2016 Arena Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT INDIANAPOLIS

Women’s 200 Fly – Prelims

  1. Kelsi Worrell, Unattached (Louisville): 2:09.53
  2. Christina Bechtel, Kentucky Aquatics: 2:09.91
  3. Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldogs: 2:10.46
  4. Andrea Pinto, Gator: 2:12.45
  5. Hannah Kukurugya, Crown Point: 2:12.60
  6. Kaitlyn Jones, Unattached (Virginia): 2:14.31
  7. Asia Seidt, Lakeside: 2:14.31
  8. Bailey Pressey, Indiana: 2:14.66

Tonight’s race will be a three-way showdown among short course American record holder and NCAA defending championย Kelsi Worrell, 2015 NCAA runner-up (to Worrell)ย Christina Bechtel, and this year’s NCAA fourth place finisherย Hali Flickinger.ย 

This morning, the two Kentucky-based swimmers lead the way, with Louisville’s Worrell hitting the wall in the top time of 2:09.53 and UK’s Bechtel coming in less than half a second behind with 2:09.91. Flickinger finished under a second behind the two in 2:10.46.

Absent from this meet is 2012 Olympic fifth-place finisher Cammile Adams, who will challenge Worrell and company at Trials at the end of this month.

Gator Swim Club’sย Andrea Pintoย took the fourth slot in 2:12.45, closely followed by Crown Point’sย Hannah Kukurugyaย in 2:12.60.

Virginia’sย Kaitlyn Jones,ย Lakeside’sย Asia Seidt,ย and Indiana’s Bailey Presseyย will round out the championship final tonight.

Men’s 200 Fly – Prelims

  1. Zheng Wen Quah, Singapore: 1:58.09
  2. Michael Klueh, Club Wolverine: 1:58.99
  3. Gunnar Bentz, Athens Bulldogs: 1:59.40
  4. Dylan Bosch, Club Wolverine: 2:00.20
  5. Cameron Brodie, SCOT: 2:00.77
  6. Kyle Whitaker, Club Wolverine: 2:00.85
  7. Mack Darragh, OAK: 2:00.91
  8. Michael Flach, Club Wolverine: 2:00.95

The men of Club Wolverine made their mark on the men’s 200 fly, taking up four of eight slots in the championship final tonight.

However, the leader by nearly a second this morning wasย Zheng Wen Quah, who finished 21st in this event at last year’s FINA World Championships. He finished the prelim swim in 1:58.09.

Earlier this week, Quah was one of two male swimmers to be added to Singapore’s Olympic squad, alongside Texas NCAA star Joseph Schooling. Quah will swim the 100 back, 100 fly, and 200 fly in Rio. He currently sits 15th in the world in this event with a 1:56.26 from November.

Club Wolverine’sย Michael Kluehย took the second spot in 1:58.99 this morning, coming in just under a second behind Quah.ย Gunnar Bentz of Georgiaย will be the third qualifier, the only other swimmer to come in under a minute with 1:59.40.

Klueh’s CW teammateย Dylan Bosch, who represents South Africa internationally but missed the Olympic team earlier this spring, came up fourth in 2:00.20, followed byย Cameron Brodie, Kyle Whitaker, Mack Darragh,ย andย Michael Flach.ย 

Women’s 50 Free – Prelims

  1. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, SwimMAC: 25.03
  2. Olivia Smoliga, Athens Bulldogs: 25.10
  3. Kelsi Worrell, Unattached (Louisville): 25.36
  4. Ivy Martin, Wisconsin: 25.64
  5. Anyamaria Goeders, MAKO: 25.77
  6. Chase Kinney, Wisconsin: 25.90
  7. Alexandra Deloof, Club Wolverine: 25.94
  8. Amanda Lim, SIN: 25.99

2008 and 2012 Olympian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallaceย of SwimMAC and the Bahamas was the top swimmer in a tight women’s 50 free field this morning, clocking 25.03. That swim doesn’t quite hit her season best, a world 21st-ranked 24.80, but we can expect her to go even faster tonight. Vanderpool-Wallace was a championship finalist in this event in London in 2012, finishing eighth and becoming the first Bahamian woman to make Olympic swimming finals.

Georgia’s defending NCAA championย Olivia Smoligaย scored the second-fastest time this morning with 25.10. She and Vanderpool-Wallace will battle it out tonight.

Kelsi Worrell jumped right back into the pool for 25.36 in the 50 free after her top-qualifying 200 fly. Worrell has been taking on quite a few back-to-back events in her post-NCAA season, so we should be able to see even greater things from her in Omaha when sheย rest more between events.

Wisconsin’s 2015 NCAA runner-up in this eventย Ivy Martinย (who came in just .01 ahead of Worrell in the NCAA championship race in 2015) finished fourth with 25.64. 15-year-old Anyamarie Goeders took fifth in 25.77, followed by Martin’s Wisconsin teammateย Chase Kinneyย in 25.90.

Ali Deloof,ย the oldest ofย Michigan’s three Deloof sisters, andย Amanda Limย will also swim the A final tonight.

Men’s 50 Free – Prelims

  1. Bruno Fratus, Unattached (Brazil): 22.35
  2. Santo Condorelli, Unattached (Canada): 22.38
  3. Marcelo Chierighini, Unattached (Brazil): 22.59
  4. Paul Powers, Club Wolverine: 22.66
  5. Josh Schneider, New York Athletic Club: 22.84
  6. Ali Khalafalla, Indiana: 22.88
  7. Michael Chadwick, Mizzou: 22.95
  8. Joao De Lucca, Louisville: 23.02

A contingent of already-qualified Rio Olympians will battle it out tonight in the men’s 50 free, led by this season’sย fastest man in the worldย Bruno Fratusย of Brazil. This morning, Fratus came in about a second behind his world’s-quickest 21.37 relay lead-off from the Brazil Open. His time today was 22.35.

Theย male frontrunner from Canadian Olympic Trialsย Santo Condorelli, who took down an eight year old Canadian national record in the 100 fly yesterday, came up second with 22.38. Condorelli will swim the 50 free, 100 free, and 400 free relay in Rio.

Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini,ย who will swim the 100 free and 400 free relay in Rio, finished third with 22.59.

Club Wolverine’s Paul Powersย was close behind with 22.66.ย New York Athletic Club’sย Josh Schneiderย finished fifth in 22.84. Powers is our SwimSwam Darkhorse pick to final in this event in Omaha, and we predict Schneider will finish in the top four (see our U.S. Trials Olympic preview here).

Indiana’sย Ali Khalafallaย (who represents Egypt internationally), Mizzou standoutย Michael Chadwick, and Brazil’sย Joao De Luccaย (who will swim the 200 free and 4×100 relay in Rio) round out the final.

Women’s 100 Back – Prelims

  1. Olivia Smoliga, Athens Bulldogs: 59.81
  2. Hannah Stevens, Mizzou: 59.86
  3. Alexandra Deloof, Club Wolverine: 1:00.88
  4. Dominique Bouchard, OAK: 1:01.09
  5. Clara Smiddy, Club Wolverine: 1:01.22
  6. Claire Adams, Carmel Swim Club: 1:01.73
  7. Bridgette Alexander &ย Danielle Galyer, Kentucky: 1:01.87

Georgia’sย Olivia Smoliga and Missouri’s Hannah Stevens eachย posted her fastest time this season this morning, each making her first foray into the 100 back world rankings this season.

Smoliga swam 59.81 this morning, a time which ties Australia’sย Belinda Hocking for 13th in the world this season. Notably, only two Americans have been faster this year: Missy Franklin, who went 59.80 at the Arena PSS in Orlando, and Natalie Coughlin, who went 59.72 at the FINA World Cup in Doha. Smoliga is coming back from a disappointing NCAA Championship performance in this event; she had a underwhelming performance in prelims that relegated her to the B final and then came back in the consols to post the second-fastest swim of the meet (50.58). However, she still was only able to score 9th place overall.

Stevens’s performance ranks her 16th in the world, and her speed this morning is much more of a surprise. Stevens finished 14th in the 100 back at NCAAs this year. Her performanceย is also a signal of the monumental rise that the Missouri program has taken over the past few years.

Both swimmers will pose a threat to Coughlin, Franklin, and company in this hotly-contested event in Omaha.

Club Wolverine’s Ali Deloofย came in a second behind the duo, finishing in 1:00.88. Canada’s Dominique Bouchard,ย who will swim this event in Rio, took fourth in 1:01.09. Deloof’s teammate Clara Smiddy swam 1:01.22, followed by junior world record holder and Texas commitย Claire Adamsย in 1:01.73.

Kentucky swimmersย Bridgette Alexanderย andย Danielle Galyerย tied for seventh this morning with 1:01.87.

Men’s 100 Back – Prelims

  1. David Plummer, New York Athletic Club: 53.24
  2. Robert Glover, Indiana: 55.61
  3. Arkady Vyatchanin, New York Athletic Club: 55.70
  4. Luke Papendick, Club Wolverine: 55.85
  5. Corey Main, Gator Swim Club: 55.89
  6. Rex Tullius, Saint Thomas Swim Academy: 56.04
  7. Zheng Wen Quah, Singapore: 56.05
  8. Aaron Greene, Unattached (Louisville) / Brett Pinfold, Wisconsin: 56.53

New York Athletic Club’sย David Plummerย was over two seconds ahead of the field this morning in the men’s 100 back, clocking 53.24, a time that would have grabbed fifth at the London Olympics. Plummer currently sits second in the world in his signature event with a 52.51 from the FINA World Cup. Plummer has been a staple of the national (and world) backstroke scene for over a decade.

However, all of that said,ย Plummer is far from a shoe-in for the Rio Olympic team. The U.S. has dominated the international backstroke scene for years, and, to make the cut, he will have to take on defending Olympic champion Matt Grevers and young NCAA star Ryan Murphy, who came close to hitting Aaron Piersol’s world record in Kazan last summer (for more on Plummer’s Olympic chances, check our men’s 100 back Olympic preview).

The fight in this race tonight will be for second, and it’s anyone’s game.ย Robert Gloverย of Indiana, Plummer’s NYAC teammateย Arkady Vyatchaninย (who is currently searching for a country to represent internationally), Club Wolverine’sย Luke Papendick,ย Gator Swim Club’sย Corey Main,ย Saint Thomas Swim Academy’sย Rex Tullius,ย and Singapore’s already-Rio-qualifiedย Zheng Wen Quah all finished within about half a second, with Glover coming in at 55.61, and Quah hitting in 56.05.

However, there will be some more backstroke competition this morning, as Louisville’sย Aaron Greeneย andย Wisconsin’sย Brett Pinfoldย tied for eighth in 56.63, necessitating a swim-off for the final slot in the championship final tonight.

Women’s 200 Breast – Prelims

  1. Lilly King, Indiana: 2:28.11
  2. Annie Lazor, Auburn: 2:29.60
  3. Melanie Margalis, St. Petersburg: 2:29.69
  4. Miranda Tucker, Indiana: 2:29.90
  5. Andrea Cottrell, Unattached (Louisville): 2:30.38
  6. Abigail Duncan, Mizzou: 2:30.58
  7. Micah Lawrence, Unattached: 2:30.85
  8. Emma Reaney, Irish Aquatics: 2:31.53

We can all breathe a sigh of relief that reigning NCAA champion and short course American record holder Lilly Kingย is back after no-showing the 100 breastย yesterday. She swam a 2:28.11 this morning, pounding out the first 100 (1:09.36) and then hitting the brakes on the second (1:18.75).

Second seedย Annie Lazorย of Auburn swam a much more even race, splitting 1:12.87 and 1:16.73.ย Melanie Margalisย of St. Petersburg Aquatics was third, very close behind in 2:29.69. Margalis took on a killer double yesterday, first challenging Leah Smith for the 200 free title and hitting a personal best, then winning the 100 breast. She could be dangerous tonight.

Also in the mix tonight will be Indiana’s other breaststroking rising sophomore, Miranda Tucker (2:29.90), who has had an incredible breakout year herself,ย scoring an NCAA silver and bronze as a freshman. Tucker, though often overshadowed by her record-smashing classmate, certainly has the potential for some huge swims in Omaha.

Louisville’sย Andrea Cottrell,ย Mizzou’sย Abigail Duncan,ย Micah Lawrence,ย and former short course American record holderย Emma Reaneyย will also be in the championship final tonight.

Men’s 200 Breast – Prelims

  1. Nic Fink, Athens Bulldogs: 2:11.23
  2. Kevin Cordes, Unattached: 2:14.27
  3. Carlos Claverie, Unattached (Louisville): 2:14.74
  4. Moises Loschi, BUZZ: 2:16.51
  5. Cody Miller, Badger: 2:16.68
  6. Sam Tierney, Mizzou: 2:16.97
  7. Calum Tait, SCOT: 2:18.15
  8. Kieran Preston, SCOT: 2:18.63

Athens Bulldogย Nic Finkย posted the fastest time this morning by three seconds, swimming the event in 2:11.23. Fink currently sits seventh in the world in the men’s 200 breast with a 2:08.89 from the FINA World Cup meet in Chartres in back in August. Josh Prenot is the only American in the rankings ahead of Fink right now, fifth in the world with a 2:08.58 from Canadian Trials.

Although he went an easy 2:14.27 this morning for the second seed,ย Kevin Cordesย will be a huge 200 breaststroke contender come Omaha (for more on this event, see our U.S. Olympic Trials 200 breast preview).

Louisville’sย Carlos Claverieย came in about half a second back from Cordes in 2:14.74, followed byย Moises Loschiย in 2:16.51.

Cody Miller, Sam Tierney, Calum Tait,ย andย Kieran Prestonย will round out tonight’s final.

Women’s 400 Free – Prelims

  1. Leah Smith, Unattached (Virginia): 4:05.21
  2. Vien Nguyen, Unattached: 4:09.07
  3. Lindsay Vrooman, Badger: 4:09.76
  4. Andrea Pinto, Gator: 4:10.44
  5. Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldogs: 4:10.59
  6. Brittany MacLean, SO: 4:10.82
  7. Allie Davis, Boilermaker: 4:17.15
  8. Abigial Jagdfeld, Unattached: 4:18.32

Virginia’s NCAA champion in the 500 distanceย Leah Smithย scored 4:05.21 for an easy first seed tonight. That prelims swim comes within a second of her season-best, a world eighth 4:04.67 from the Arena PSS in Minneapolis. Smith is the favorite to grab the second slot on the Olympic team in this event, with the number one slot set for Katie Ledecky, barring some sort of tragedy. (You can read more about our predictions for this event in our U.S. Olympic Trials women’s 400 free preview.)

This prelimsย swim puts Smith in incredible shape going into Omaha; excluding her Minneapolis swim, this morning’s performance would set her ninth in the world.ย 

Like in the men’s 100 back, the battle will be for second tonight, and there are five silver medal contenders. Vietnam’s Athlete of the Yearย Vien Nguyenย scored the second seed with 4:09.07, with Badger Swim Club’s defending U.S. national champion Lindsay Vroomanย third in 4:09.76. Gator Swim Club’sย Andrea Pintoย scored fourth this morning in 4:10.44, just ahead of Georgia’s NCAA bronze medalist in the 500ย Hali Flickinger and Canada’s Rio-bound 500 NCAA runner-upย Brittany MacClean.ย MacClean will take on the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 4×200 free relay at this summer’s Olympics.

Allie Davisย andย Abigail Jagdfeldย round out the championship final field.

Men’s 400 Free – Prelims

  1. Connor Jaeger, Club Wolverine: 3:52.55
  2. Matthew Hutchins, Wisconsin: 3:53.16
  3. Jay Litherland, Dynamo: 3:53.78
  4. Zane Grothe, Badger: 3:53.85
  5. Anders Nielsen, Cardinal: 3:55.77
  6. PJ Ransford, Club Wolverine: 3:56.18
  7. Ryan Feeley, Badger: 3:58.75
  8. Ian Rainey, Club Wolverine: 3:58.78

Club Wolverine’sย Connor Jaegerย clocked in with the top time in the men’s 400 free this morning, hitting the wall in 3:52.55. Despite his loss to Conor Dwyer in Charlotte earlier this month, Jaeger is the favorite to take one of the two spots on the Olympic team in a crowded field in Omaha. Jaeger’s personal best is a 3:44.81 from his fourth place finish at last year’s FINA World Championships in Kazan. (To read more about Jaeger’s Olympic chances, you can look here at our U.S. Olympic Trials men’s 400 free preview.)

The second seed this morning went to Wisconsin’s rising juniorย Matthew Hutchins, who took 6th place at NCAAs in the 500 earlier this year.

Dynamo and Georgia’s Jay Litherland, who remains the Litherland triplets‘ final chance at making the Rio Olympics after his brothers Kevin and Mick missed the New Zealand Olympic team, swam to third this morning with 3:53.78. Litherland took a pair of wins yesterday, including a huge 4-second victory in his off-event 200 free and a gold in his signature 400 IM.

Badger Swim Club’s Zane Grothe,ย another Olympic team contender in this event, took fourth very close behind in 3:53.85.

Cardinal’s Anders Nielsen,ย Club Wolverine’sย PJ Ransford,ย Grothe’s Badger teammateย Ryan Feeley,ย andย Ian Raineyย will round out the championship final field.

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SZ2016
8 years ago

Looking forward to see how Cordes can do in the final! It’s been a while since we’ve seen him at a meet like this- and what a shame, to have missed such a beautiful stroke. Omaha and Rio should be a blast watching him!

M Duncan Scott
8 years ago

Miranda Tucker swam for IU in the college season and is listed in you summary as “Indiana” but the meet heat sheets list her as representing Club Wolverine. Is there a story here?

Austin Kingsley
Reply to  M Duncan Scott
8 years ago

No, Miranda Tucker is just back home to Michigan for the summer. She’s from Plymouth, which is in very close proximity to Ann Arbor (Club Wolverine).

TXBackstroker
8 years ago

I love Missy but I really want to see Olivia qualify in the 100 back, and I always have to root for Natalie.

TAA
Reply to  TXBackstroker
8 years ago

Natalie scratched the event in Santa Clara after swimming 50 free. It seems like nobody wants it so why not Smoliga

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  TAA
8 years ago

GO Smoliga than – this should be her first Olympic Us team – Yahoo

Swimmermama
Reply to  TAA
8 years ago

I think Natalie has a better chance at trials in the 100 back than the 50 free.

Allin
8 years ago

Tip of the cap to Stevens in the 100 m back. She peaking at the right time, could make it to Rio in a couple of weeks.

tm71
8 years ago

Big performances by smoliga and Plummer, let’s see see how they do in the finals

Shibly
Reply to  tm71
8 years ago

don’t forget Leah Smith

Smoothswimmer
8 years ago

4:05.21!!!

๐Ÿ™‚

TAA
Reply to  Smoothswimmer
8 years ago

she really turned on the jets the last 100 maybe she has a little more for tonight.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

Plummer is in good shape – the 100 back at trials is well between 3 guys .

Joe
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

So unfair to be an elite US 100m backstroker these last 8 years.

Editor
8 years ago

Smoliga is going to be so dangerous at Trials. All I have to say about her right now.

Smoothswimmer
Reply to  Karl Ortegon
8 years ago

She will be dangerous, but only if she doesn’t do full taper!

CAN swim
Reply to  Smoothswimmer
8 years ago

Are you serious? I think she won’t qualify if she doesn’t do the whole taper and rest.

PVSFree
Reply to  CAN swim
8 years ago

He’s making fun of Bobo, he was freaking out yesterday because of Leah Smith’s swim

oooo
Reply to  PVSFree
8 years ago

I would assume that the longer Miss Smoliga swims the happpier is Bobo. Thus she was much too fast this morning.

Smoothswimmer
Reply to  oooo
8 years ago

She’s so pretty!

bobo gigi
Reply to  Smoothswimmer
8 years ago

I see that when I’m not here, some people like talking about me! ๐Ÿ˜†
You should rather talk about swimming guys instead of talking about me! Looks like i’m your obsession! ๐Ÿ˜†
And Smoothswimmer, yes she’s very pretty. Not a long time ago I called her Olivia “Miss America” Smoliga. ๐Ÿ™‚
More seriously, I’m a Missy fan since 2009 and I want to see her back at her best.
But if she doesn’t qualify in the 100 back either because she failed or because she dropped the event to focus on the 200 free, I would be very pleased to see Miss Smoliga qualify with Natalie Coughlin.

Anyway maybe we are totally wrong and none of… Read more ยป

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Karl Ortegon
8 years ago

she is very dangerous , oh yes . Good news for The Us team

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 โ€ฆ

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