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

2017 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES – MESA

WOMEN’S 200 BACK

Results

17 year old Eva Merrell took control in the morning of the women’s 200 backstroke. Merrell posted a 2:13.55 to take the top seed. Finishing second was Olympic Trials finalist Erin Voss, who finished just ahead of Claire Adams at 2:14.29. Adams posted 2:14.39.

Finishing 4th and also breaking 2:15 was Alice Treuth at 2:14.54. In 5th place was another 17 year old, Callie Dickinson, from Tide Swim Team who clocked 2:15.45. Vietnamese Olympian Vien Nguyen will be the 6th seed entering finals as the 20 year old posted a 2:16.86. Rounding out the top 8 were Annabelle Paterson in 7th at 2:17.04 and Eleanna Koutsouveli at 2:17.62.

Top 8

1. Eva Merrell 2:13.55
2. Erin Voss 2:14.29
3. Claire Adams 2:14.39
4. Alice Treuth 2:14.54
5. Callie Dickinson 2:15.45
6. Vien Nguyen 2:16.86
7. Annabelle Paterson 2:17.04
8. Eleanna Koutsouveli 2:17.62 

MEN’S 200 BACK

Results

Jacob Pebley took the top seed going into this evening’s finals in the 200 backstroke after finishing 7th in the 200 freestyle earlier in the session. Pebley qualified as the only swimmer to break 2 minutes and looks smooth by splitting 58.41-1:00.57 for 1:58.98.

Following Pebley was a trio of swimmers who all broke 2:01. Sean Lehane will be in lane 5 this evening after clocking a 2:00.57. Arkady Vyatchanin will be the 3rd seed after a 2:00.59. Petter Fredriksson qualified 4th in 2:00.72. Omar Pinzon finished 5th in the morning at 2:04.37. Zheng Wen Quah qualified sixth at 2:05.56 and in 7th, David Cespedes Echeverry at 2:06.32. Rounding out the A final is Barkley Perry, who qualified 8th in 2:06.70.

Top 8

1. Jacob Pebley 1:58.98
2. Sean Lehane 2:00.57
3. Arkady Vyatchanin 2:00.59
4. Petter Fredriksson 2:00.72
5. Omar Pinzon 2:04.37
6. Zheng Wen Quah 2:05.56
7. David Cespedes Echeverry 2:06.32
8. Barkley Perry 2:06.70

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

Results

There were no big times this morning, as no swimmer was able to break the 25-second mark. Simone Manuel, last night’s 100 free winner, went 25.34 to take the top spot in finals tonight. Manuel was followed by American sprint regulars Madison Kennedy (25.46) and Lia Neal (25.62).

New Zealand teenager Gabrielle Fa’amausili posted the fourth-best time of the morning, tying with butterfly star Kelsi Worrell at 25.69. Brazilian Etiene Medeiros clocked a 25.72 for the 6th seed, with Louisville’s Mallory Comerford (25.80) and Canyons’ Amanda Kendall (25.81) also making the top 8.

SwimAtlanta’s Madeline Locus (25.82) just missed out on the A final, but will lead the B final tonight.

Top 8

1. Simone Manuel 25.34
2. Madison Kennedy 25.46
3. Lia Neal 25.62
4. Gabrielle Fa’amausili 25.69 *TIE*
5. Kelsi Worrell 25.69 *TIE*
6. Etiene Medeiros 25.72
7. Mallory Comerford 25.80
8. Amanda Kendall 25.81

MEN’S 50 FREE

Results

Finnish sprinter Ari-Pekka Liukkonen took the top time in the men’s 50 free. The Finnish record holder, though well off of his record 21.92 from 2016, was 22.41 for the top time by over two tenths. Michael Andrew was 2nd, back at 22.65.

Daniel Hunter of New Zealand was 22.68, just ahead of Cullen Jones (22.71) for third. Nathan Adrian, coming off of a world #2 100 free last night, was 22.78 for fifth this morning. If his prelims swim (50-point) in the 100 yesterday at prelims was any indication, he should drop a bunch of time tonight. Dillon Virva (22.88), Josh Schneider (22.92), and Luke Pechmann (22.96) all squeaked into the A final as well.

Anthony Ervin, 2016 Olympic champion, was 22.97 to tie for ninth with Joao de Lucca, as both men just missed out on the A final.

Top 8

1. Ari-Pekka Liukkonen 22.41
2. Michael Andrew 22.65
3. Daniel Hunter 22.68
4. Cullen Jones 22.71
5. Nathan Adrian 22.78
6. Dillon Virva 22.88
7. Josh Schneider 22.92
8. Luke Pechmann 22.96

WOMEN’S 400 IM

Katie Ledecky, who continues to test the waters in this event, took the top time of the fast heats this morning. Her time of 4:42.33 was a little over four seconds off of her lifetime best, with Canadian youngster Mary-Sophie Harvey not far behind at 4:42.92. Harvey has already qualified for the 2017 World Championships as a representative of Canada, and she’s getting in some more racing this weekend against some of America’s best.

Speaking of America’s best, SCY American record holder in this event, Ella Eastin, sits 4th after prelims with a 4:43.72. She was edged out of 3rd by Melanie Margalis (4:43.34), as Margalis actually dropped over three seconds from her entry time. Madisyn Cox was there for 5th at 4:46.39.

Stanford commit Brooke Forde was 4:48.74 for 6th. It’s clear that the Cardinal is not going to loosen its grip on the 400 IM as one of their strengths anytime soon in the NCAA landscape. Vietnam national Vien Nguyen (4:49.20) and Trojan’s Haley Anderson (4:50.95) rounded out the top 8 this morning, with a few slower heats left to run.

Top 8

1. Katie Ledecky 4:42.33
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey 4:42.92
3. Melanie Margalis 4:43.34
4. Ella Eastin 4:43.72
5. Madisyn Cox 4:46.39
6. Brooke Forde 4:48.74
7. Vien Nguyen 4:49.20
8. Haley Anderson 4:50.95

MEN’S 400 IM

Olympians Josh Prenot and Chase Kalisz, former NCAA opponents in this event in yards, posted nearly identical times to lead the men’s 400 IM prelims. Cal’s Prenot was 4:22.26, just a hair ahead of NBAC’s Kalisz 4:22.46. Coming in right behind at third was Louisville’s Etay Gurevich (4:22.84), but expect Prenot and Kalisz to come down tonight.

World junior record holder Sean Grieshop, who went 4:14.00 to set that mark at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, touched at 4:26.78 for 4th this morning. He was followed by 16-year-old Jarod Arroyo (4:28.31), the last person under 4:30.

Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz was 4:32.45, followed by Louisville’s Zach Harting (4:33.06) and SMU’s Jonathan Gomez (4:33.14).

Top 8

1. Josh Prenot 4:22.26
2. Chase Kalisz 4:22.46
3. Etay Gurevich 4:22.84
4. Sean Grieshop 4:26.78
5. Jarod Arroyo 4:28.31
6. Hector Ruvalcaba 4:32.45
7. Zach Harting 4:33.06
8. Jonathan Gomez 4:33.14