2016 Arena Pro Swim Series- Charlotte: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES – CHARLOTTE

Women’s 200 IM- Prelims

  1. Caitlin Leverenz, Cal: 2:14.44
  2. Karlee Bispo, Unattached (MN) / Siobhan Haughey, Michigan: 2:16.54
  3. Emma Reaney, Irish Aquatics: 2:17.00
  4. Monika Gonzales Hermosillo, Mexico: 2:17.40
  5. Kate Mills, SwimMAC: 2:17.40
  6. Miranda Tucker, Indiana: 2:17.53
  7. Ary Medina, Mexico: 2:17.70

Caitlin Leverenz of Cal Aquatics, the London 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in this event, was the top qualifier this morning by over two seconds with 2:14.44. Her time this morning would not have been fast enough to move her into the world rankings, if she were unranked. However, Leverenz’s swim from the FINA World Cup in Dubai, a 2:10.35, currently sets her sixth in the world.

2013 World Championship medalist Karlee Bispo and Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey tied for the second slot, each going 2:16.54.

2014 NCAA Champion and former American record holder in the short course 200 breaststroke Emma Reaney of Irish Aquatics came up third in 2:17.00.

Mexico’s Monika Gonzalez Hermosillo finished fifth in 2:17.27, and SwimMAC’s Kate Mills grabbed 2:17.40.

Indiana’s Miranda Tucker and Mexico’s Ary Medina will round out the A final with 2:17.53 and 2:17.70, respectively.

Men’s 200 IM- Prelims

  1. Norbert Szabo, Unattached: 2:02.51
  2. Tom Peribonio, Unattached: 2:03.16
  3. Conor Dwyer, Trojan: 2:03.57
  4. Jose Martinez, Texas A&M: 2:03.70
  5. Uvis Kalnins, Missouri State: 2:04.06
  6. Ryan Lochte, SwimMAC: 2:04.26
  7. Michael Weiss, Wisconsin: 2:04.74
  8. Kyle Whitaker, Club Wolverine: 2:05.07

Norbert Szabo of Hungary and Virginia Tech made a huge jump from the tenth seed to swimming the top qualifying time this morning, a 2:02.51.

South Carolina’s 6th place finisher in the 1650 free at this year’s NCAAs Tom Peribonio came in second with 2:03.16, followed by 2012 Olympic gold medalist Conor Dwyer of Trojan Swim Club in 2:03.57.

Texas A&M’s Jose Martinez, who represents Mexico internationally, finished fifth in 2:04.06, followed by SwimMAC’s Ryan Lochte in 2:04.26. Lochte is currently ranked twelfth in the world in this event with a 1:58.43 from the Arena PSS meet in Austin in January.

Michael Weiss and Kyle Whitaker will also swim the A final tonight.

Women’s 200 Back- Prelims

  1. Erin Voss, Unattached: 2:11.08
  2. Dominique Bouchard, Swimming Canada: 2:11.54
  3. Alex Sumner, Suburban Seahawks: 2:11.60
  4. Clara Smiddy, Michigan: 2:11.66
  5. Kylie Masse, Swimming Canada: 2:12.09
  6. Jen Marrkand, Unattached (VA): 2:13.41
  7. Alice Treuth, Irish Aquatics: 2:13.83
  8. Kirsty Coventry, SwimMAC: 2:13.98

Stanford commit Erin Voss posted the top time this morning in the women’s 200 back, swimming the event in 2:11.08 to outdo the field by nearly half a second.

Yesterday’s 4th-place finisher in the 100 distance Dominique Bouchard of Swimming Canada hit second in 2:11.54. Bouchard will be swimming this event in Rio, and she currently sits 11th in the world with her 2:08.52 from Canadian Olympic Trials.

The Suburban Seahawks’ Alex Sumner took the third slot with 2:11.60. Michigan sophomore Clara Smiddy, the 6th-place finisher in this event at the 2016 NCAA Championships, scored 2:11.66 for the fourth slot.

Swimming Canada’s Kylie Masse, who won the 100 back yesterday; Virginia’s Jen Markkand, who finished 2nd yesterday in the 200 fly; Notre Dame’s Alice Treuth; and SwimMAC and Zimbabwe’s seven-time Olympic medalist Kirsty Coventry will round out the field tonight.

Men’s 200 Back- Prelims

  1. Tyler Clary, SwimMAC: 1:59.48
  2. Arkady Vyatchanin, NYAC: 2:00.57
  3. Robert Owen, Unattached (VA): 2:00.86
  4. Carter Griffin, Mizzou: 2:01.91
  5. Aaron Greene, Louisville: 2:02.18
  6. Tristan Sanders, Michigan: 2:03.70
  7. Andy Song An, Bolles School: 2:03.78
  8. David Cespedes Echeverry, Colombia: 2:03.83

SwimMAC’s Olympic defending champion in this event Tyler Clary was the only swimmer under 2:00 this morning, clocking 1:59.48 to come in over a second ahead of the field.

The New York Athletic Club’s Arkady Vyatchanin, currently 18th in the world with a 1:57.30 from November, swam 2:00.57 for the second seed. Vyatchanin is currently looking for a country to represent this summer in Rio (possibly Serbia), but during a post-race interview yesterday, he expressed doubt that his citizenship will go through in time.

Virginia Tech’s Robert Owen came in third with 2:00.86, followed by Mizzou’s Carter Griffin in 2:01.91. Louisville’s Aaron Greene will be the fifth seed tonight, after swimming 2:02.18 in prelims.

Tristan Sanders of Michigan, Andy Song An of the Bolles School Sharks, and David Echeverry of Colombia will round out the A final.

Women’s 50 Breast- Prelims

  1. Katie Meili, SwimMAC: 30.62
  2. Lilly King, Indiana: 30.78
  3. Alia Atkinson, South Florida: 31.33
  4. Rachel Nichol, Swimming Canada: 31.39
  5. Emily McClellan, Badger: 31.65
  6. Miranda Tucker, Indiana: 31.89
  7. Andee Cottrell, Louisville: 32.10
  8. Danielle Herrmann, Clovis: 32.36

SwimMAC’s 2015 Pan Am Games gold medalist in the 100 Katie Meili swam to the top of the packed field this morning in the 50 breast, clocking 30.62. That time bumps the previously-unranked swimmer up to fifth in the world in the non-Olympic event.

2015-2016 LCM Women 50 BREAST

2Alia
ATKINSON
JAM30.2611/07
3Lilly
KING
USA30.3505/15
4Katie
MEILI
USA30.4205/15
5Molly
HANNIS
USA30.5411/07
6Georgia
BOHL
AUS30.5804/13
View Top 26»

2016 NCAA champion and American record holder in the 200 distance Lilly King, who yesterday came up third in her signature event, upset by Annie Lazor and Kierra Smith, clocked the second-fastest time with 30.78. Her 50 this morning moves her up to sixth in the world.

Third this morning went to Alia Atkinson of South Florida and Jamaica in 31.33. Atkinson currently sits second in the world rankings with a 30.26 from November. She is a huge medal contender in the 100 distance this summer in Rio, one of the few possibilities to fend off defending champion Ruta Meilutyte for the gold.

Swimming Canada’s Rachel Nichol, a member of the country’s Rio squad, came in fourth with 31.39.

Emily McClellan, Miranda Tucker, Andee Cottrell, and Danielle Herrmann will round out the A final.

Men’s 50 Breast- Prelims

  1. Cody Miller, Badger: 27.39
  2. Richard Funk, HPC-Ontario: 28.07
  3. Jason Block, Swimming Canada: 28.17
  4. Kevin Steel, Unattached: 28.18
  5. Zach Hayden, Club Wolverine: 28.20
  6. Nic Eriksson, Queens University: 28.21
  7. Youssef El Kamash, Grand Canyon: 28.37
  8. Jorge Murillo Valdes, South Florida: 28.38

Cody Miller, last night’s 200 champion, posted the top time by a long shot this morning. The previously-unranked Badger Swim Club athlete rocketed up to 11th in the world rankings with that time.

HPC-Ontario’s Richard Funk hit second in 28.07, followed by fellow Canadian Jason Block in 28.17. Block will be representing Canada this summer in Rio.

Kevin Steel took the fourth slot in 28.18, followed by Club Wolverine’s Zach Hayden in 28.20. Nic Eriksson of Queens hit sixth in 28.21, followed by Grand Canyon and Egypt’s Youssef El Kamash in 28.37.

South Florida’s Jorge Murillo Valdes was the last A final qualifier in 28.38.

Women’s 100 Free- Prelims

  1. Dana Vollmer, Cal: 53.59
  2. Penny Oleksiak, Swimming Canada: 54.15
  3. Chantal Van Landeghem, Swimming Canada: 54.30
  4. Madison Kennedy, SwimMAC: 54.62
  5. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace: SwimMAC: 54.74
  6. Sandrine Mainville, Swimming Canada: 55.08
  7. Taylor Ruck, Swimming Canada: 55.45
  8. Siobhan Haughey, Michigan: 55.55

Defending Olympic champion in the 100 fly Dana Vollmer blasted a 53.59 this morning, rocketing up to ninth in the world rankings. This morning’s prelims look a little like a rehash of yesterday’s 50 fly, with Vollmer holding off the Canadian breakthrough 15-year-old Penny Oleksiak for the first place.

Oleksiak is capable of going even faster than she did this morning, though. At Canadian Trials, she scored a new junior world record in this event, swimming a 6th-in-the-world 53.31. Oleksiak became most decorated swimmer of the meet and will be swimming the 100 fly, 200 free, 100 free, 4×100 free relay, 4×200 free relay, and 4×100 medley relay in Rio.

However, don’t count out Canada’s Chantal Van Landeghem or SwimMAC’s Madison Kennedy tonight either. Van Landeghem won the 50 free last night with the 6th-fastest-time in the world this season, and Kennedy came up second. Van Landeghem is currently 20th in the world in this event with her 53.91 from Trials.

SwimMAC’s Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Canada’s Sandrine Mainville, Canada’s other 15-year-old wonderkid Taylor Ruckand Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey will round out the championship final.

Men’s 100 Free- Prelims

  1. Joao De Lucca, Cardinal: 49.58
  2. Yuri Kisil, Swimming Canada: 49.92
  3. Jimmy Feigen, NYAC: 50.02
  4. Santo Condorelli, Swimming Canada: 50.13
  5. Ryan Lochte, SwimMAC: 50.15
  6. Cullen Jones, SwimMAC: 50.31
  7. Blake Pieroni, Indiana: 50.34
  8. Michael Chadwick, Mizzou: 50.35

Brazil and Cardinal Aquatics Joao De Lucca, who will represent the home country in Rio in the 200 free and the 4x100m free relay, took the top spot this morning with 49.58.

Yuri Kisil of Swimming Canada and Canada’s 2016 Olympic team was the other swimmer under 50 with 49.92, followed by the New York Athletic Club’s 2012 relay Olympic silver medalist Jimmy Feigen in 50.02.

Swimming Canada’s men’s showrunner at Canadian Trials Santo Condorelli came up fourth with 50.13, followed by Ryan Lochte in 50.15, Lochte’s SwimMAC and multiple-time Olympic teammate Cullen Jones finished sixth in 50.31.

Blake Pieroni and Michael Chadwick rounded out the A finalists.

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

53.59! Unexpected 100 free time, at least for me, from Dana Vollmer at that meet.
Seems like she gave everything in prelims. Hopefully she swims the final too and doesn’t scratch. We are used to that at Grand Prix meets especially on Sunday.
That’s really impressive. Her PB is 53.30 from the magical suit era in 2009. Deraj, same for her 200 free with 1.55.29 also in 2009. I think swimming the 200 free at trials is not her plan. And even for the 4X100, I don’t know if it could bring much to the US relay. Unfortunately the 4X100 free relay final is on the same day as the 100 fly prelims and semifinals. In that relay… Read more »

Caleb
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

I know it’s a little different for an older swimmer – and on only a year of training – but I don’t think swimming 3 100s in a day would be too crippling. She shouldn’t have to kill herself to make the butterfly final. And really, as it stands… 53.5 in mid-May means she might be the #1 USA 100 swimmer at trials. I expect at least one and maybe three women under 53 at trials… No one’s broken through yet but there are a lot of candidates. Vollmer-Weitzel-Manuel-Ledecky look pretty solid as the top 4 (sorry, Missy) with 5 or 6 women scrambling for alternate spots. Everyone’s wringing their hands but I bet it takes 53.5 or 53.6 just… Read more »

bobo gigi
Reply to  Caleb
8 years ago

I’ve still in my mind Alicia Coutts who swam the anchor leg for Australia at 2013 worlds. She had the 100 fly in her body and died against Romano.

TAA
Reply to  Caleb
8 years ago

I agree with your top 4 right now but I dont expect any of them under 53. It would be nice for Weitzel or Manuel to step up do a 52 high and take control of this event for USA. The cut line for top six I would put at 53.89 but it could go .2 either way up or down. The other day I watched that mixed relay from Kazan that Missy anchored to a gold medal…you should watch it before you scratch her off the list. I still have her on my list for all the relays but its close now.

Deraj
Reply to  TAA
8 years ago

Missy split wasn’t all that impressive though. She only split a 53.31. If I am not mistaken, her fastest 100 free relay split every is a 52.99 from 2011. I think 52.99 is the bare minimum relay start split for the Americans for them to have a chance at silver medal (Australia very far ahead)

Deraj
8 years ago

Wow Dana Vollmer! So impressed by her. I wonder if she’s also capable of putting up a strong 200 free time. I’m sensing she is focusing on the sprints but she has a best time of 1:55.29!
The foursome of Ledecky, Franklin, Schmitt, and Vollmer could be deadly!!

Dino
Reply to  Deraj
8 years ago

The top 6 of 100 free are getting harder and harder now……

bobo gigi
Reply to  Dino
8 years ago

Dino, if she plans to be part of the relay.
And harder and harder, yes, but USA doesn’t need new women under 54. USA needs women under 53.
We are in 2016 and the new barrier to be among the best world sprinters is under 53. Unfortunately I don’t see who can do it right now. Hopefully I’m wrong. If USA had even only sub 53-second girl, it would change everything. They would be sure to be in silver in the 4X100, which is far from being done today, and they would be especially sure to win the medley relay, which looks unlikely today.

Shibly
Reply to  Deraj
8 years ago

i think USA will eye on WR in 800m freestyle relay this summer and Ledecky/Missy/Allison/Leah Smith will be deadly combination….

Irvine
8 years ago

Dana Vollmer 53.59!!!!

bobo gigi
Reply to  Irvine
8 years ago

She’s amazing.
But on the other side it’s a little bit desperating for the US women’s sprint that the 2 fastest 100 free Americans of the year so far are:
– Dana Vollmer (53.59), a veteran who will swim at her 5th olympic trials in 6 weeks and who focuses on butterfly.
– Katie Ledecky (53.75), a mid-distance/distance star.
Where are the real new sprint freestyle talents who can swim in long course and not only in yards?
And when some talents appear, why they don’t develop as fast and as well as the young Australians?
Wake up girls! Wake up coaches!

stay human
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Thanks Bobo for shedding light on this new issue about the lack of sprinters for the first time– the USA “girls” and the coaches were probably completely unaware! 😉 This is actually a natural, if uneven, progression for Vollmer to be peaking now in freestyle sprint; she started her Olympic career as a teenager on the world record-setting 4×200 relay in Athens. She’s naturally moving down to the sprint freestyle now, although I bet she could still throw down a pretty good 200Free.

By the way, I was shocked to see the 53.59 as a prelim time, I saw it first on Meet Mobile and had to confirm it here because I thought it was more likely a 54.59.… Read more »

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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