2017 Arena Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2017 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES – INDIANAPOLIS

• Thursday, March 2nd-Saturday, March 4th
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Psych Sheets
• Live video
• Friday Prelims Heat Sheet
• Live Results

Day 2 of the Arena Pro Swim from Indianapolis will feature four events this morning, with the men’s and women’s 200 free, 200 back, 50 free and 400 IM on the schedule.

The women’s 200 free will feature last night’s 100 free winner Mallory Comerford, who looked sensational coming home and should vie for the 200 win tonight. She’ll swim in the last heat alongside world record holder Federica Pellegrini. Comerford will also swim the 50 free.

Another swimmer who impressed on day 1 was Nathan Adrian, who blazed home in 24.7 in his 100 freestyle to take the win decisively. It will be interesting to see how much speed he has in the 50 free this morning.

Women’s 200 Free Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt, 2012

1. Federica Pellegrini, Italy, 1:57.80
2. Melanie Margalis, Saint Petersburg, 1:59.49
3. Menghui Zhu, China, 1:59.56
4. Mallory Comerford, Unattached, 1:59.60
5. Kayla Sanchez, HPC Ontario, 1:59.63
6. Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldogs, 2:00.02
7. Aya Takano, Japan, 2:00.06
8. Andi Murez, Unattached, 2:00.81

Federica Pellegrini led the way in the women’s 200 free, clocking 1:57.80 out of the last heat for over a second and a half advantage over the rest of the field. Melanie Margalis comes in second at 1:59.49, and last night’s 100 free runner-up Menghui Zhu put up the third fastest time in 1:59.56. Mallory Comerford was 4th in 1:59.60.

HPC Ontario’s Kayla Sanchez also cracked two minutes going 1:59.63, which was good for 5th, and American Olympian Hali Flickinger heads into finals tonight 6th at 2:00.02. Notably missing the A-final was Katerine Savard (10th, 2:01.05), Jazmin Carlin (12th, 2:01.64) and Kelsi Worrell (20th, 2:03.45).

Men’s 200 Free Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 1:44.10, Michael Phelps, 2008

1. Stephen Milne, Great Britain, 1:48.51
2. Duncan Scott, Great Britain, 1:48.54
3. Reo Sakata, Japan, 1:48.83
4. Zane Grothe, Badger, 1:49.02
5. Filippo Magnini, Italy, 1:49.05
6. James Guy, Great Britain, 1:49.33
7. Drew Kibler, Carmel, 1:49.67
8. Nicholas Grainger, Great Britain, 1:50.08

The international swimmers took over in the men’s 200 free, occupying six of the eight spots in tonight’s A-final. Great Britain’s Stephen Milne leads the way in 1:48.51, followed closely by teammate Duncan Scott in 1:48.54. Also qualifying for the final from GBR were James Guy and Nicholas Grainger. Guy had the fastest split of anyone through 150m, but shut it down in the final metres as he cruised to win his heat.

Reo Sakata of Japan and Filippo Magnini of Italy were the other two international swimmers qualifying for the final, placing 3rd and 5th respectively. Zane Grothe of Badger Swim Club and recent Texas Longhorn commit Drew Kibler of Carmel Swim Club were the lone Americans advancing to the A.

Notably missing the A final was Federico Grabich of Argentina, Joao de Lucca of Cardinal Aquatics and Matias Koski. Breaststroke world record holder and Olympic champion Adam Peaty gave this event a crack out of heat 4, clocking a time of 1:55.14.

Women’s 200 Back Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 2:05.68, Missy Franklin, 2013

1. Hilary Caldwell, Island Swimming, 2:09.44
2. Jessica Fullalove, Great Britain, 2:10.55
3. Dominique Bouchard, Oakville, 2:10.69
4. Liu Yaxin, China, 2:11.82
5. Kathleen Dawson, Great Britain, 2:13.20
6. Hali Flickinger, Athens Bulldogs, 2:13.23
7. Grace Ariola, Waves Bloomington, 2:13.59
8. Georgia-Mae Hohmann, Gator Swim Club, 2:13.65

Hilary Caldwell of Island Swimming nailed down the top spot in the women’s 200 back as the only one to go under 2:10 for the morning in 2:09.44. Great Britian’s Jessica Fullalove took the second seed in 2:10.55, and her British teammate Kathleen Dawson qualified 5th in 2:13.20.

Dominique Bouchard of the Oakville Aquatic Club heads into finals seeded third in 2:10.69, and China’s Liu Yaxin went 2:11.82 for the fourth seed. Hali Flickinger qualified for her second A-final of the morning, 6th in 2:13.23.

Men’s 200 Back Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 1:53.08, Aaron Peirsol, 2009

1. Jacob Pebley, California, 1:58.30
2. Luke Greenbank, Great Britain, 2:00.01
3. Xu Jiayu, China, 2:00.02
4. Arkady Vyatchanin, New York Athletic Club, 2:01.05
5. Ryosuke Irie, Japan, 2:01.22
6. Omar Pinzon, Fast Swim Team, 2:02.12
7. Nikita Tretyakov, Swim Fort Lauderdale, 2:02.34
8. Paul Le, Missouri State, 2:02.75

Olympic finalist Jacob Pebley topped the men’s 200 back prelims in 1:58.30, the only man under two minutes this morning. Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank snuck by China’s Xu Jiayu by one one-hundredth in heat 4 for the second seed, and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Arkady Vyatchanin takes the fourth seed. Ryosuke Irie of Japan heads into tonight’s final as the fifth seed.

Women’s 50 Free Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 24.13, Cate Campbell, 2008

1. Michelle Williams, HPC Ontario, 25.09
2. Mallory Comerford, Unattached, 25.30
3. Kelsi Worrell, Cardinal Aquatics, 25.36
4. Zhu Menghui, China, 25.46
5. Sandrine Mainville, Camo, 25.54
6. Madison Kennedy, SwimMac, 25.58
7. Ali DeLoof, Club Wolverine, 25.72
8. Anya Goeders, Mako Swim Team, 25.94

HPC Ontario’s Michelle Williams threw down a quick 25.09 for the top spot in the women’s 50 free, followed by the Louisville duo of Mallory Comerford (25.30) and Kelsi Worrell (25.36).

Zhu Menghui of China takes the fourth seed heading into tonight in 25.46, and Sandrine Mainville of Camo heads in 5th with her clocking of 25.54. Sub-26 was required for the A-final.

Katie Meili (26.20) and Penny Oleksiak (26.41) both missed the A-final in 13th and 15th respectively, and will contest the B tonight.

Men’s 50 Free Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 21.14, Cesar Cielo, 2009

1. Bruno Fratus, Unattached, 22.36
2. Nathan Adrian, California, 22.49
3. Cullen Jones, Wolfpack Elite, 22.53
4. Vladimir Morozov, Trojan Swim Club, 22.60
5. Marcelo Chierighini, Unattached, 22.67
6. Josh Schneider, New York Athletic Club, 22.68
7. Matias Koski, Unattached, 22.74
8. Michael Andrew, Race Pace Club, 22.79

Bruno Fratus leads the men’s 50 free this morning in 22.36, followed closely by last night’s 100m winner Nathan Adrian in 22.49. Cullen Jones clocked 22.53 for third, and Vladimir Morozov sits 4th at 22.60.

Less than half a second separates this stacked field. Well known names Marcelo Chierighini and Josh Schneider occupy spots 5 and 6 at 22.67 and 22.68, and Matias Koski and Michael Andrew hold down the last two spots in the A-final in what should be a very exciting race.

The B-final will also be quick, with notable names Joao de Lucca, Federico Grabich, Luca Dotto and Matheus Santana all swimming tonight.

We also saw some world class breaststrokers swim their signature stroke in the 50 free, with Adam Peaty clocking 27.30, Felipe Lima 27.47 and Cody Miller 27.86.

Women’s 400 IM Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 4:31.07, Katinka Hosszu, 2015

1. Ye Shiwen, China, 4:41.81
2. Abbie Wood, Great Britain, 4:44.58
3. Hannah Miley, Great Britain, 4:45.72
4. Sarah Darcel, Island Swimming, 4:47.07
5. Rosie Rudin, Great Britain, 4:49.42
6. Vien Nguyen, Unattached, 4:50.50
7. Emily Large, Great Britain, 4:53.86
8. Katie Trace, Upper Arlington, 4:54.67

2012 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Ye Shiwen of China put up a time of 4:41.81 in the women’s 400 IM, earning her lane 4 in the final tonight.

Four swimmers from Great Britain made the final, including Abbie Wood and Hannah Miley who head into the final tonight in 2nd and 3rd. Also qualifying was Rosie Rudin (5th) and Emily Large (7th). Sarah Darcel of Island Swimming sits 4th.

Men’s 400 IM Prelims

• U.S. Open Record: 4:05.25, Michael Phelps, 2008

1. Daiya Seto, Japan, 4:16.65
2. Max Litchfield, Great Britain, 4:22.87
3. Josh Prenot, California, 4:22.94
4. Andrew Abruzzo, Plymouth, 4:23.20
5. Josh Zakala, Island Swimming, 4:27.71
6. Joe Litchfield, Great Britain, 4:28.82
7. Spencer Lehman, Northridge, 4:29.00
8. Matthew Jerden, Unattached, 4:32.59

2013 and 2015 World Champion Daiya Seto of Japan cruised to the top seed in the men’s 400 IM, putting up a time of 4:16.65 this morning. Seto also won the 2016 SC World title, and the runner-up in that race, Max Litchfield, came in 2nd to Seto again clocking 4:22.87 for the #2 seed. Josh Prenot, 4th in that race, placed 3rd in 4:22.94.

It will likely come down to those three tonight for the win. Andrew Abruzzo, Josh Zakala and Max’s brother Joe Litchfield all had solid morning swims as well for spots 4, 5 and 6.