Olympic champ Missy Franklin.

Hosszu and Franklin dueled in the middle of the pool with Hosszu taking silver in 2:08.63. Franklin was 2:09.31.

Cal freshman Kathleen Baker nearly nipped Franklin as well, but struggled a little down the stretch to go 2:09.36 for fourth. Canada’s Dominique Bouchard was 2:09.70 for fifth, the last swimmer under 2:10.

Multi-time Zimbabwean Olympian Kirsty Coventry was 2:10.05 for sixth, beating hometown hero Quinn Carrozza of Longhorn Aquatics (2:12.79) and Canadian and former NCAA champ Brooklynn Snodgrass (2:13.35).

In the B final, Texas A&M’s Lisa Bratton topped Junior Nationals standout Alexandra Walsh 2:11.90 to 2:12.38.

Men’s 200 Back – Finals

In the men’s 200 back, it was California swimmers who dominated, much like the French swimmers in the 200 free. Cal junior Ryan Murphy was the runaway winner, going 1:55.99 after a great opening 100 split of 56.5. His teammate Jacob Pebley was third at 1:58.52.

Slipping in between was Arkady Vyatchanin, the former Russian national who is seeking an Olympic bid with Serbia for 2016. Vyatchanin was 1:58.52.

100 back Olympic champ Matt Grevers went 1:59.31 to take fourth and round out the sub-two-minute crowd.

NC State’s Hennessey Stuart was just off the barrier at 2:00.00. Canada’s Markus Thormeyer, who snuck into the A final when Olympic champ Tyler Clary scratched, made the most of his opportunity, going 2:00.83 to drop 1.7 seconds off his prelims swim and take 6th.

28-year-old Rex Tullius was 2:00.88 and Great Britain’s Jay Lelliott rounded out the heat in 2:03.42.

Missouri’s Carter Griffin took the B final, going 2:01.11.

Women’s 50 Free – Finals

Though she couldn’t match Ledecky in the 200 free, Sarah Sjostrom showed why she’s among the worlds elite in the 50 free. The Swede crushed the field, going 24.17 – a time that would have won silver at last year’s World Championships. (Sjostrom won bronze in Kazan with a 24.31).

Top prelims qualifier Madison Kennedy was 24.72 for second, touching out her SwimMAC teammate Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace by about a tenth (24.84).

Canadian Chantal Van Landeghem took fourth in 24.92, eking out the spot over 19-year-old Canyons sensation Abby Weitzeil (24.93) and Egyptian national Farida Osman (24.95).

France’s Anna Santamans was 25.05 for seventh, with Canadian Sandrine Mainville (25.47) capping off the heat.

Veteran sprinter Natalie Coughlin went 25.19 to win a B final full of international experience. Fellow U.S. Olympian Dana Vollmer was 25.24 for second and Sweden’s Therese Alshammar was third in 25.38.

Men’s 50 Free – Finals

Nathan Adrian completed his sweep of the sprints with a dominating 50 free effort. Adrian was 21.85 – the 2012 Olympic champ in the 100 free is starting to look like a contender in both the 50 and 100 for Rio after sweeping both races here in Austin.

Brazil’s Bruno Fratus was 22.07 for second place. Adrian and Fratus were 2nd and 3rd at last year’s World Championships in this event behind France’s Florent Manaudou.

American Jimmy Feigen was 22.27 for the third place showing in Austin. Feigen’s had a bit of a quiet season, but should be among the top American sprint contenders this coming summer.

16-year-old Michael Andrew shaved .01 seconds off his National Age Group record while taking fourth in 22.33. Just behind were NC State’s stud sprinter Simonas Bilis (22.36) and Olympian Cullen Jones (22.37).

Club Wolverine teammates Miguel Ortiz (22.52) and Junya Koga (22.78) took 7th and 8th.

In the B final, Canadian sprinter Santo Condorelli went 22.61 to touch out his countryman Oleksandr Loginov (22.62).

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BDL SWIM
8 years ago

Some thoughts from Day 2:

ELIZABETH BEISEL – Not sure what to think about her either.. She typically trains very hard in-season and swims slowly at these Grand Prix meets. She always rises to the occasion when it counts, but I think her disappointing, injury-ridden 2015 has allowed doubts to creep into my mind. If she is genuinely injury-free, she should be on track to get back to her 2012 form. However, I don’t see her getting much faster than 4:32 in the 400 IM and 2:07 in the 200 Back.

MAYA DIRARDO – Terrific swim in the 200 back. Must be a huge confidence booster to swim her “lower priority” event and beat the long course and short course… Read more »

Ok
8 years ago

Ledecky so far has gone
100 free: 53.75
200 free: 1:54.43
400 free: 3:59.54 (right after 100 free)
I’m saying WR in the 800, her 100 free was awesome, but she could have gotten the 400 if she didn’t swim it. Her 200 free was awesome, as she just stayed with Sjostrom for 75 meters then got shot ot of a canon. She also split 58.24 coming home, which is insane ( until you see that pellegrini came home in 57.38)…
But the times just show that Ledecky is in great shape, so I know her 800 WR is insane, but we may see something special.

anonymoose
Reply to  Ok
8 years ago

hmm but that 800 WR i think was her best swim ever (for now). i think she’ll probably go under her old WR something like 8.09 maybe 8.08 high. that would be special as well.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Ok
8 years ago

She will brake the house in Rio !!! her 200 free will be exceptional , all the rest is already exceptional .

Luigi
8 years ago

What’s going on with Anthony Ervin? 🙁

Mohsin
Reply to  Luigi
8 years ago

I’m wondering the same about both him and Cullen Jones. I’m guessing both are just massively out of form, or at very early stages in their training cycle, or (maybe) past it? I’d love to be proven wrong at the trials. Jones’ 51 in his 100 on Friday is just awful.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Mohsin
8 years ago

completely agree – they are off , simply put . Probably no Rio for them . In the 50 free , Dressel and Adrian will be faster than anyone else . . . Schneider might get close to the 2 , he is the only one in my opinion and improving his 100 free as well .

Rafael
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

When us swimming will release the og criteria? Top 6 on 100 or coach criteria? Top 6 times or top 6 a final?

Mohsin
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

Don’t see either of them making it onto the 4×100 free relay either, unfortunately.

Billabong
Reply to  Mohsin
8 years ago

These guys are getting beaten by a 16yr ol Michael Andrew…..it’s time to hand over the baton to the next generation.

Glenny
Reply to  Billabong
8 years ago

It is interesting because Cullen said on Facebook it was his fastest in season time in the 50 and he felt really good being unshaved and tapered and still going 22 low.

bobo gigi
8 years ago

Well. I’ve just read the results. Another fast day.

Quick thoughts.

Women’s 400 IM
Really don’t know what to think about Elizabeth Beisel. I must start to worry? Is she still the same swimmer as before her injury? Or is she just in an heavy training period and can’t swim fast right now?
If Beisel is not Beisel at trials then Becca Mann has the profile to take the second American spot behind Maya DiRado.

Men’s 400 IM
Really don’t know what to think about Ryan Lochte. I must start to consider him very seriously for the 400 IM in my next 2016 US olympic team barometer? 4.12 in January? I know he doesn’t train anymore like… Read more »

phelps swims 200 breast rio
8 years ago

Amazing- Ledecky split identical last two 50s in both the prelims and finals

1:26.89 (29.65) 1:56.54 (29.65)
1:25.31 (29.12) 1:54.43 (29.12)

GI
Reply to  phelps swims 200 breast rio
8 years ago

Wow! Didn’t notice this! Truly amazing! She is a pure genius!

phelps swim 200 breast rio
8 years ago

Amazing- Ledecky split identical last two 50s in both the prelims and finals

1:26.89 (29.65) 1:56.54 (29.65)

1:25.31 (29.12) 1:54.43 (29.12)

SUNY cal
8 years ago

Looking like Biesel will not make OLY team unless something drastically changes. She has been way off her times in all her races at several different meets & now Becca Mann is coming on big time in 400IM.

Rafael
8 years ago

Dee on current states even ledecky as anchor the medley is China to lose with Sweden behind. Vollmer will have much more impact than ledecky

commonwombat
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

W4XMED remains a race in five.

CHN won in Kazan and probably go in as favourites on the grounds of being the most even across the four strokes. Their one issue may be being run down on the anchor leg.

SWE got silver in Kazan. Their danger is that it all revolves around Sjostrom and how much ground she has to make up and whether she can give their anchor sufficient clear water to hold onto a medal. Johannson on BRS swam a far better relay leg than in the individual 100 but their backstroker would ideally be needing to break the minute so they are not coming from too far back at the start.

AUS has the best “bookends”… Read more »

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

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