2019 Clovis Pro Swim Series: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2019 CLOVIS PRO SWIM SERIES

The penultimate finals session from Clovis will feature the women’s and men’s 200 fly, 50 free, 100 back, 200 breast, 50 fly, and 400 free.

After an impressive runner-up showing in the 100 fly last night, Kelsi Dahlia will take on a triple tonight in the women’s 200 fly, 50 free, and 50 fly.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Cammile Adams, 2012 – 2:06.76
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:14.59
  1. Kelsi Dahlia, CARD, 2:10.69
  2. Remedy Rule, UT, 2:11.56
  3. Lauren Case, UT, 2:12.13

Kelsi Dahlia of Cardinal Aquatics opened up her busy session with a win in the women’s 200 fly, leading wire-to-wire en route to a final time of 2:10.69. Dahlia owns a season-best of 2:09.09 from the PSS stop in Richmond back in April.

Remedy Rule used the fastest third 50 in the field (33.74) to move up from fourth at the 100 to second at the 150, ultimately finishing in the runner-up position in a season-best time of 2:11.56. Rule had previously been 2:12.02 at the Bloomington stop in May.

Her Texas teammate Lauren Case also established her fastest swim of 2019 in third, moving past Emily Overholt (2:12.81) on the last 50 for a final time of 2:12.13.

MEN’S 200 FLY FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Li Zhuhao, 2017 – 1:55.29
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:01.19
  1. Luca Urlando, DART, 1:53.84
  2. Justin Wright, FORD, 1:58.61
  3. Ben Miller, TTSC, 2:00.41

17-year-old phenom Luca Urlando produced an absolutely incredible performance in the men’s 200 fly final, soaring to the win by close to five seconds in a new boys 17-18 National Age Group Record of 1:53.84.

The swim lowers an iconic record that had stood since 2003 – Michael Phelps clocked a 1:53.93 in the semi-finals at the 2003 World Championships. Urlando is now the third fastest American in history, only trailing Phelps (1:51.51 – WR) and Tyler Clary (1:53.64), and is 11th all-time.

His previous best time was 1:54.35, done in May at the Mel Zajac International meet in Vancouver. He is now the #3 ranked swimmer in the world this year.

2018 U.S. National Champ Justin Wright was the runner-up in 1:58.61, just off his season-best of 1:57.93.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Sarah Sjostrom, 2016 – 24.17
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 25.99
  1. Catie Deloof, UN, 24.99
  2. Julie Meynen, FLNS, 25.08
  3. Mallory Comerford, UOFL, 25.21

After knocking off nearly two-tenths from her best time this morning, Catie Deloof slashed another 0.14 tonight to win the women’s 50 freestyle in a time of 24.99, marking her first occasion under 25 seconds.

Julie Meynen hit a new personal best herself in a time of 25.08, breaking her Luxembourg National Record of 25.12 set at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Training mates Mallory Comerford and Kelsi Dahlia took third and fourth, putting up times of 25.21 and 25.28 respectively.

MEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Nathan Adrian, 2015 – 21.56
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 23.19
  1. Bradley Tandy, PSC, 22.17
  2. Michael Chadwick, TE, 22.28
  3. Gabe Castano, MEX, 22.35

South African Bradley Tandy successfully defended his #1 seed from the prelims to win the men’s 50 free in a time of 22.17, going two-tenths quicker than he did this morning.

Michael Chadwick of Team Elite was the runner-up in 22.28, and Gabe Castano of Mexico put up the second-fastest swim of her career for third in 22.35.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Olivia Smoliga, 2019 – 58.73
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:02.69
  1. Isabelle Stadden, AQJT, 59.71
  2. Ali Deloof, TE, 1:00.59
  3. Catie Deloof, UN, 1:01.60

16-year-old Isabelle Stadden got herself under one minute for the first time tonight in the women’s 100 back, winning the event in a time of 59.71. Stadden had previously been 1:00.07, done at the U.S. Summer Nationals last summer, and is now the fourth-fastest swimmer in history in the 15-16 age group.

Stadden won this race on the back end, as she was the only swimmer to come home sub-31 in a blazing 30.42.

Ali Deloof held the slight lead at the 50 in 29.10, and was a clear second at the finish in a time of 1:00.59, her fifth time going 1:00.5 in the 2018-19 season.

Her sister, Catie, who was fresh off her win and best time in the 50 free, earned another to take third in 1:01.60, lowering her 1:01.68 from last summer’s Nationals.

MEN’S 100 BACK FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: David Plummer, 2016 – 52.40
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 56.59
  1. Matt Grevers, FORD, 53.59
  2. Justin Ress, WOLF, 54.25
  3. Markus Thormeyer, HPVC, 54.50

Matt Grevers was the fastest man in the field on both 50s as he comes away with the victory in the men’s 100 back in a time of 53.59, half a second off of his season-best of 53.09 from the FINA Champions Series stop in Budapest.

Justin Ress of the Wolfpack improved on his morning swim by just under two-tenths for second in 54.25, and Canadian Markus Thormeyer (54.50) edged out Dylan Carter (54.72) for third.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Annie Lazor, 2019 – 2:20.77
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:33.29
  1. Sydney Pickrem, UN, 2:25.52
  2. Melissa Rodriguez, MEX, 2:25.54
  3. Esther Gonzalez Medina, MEX, 2:29.44

Sydney Pickrem comes out on top in an epic head-to-head battle with Mexican Melissa Rodriguez, as Pickrem narrowly held her off down the stretch to win by just two one-hundredths in 2:25.52 to Rodriguez’s 2:25.54.

The 22-year-old Pickrem earned a berth in this event at the upcoming World Championships at the Canadian World Trials in April, where she swam a personal best 2:22.63 that currently ranks her fifth in the world this year.

Esther Gonalez Medina had a strong closing 50 to move past Breeja Larson (2:30.78) and take the third spot on the podium in 2:29.44.

MEN’S 200 BREAST FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Andrew Wilson, 2018 – 2:08.95
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:17.89
  1. Daniel Roy, ALTO, 2:10.43
  2. AJ Pouch, TRA, 2:11.06
  3. Brandon Fischer, LAC, 2:11.91

Daniel Roy used a massive back half to close out the win in the men’s 200 breaststroke, annihilating his season-best of 2:12.00 in 2:10.43.

Sitting third at the 100 in 1:02.95, Roy took over the lead with a 33.12 split on the third length before finishing it off in 34.36.

AJ Pouch was right on Roy’s tail down the stretch, putting together a stellar race to establish a new best of 2:11.06 for second. Pouch had previously been 2:11.80 at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacs.

Brandon Fischer, who was the early aggressor leading the field with opening splits of 29.27 and 1:02.42, fell off a bit at the end with a final 50 of 35.53, but still crushed his personal best time (set in the heats) of 2:13.07 in 2:11.91.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Farida Osman, 2019 – 25.65
  1. Kendyl Stewart, TE, 26.35
  2. Kelsi Dahlia, CARD, 26.38
  3. Louise Hansson, TROJ, 26.54

In a tightly contested women’s 50 fly final it was Team Elite’s Kendyl Stewart coming out on top, finishing less than a tenth off her season-best of 26.27 in 26.35.

The 22-year-old slightly edged out Kelsi Dahlia, who was just three one-hundredths back in 26.38 in what was her third swim of the night.

Louise Hansson (26.54), Haley Black (26.81) and Linnea Mack (26.96) also went sub-27 for third, fourth and fifth. The swim for Mack was a new best, lowering her 27.04 from both the 2014 and 2017 Summer Nats.

MEN’S 50 FLY FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Matt Targett, 2012 – 23.11
  1. Peter Holoda, PSC, 23.78
  2. Giles Smith, PSC, 23.95
  3. Ryan Coetzee, TNAQ, 24.14

After swimming a new best time by .01 in the prelims, Peter Holoda of the Phoenix Swim Club took nearly half a second off tonight to win the men’s 50 fly in 23.78.

Holoda’s 27-year-old teammate Giles Smith matched his morning swim of 23.95 for second, while South African native Ryan Coetzee was third in 24.14.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Katie Ledecky, 2018 – 3:57.94
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 4:16.89
  1. Erica Sullivan, SAND, 4:10.36
  2. Evie Pfeifer, UT, 4:11.77
  3. Claire Tuggle, CLOV, 4:14.77

Erica Sullivan from the Sandpipers of Nevada led virtually the entire way in the women’s 400 free, clocking in the second-fastest performance of her career in 4:10.36 for the win.

Her 4:12.95 in the prelims was previously her fastest of the season, and her only swim faster than what she went tonight was her 4:09.43 from the 2017 U.S. Open.

Evie Pfeifer from the University of Texas established a new best of 4:11.77 in second, lowering her 4:12.01 set last June, and 14-year-old Claire Tuggle was just about half a second off her 2019 best for third in 4:14.77.

MEN’S 400 FREE FINAL

  • Pro Swim Series Record: Sun Yang, 2016 – 3:43.55
  • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 3:57.29
  1. Trey Freeman, BAY, 3:49.16
  2. Akaram Mahmoud, EGY, 3:53.94
  3. Chris Wieser, DART, 3:54.81

Baylor Swim Club’s Trey Freeman out split the field on the first seven 50s in the men’s 400 free final, building himself a sizeable lead en route to winning by close to five seconds in 3:49.16.

Freeman narrowly misses his best time of 3:49.02, set at last year’s Nationals, while just edging past his time of 3:49.22 from the prelims.

Former University of South Carolina athlete Akaram Mahmoud fended off a late push from Chris Wieser for second, clocking 3:53.94 for a new season-best by over four seconds. Wieser also had his fastest swim of the year in 3:54.81 for third.

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Sunny Cal
4 years ago

Looks the the Deloof parents have paid to send Catie out to San Diego also to train with sister Ali?? Is Gabby training out there also??

DMSWIM
Reply to  Sunny Cal
4 years ago

Why do you assume the parents are paying? Catie could have saved up money herself to go out there. What an odd comment.

WHKIRCH
4 years ago
Joel
Reply to  WHKIRCH
4 years ago

Thanks . Amazing

Dee
4 years ago

Urlando-Milak next year… Salivating already

jeff
4 years ago

For all the people complaining about Luca not being able to swim at Worlds, let’s at least remember that he got to be in the picture.

Zanna
Reply to  jeff
4 years ago

Lol

Teddy
Reply to  jeff
4 years ago

Red herring comment

The larger the time you allow between trails and the meet the less informative your data becomes.

Picking the team 4 years in advance seems dumb, but this is a quarter of that.

Having trials 2 years before the olympics seems unfair and suboptimal (ex ledecky 2012). The worlds selection is equally unfair/suboptimal when physical maturity is such a factor—also carries negative economic consequence for deserving athletes with a short window to profit.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Teddy
4 years ago

It was a joke because they actually had him in the picture for the world’s team last summer.

Teddy
Reply to  JimSwim22
4 years ago

Thanks Jimswim, apologies to jeff

brian
4 years ago

Imagine being the 3rd ranked swimmer in the world and not being able to go to worlds

Old Man Chalmers
Reply to  brian
4 years ago

Or being the fastest in the world and being ineligible for worlds

Shibly
Reply to  Old Man Chalmers
4 years ago

Annie Lazor will miss the world’s.through she is the fastest in her event..Very sad to not watching best swimmers in the world

DEAN IS GOD
4 years ago

I have a great idea! Don’t let the fastest current American 2 flyer swim the 2 fly at worlds! That will show em’!

Swimming4silver
Reply to  DEAN IS GOD
4 years ago

will he swim in the Pan Ams at least?

Boknows34
Reply to  Swimming4silver
4 years ago

I think he’ll be in Budapest for the World Juniors in August.

Zanna
Reply to  Swimming4silver
4 years ago

There was an interview where Luca said he was supposed to swim Pan Ams but opted to go to Junior Worlds where he can swim more events and relays.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  DEAN IS GOD
4 years ago

in the meantime , the good news is : He will swim at 2 Big meets this summer …having opportunities to improve on his 100 & 200 fly + 200 free .

Teddy
4 years ago

Stunned

A. By Luca’s swim

B. That Clary went a 1:53 (super suit) and is the second fastest american… it was a crazy time in 2009 like my younger 20s can barely remember what happened

Dee
Reply to  Teddy
4 years ago

That shocked me too; Three Hungarians have gone under 1.53.5 in textile suits. It has a population equal to Michigan’s.

Papa
4 years ago

Just married another sandwich.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Papa
4 years ago

Love that Papa

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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