2019 Pro Swim Series- Knoxville: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2019 Pro Swim Series- Knoxville

• January 9-12, 2018
• Alan Jones Aquatic Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• 50m (LCM) pool
• Meet information
• Live stream (B-finals)
• Live stream (A-finals)
• Live results
• Friday Finals Heat Sheet

Taking top seed in 2 individual events on day 3 of the 2019 Pro Swim Series-Knoxville is Michael Andrew, who sits at #1 in the 100 back and 50 fly. Katie Ledecky and Annie Lazor look to take another title at this meet in the 400 free and 200 breast, respectively. IM record-holder Chase Kalisz sits in the top spot in the 200 fly and national team member Margo Geer took the prelims top spot in the 50 free.

Other top seeds for this evening’s finals are teen phenom Regan Smith (100 back), Cal stand-out Daniel Carr (100 back), Olympian Josh Prenot (200 breast), Egyptian Farida Osman (50 fly), and Denmark native Anton Ipsen (400 free).

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:14.59

1. Hali Flickinger – 2:07.21
2. Regan Smith – 2:11.34
3. Megan Kingsley – 2:11.63

Hali Flickinger had begun establishing a big lead off of the first 100, taking it out in a 1:00.89. By the 150 mark, Flickinger was ahead of the field by 2 seconds. Flickinger went on to win by over 5 seconds with a blistering 2:07.21.

The race for second was on in the last 50, but 16-year-old Regan Smith came out for the silver in a 2:11.34. Taking third right behind Smith was Megan Kingsley, in a 2:11.63. Right behind the top three was in fourth was Olympian Kelsi Dahlia (2:12.35).

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:01.19

1. Gianluca Urlando – 1:57.04
2. Chase Kalisz – 1:57.12
3. Mark Darragh – 1:59.47

Gianluca Urlando and Chase Kalisz were even throughout entire race. Into the last 50, it was a dog-fight between the Olympic silver-medalist and 16-year-old phenom. Yet it was Urlando’s hunger for his first PSS win to take down the Olympic/NCAA veteran. Urlando finished with a 1:57.04. Kalisz took second by 0.08 seconds with a 1:57.12.

Mark Darragh took third in a 1:59.47.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 25.99

1. Simone Manuel – 24.75
2. Margo Geer – 24.78
3. Farida Osman – 25.12

While Margo Geer looked strong into the last 15 meters, Simone Manuel had the stronger last stroke to out-touch Geer by 0.03. Manuel won the event in a 24.75, Geer took second in a 24.78.

Taking third place was Egypt-native Farida Osman with a 25.12. Taking fourth by 0.06 seconds was Olivia Smoliga in a 25.18.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 23.19

1. Michael Andrew – 22.11
2. Michael Chadwick – 22.46
3. Ali Khalafalla – 22.47

Taking the win in his first of 3 individual events this evening was U.S National champ Michael Andrew with a 22.11. Taking second behind Andrew was Michael Chadwick in a 22.46. Taking a narrow third place finished by one one-hundredth was Ali Khalafalla with a 22.47.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 1:02.69

1. Regan Smith – 59.37
2. Olivia Smoliga – 59.44
3. Phoebe Bacon – 59.93

After taking second in the 200 fly, Regan Smith established her dominance by taking the 100 back title over a star-studded field. Right behind Smith for third was Olympian Olivia Smoliga in a 59.44. Finishing in third place to also break the one-minute barrier was 16-year-old Phoebe Bacon (59.93).

MEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 56.59

1. Ryan Murphy – 53.17
2. Daniel Carr – 54.31
3. Bryce Mefford – 54.86

Ryan Murphy already was in a body-length lead off the first 25 meters of the race. Murphy went on to continue breaking away from the field and won with a 53.17. Rounding out the top 3 for a 1-2-3 Cal finish was Daniel Carr (54.31) and Bryce Mefford (54.86).

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:33.29

1. Annie Lazor – 2:23.51
2. Micah Sumrall – 2:26.58
3. Emily Escobedo – 2:26.85

Annie Lazor is continuing are inspiring comeback with her second win in the 200 breast to sweep both breaststroke events at this first PSS stop. Her winning time of 2:23.51 marks another personal for the 24-year-old veteran and maintains her #1 time in the world for 2019.

Taking second place was Olympian Micah Sumrall in a 2:26.58. Taking a close third place finish was Emily Escobedo with a 2:26.85.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:17.89

1. Josh Prenot – 2:09.96
2. Nic Fink – 2:10.57
3. Andrew Wilson – 2:12.68

American record-holder Josh Prenot broke off from the field going into the last 50. Prenot held his lead to win the event in a 2:09.96, the only swimmer under 2:10. Despite a strong pursuit in the last few meters, Nic Fink settled for second in a 2:10.57. Andrew Wilson rounded out the top three with a 2:12.68.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: N/A

1. Penny Oleksiak – 26.00
2. Farida Osman – 26.09
3. Kelsi Dahlia – 26.20

18-year-old Canadian Penny Oleksiak took the win with a 26.00. After a 0.99 second reaction start, Farida Osman came back to take a close second place finished with a 26.09. Taking third place was Kelsi Dahlia with a 26.20.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: N/A

1. Luis Martinez – 23.60
2. Michael Andrew – 23.64
3. Giles Smith – 23.68

Less than 0.10 one-hundredths separated the top three in the men’s 50 fly. After picking up a silver in the 100 fly, Guatemalan Luis Martinez took the win in a 23.60 over sprint phenom Michael Andrew (23.64). Taking third place was veteran Giles Smith in a 23.68.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 4:16.89

1. Katie Ledecky – 4:02.71
2. Hali Flickinger – 4:09.75
3. Melanie Margalis – 4:09.93

Katie Ledecky is now 3 for 3 at this PSS stop as she dominated the 400 free this evening with a winning time of 4:02.71. Coming off her 200 fly win to take second was Hali Flickinger in a 4:09.75. Also breaking 4:10 and taking third was Melanie Margalis (4:09.93).

MEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: 3:57.29

1. Anton Ipsen – 3:52.26
2. Tristan Cote – 3:56.37
3. Jeremy Bagshaw – 3:57.69

Taking his second win was Anton Ipsen with a 3:52.26. Topping off the top three was Tristan Cote (3:56.37) and Jeremy Bagshaw (3:57.69).

Taking fourth place was 16-year-old Sam Oliver, also breaking 4 minutes with a 3:59.03.

MIXED 200 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

• Olympic Trials Cut: N/A

1. DiRado (Bacon, Fink, Urlando, Manuel) – 1:43.48
2. Beisel (Baker, Cordes, Stewart, Chadwick) – 1:43.83
3. Adams (Smoliga, Andrew, Prenot, Dahlia) – 1:44.45
4. Jaeger (A. Walsh, Wilson, Shields, Ledecky) – 1:44.80

In the first SwimSquad relay of the series, the DiRado relay of Phoebe Bacon, Nic Fink, Gianluca Urlando, and Simone Manuel took a tight win with a 1:43.48. With Michael Chadwick as the lone male 50 free swimmer in the mix, he brought his Beisel relay from 4th to 2nd place. Kathleen Baker, Kevin Cordes, and Kendyl Stewart were also members of the Beisel relay.

Taking third place was the Adams relay of Olivia Smoliga, Michael Andrew, Josh Prenot, and Kelsi Dahlia (1:44.45). The Jaeger relay of Alex Walsh, Andrew Wilson, Tom Shields, and Katie Ledecky took fourth in a 1:44.80.

Winning the $1,000 prize for the fastest reaction time was Nic Fink with a blistering 0.06 second reaction time.