2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – DES MOINES
- March 4-7, 2020
- Des Moines, Iowa
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Info
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Day 4 Scratches
Saturday Prelims Heat Sheet
The final prelims session of the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Des Moines will feature the 100 back, 200 breast, 200 IM, and 50 free.
After winning both the 200 back and taking 2nd in the 100 fly on Friday, Regan Smith will cap off her Des Moines campaign with her top seed in the 100 back. Last night’s 200 back runner-up, Kathleen Baker, is seeded 2nd to Smith in the 100 back. Ryan Murphy will also aim to sweep the backstrokes with his top seed in the men’s 100 back.
Into the 200 breast, Lilly King and Annie Lazor will swim for the middle lanes on the women’s side. Andrew Wilson leads the men’s 100 breast alongside specialists Nic Fink, Cody Miller, and Kevin Cordes. The men’s and women’s 200 IMs will then feature Worlds finalists Melanie Margalis and Chase Kalisz.
The morning will top off with the 50 free prelims, starring World champions Simone Manuel and Caeleb Dressel. Dressel is coming off his 100 fly win from Friday while Manuel is looking for a win after taking second in the 100 free on Thursday.
Women’s 100 Back Prelims
- PSS Record: 58.26, Regan Smith (USA), 2020
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Regan Smith, RIPT, 58.79
- Olivia Smoliga, ABSC, 59.60
- Kathleen Baker, TE, 59.97
- Ali DeLoof, TE, 1:00.10
- Lisa Bratton, AGS, 1:01.45
- Béryl Gastaldello, FRA, 1:01.60
- Krystal Lara, DOM, 1:02.18
- Linnea Mack, OAQ, 1:02.23
Coming in with the lone sub-59 swim of the morning was Riptide’s Regan Smith, clocking in the top time at 58.79. Smith’s world-leading season best sits at 58.26, which set the PSS record in Knoxville.
Athens Bulldog Olivia Smoliga (59.60) and Team Elite’s Kathleen Baker (59.97) filed in next for 2nd and 3rd into finals. Smoliga tied her World #9 season best of 59.60 while Baker dipped under a minute for the first time in 2020, remaining 14th in the world.
Team Elite’s Ali DeLoof (1:00.10), Aggie’s Lisa Bratton (1:01.45), and France’s Béryl Gastaldello (1:01.60) also will compete in the A-final this evening.
Men’s 100 Back Prelims
- PSS Record: 52.40, David Plummer (USA), 2016
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Jacob Pebley, TE, 54.71
- Grigory Tarasevich, CARD, 54.90
- Ryan Murphy, CAL, 54.91
- Christopher Reid, WOLF, 55.41
- Matt Grevers, TUCS, 55.75
- Dean Farris, HARV, 56.20
- Bryce Bohman, PW, 56.44
- Jeff Newkirk, TXLA, 56.51
The top 3 finals qualifiers in the men’s 100 back all broke the 55-second barrier, led by Team Elite’s Jacob Pebley (54.71). Pebley’s current season best of 54.39 comes from the 2019 US Open meet, yet ranks #22 for the 2019-2020 world season with his 54.28 from the Tokyo World Cup in August.
Louisville’s Grigory Tarasevich (54.90) beat out Cal’s Ryan Murphy (54.91) by 0.01s for lane 5 in the top final this evening. Tarasevich currently ranks 5th in the world this season with his SB of 53.76 from the Kazan World Cup in November.
Wolfpack’s Christopher Reid (55.41), Tucson Ford’s Matt Grevers (55.75), and Harvard’s Dean Farris (56.20) will also be seen in tonight’s A-final. Notably, Cal’s Tom Shields placed 9th in this event at 56.74, two-tenths off his entry time (56.54).
Women’s 200 Breast Prelims
- PSS Record: 2:20.77, Annie Lazor (USA), 2019
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Annie Lazor, MVN, 2:27.08
- Esther Gonzalez, AGS, 2:27.90
- Lilly King, ISC, 2:28.98
- Rachel Bernhard, GAME, 2:29.22
- Melissa Rodriguez, BDD, 2:30.18
- Kierra Smith, SCAR, 2:30.26
- Laura Morley, BAH, 2:30.32
- Bethany Galat, AGS, 2:31.65
Mission Viejo’s Annie Lazor (2:27.08) and Aggie’s Esther Gonzalez (2:27.90) will take the middle lanes of the women’s long BR race, both swimming 2:27s. Last night’s 100 breast champ, Indiana’s Lilly King (2:28.98), will swim next to Lazor in the final tonight.
Looking at the 2019-2020 world rankings, King sits in 4th at 2:22.63 from the 2019 US Open while Lazor is 5th at 2:23.06 from Knoxville. Gonzalez set a new season best with her prelims swim, now inching even more towards the Olympic “A” cut (2:25.52).
Canada’s Kierra Smith (2:30.26) and Aggie Bethany Galat (2:31.65) are also qualified for tonight’s A-final.
Men’s 200 Breast Prelims
- PSS Record: 2:08.95, Andrew Wilson (USA), 2018
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Kevin Cordes, ABSC, 2:12.10
- Chase Kalisz, ABSC, 2:12.81
- Nic Fink, ABSC, 2:13.35
- Cody Miller, SAND, 2:14.67
- Miguel Chavez, TE, 2:15.63
- Jonathan Tybur, AGS, 2:15.80
- Nick Zito, FMC, 2:15.98
- Carlos Claverie, CARD, 2:16.04
The UGA post-grad/Athens Bulldog program saw a top 3 sweep for tonight’s A-final in the 200 breast, led by 2016 Olympian Kevin Cordes (2:12.10). IM specialist Chase Kalisz (2:12.81) and ISL star Nic Fink (2:13.35) will also accompany Cordes in the middle lanes. Sandpipers of Nevada’s Cody Miller (2:14.67) will also be in lane 6 for tonight’s final.
Miller comes in with the fastest SB at 2:09.67 from the 2019 US Open meet, ranking #11 in the world this season. Cordes sits in 21st in the world at 2:10.52, also from the US Open. Kalisz dropped a second from his 2019 US Open SB of 2:13.95 while Fink picked up his first 200 BR LCM swim of 2020.
Notably, meet top seed Andrew Wilson of Athens Bulldog clocked in an underwhelming 2:20.00, placing 17th in prelims. His season best sits at 2:07.77 from the August Tokyo World Cup.
Women’s 200 IM Prelims
- PSS Record: 2:08.66, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Madisyn Cox, TXLA, 2:12.33
- Melanie Margalis, SPA, 2:12.67
- Leah Smith, FORD, 2:13.13
- Regan Smith, RIPT, 2:13.18
- Hali Flickinger, SUN, 2:14.78
- Megan Kingsley, ABSC, 2:15.94
- Justina Kozan, BREA, 2:16.11
- Emma Barksdale, GAME, 2:16.18
After finishing second in the 400 IM yesterday, Texas’ Madisyn Cox took her jab at leading the morning swims with her 2:12.33 top 200 IM time. Melanie Margalis, who won the 400 IM yesterday, clocked in second at 2:12.67. Both Cox and Margalis rank within the top-10 times in the world this season, with Margalis leading in 4th at 2:08.84 while Cox sits in 7th at 2:09.88.
Leah Smith (2:13.13) can also be seen swimming in the final tonight while Riptide’s Regan Smith (2:13.18) set a lifetime best (2:15.85) by 2 seconds to rank 4th. Sun Devil’s Hali Flickinger, who won the 200 fly yesterday, clocked in the 5th-fastest prelims time at 2:14.78.
Men’s 200 IM Prelims
- PSS Record: 1:56.32, Michael Phelps (USA), 2012
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Michael Andrew, RPC, 1:58.79
- Jacob Heidtmann, TE, 2:00.31
- Andrew Seliskar, CAL, 2:00.60
- Gunnar Bentz, DYNA, 2:00.87
- Ryan Lochte, GSC, 2:00.95
- Grant House, SUN, 2:02.02
- John Shebat, NYAC, 2:02.13
- Hsing-Hao Wang, TE, 2:02.43
Michael Andrew comes in with the only sub-2:00 swim at 1:58.79, setting a new SB to rank 11th in the world this season. Germany’s Jacob Heidtmann swam a new lifetime best of 2:00.31 to rank 2nd after prelims. The Olympic “A” cut standard is 1:59.67. Cal’s Andrew Seliskar snuck in for third at 2:00.60.
The final will also see 200 fly champion Gunnar Bentz (2:00.87) and Gator Ryan Lochte (2:00.95) tonight. Notably, Chase Kalisz DFS’ed his signature race.
Women’s 50 Free Prelims
- PSS Record: 24.17, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2016
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Simone Manuel, ALTO, 24.56
- Kasia Wasick, TRA, 24.91
- Margo Geer, MVN, 25.08
- Béryl Gastaldello, FRA, 25.19
- Siobhan Haughey, CW, 25.35
- Catie DeLoof, TE, 25.41
- Bella Hindley, TENN, 25.50
- Farida Osman, PIN, 25.52
Only two women broke 25 seconds during this morning’s 50 free preliminaries. Alto’s Simone Manuel leads the way at 24.56, which is 0.13s off her 24.43 SB from the 2019 US Open. Poland’s Kasia Wasick slid in for second this morning at 24.91, currently ranking her 17th in the world this season. Mission Viejo’s Margo Geer swam in for third at 25.08.
International stars France’s Béryl Gastaldello (25.19), Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (25.35), and Egypt’s Farida Osman (25.52) also snuck into the A-final spots.
Men’s 50 Free Prelims
- PSS Record: 21.56, Nathan Adrian (USA), 2016
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Caeleb Dressel, GSC, 22.08
- Brent Hayden, HPVC, 22.25
- Michael Chadwick, TE, 22.26
- Zach Apple, MVN, 22.36
- Michael Andrew, RPC, 22.53
- Robert Howard, MVN, 22.54
- Bradley Tandy, SUN, 22.55
- Nathan Adrian, CAL, 22.56
Caeleb Dressel cruised to the top spot in the men’s 50 free for tonight’s final, clocking in at 22.08. So far in 2020, Dressel has swum a 22.04 at the February Florida OT Qualifier, which ranks #13 in the world this season.
Coming in for second was Canadian 2012 Olympian Brent Hayden, touching in a new season best time of 22.25. This year, Hayden is the fastest Canadian 50 free performer, with Will Pisani coming in 2nd at 22.44. Hayden already swam under the Olympic “B” cut (22.67), yet is now 0.24s off the A cut time of 22.01.
Topping off the top five qualifiers from this morning are Americans Michael Chadwick (22.26), Zach Apple (22.36), and IM top seed Michael Andrew (22.53).
How is that happened that Regan Smith absolutely cannot swim breaststroke. She was the third or the fourth slowest swimmer at this leg of all swimmers in prelim session. I understand this problem with Sjostrom or Manuel … but she looks tailored for this stroke.
Katie Ledecky can’t swim breaststroke.
It is, what it is.
Once again, your insistent negativity dominates the landscape.
The best backstroker in the world and one of the best fliers in the world and this dude things she should be concerned with her breaststroke.
Regan Smith will have enough on her plate at the 2020 Olympic Trials competing in four individual events.
Then why to bother herself with IM events. Maybe because she is “The best backstroker in the world and one of the best fliers in the world” and not bad at all with freestyle. Her strokes are fast and sharp and very impulsive. Just what is needed for sprint breaststroke. And yet she is slow there.
Unless she treats her IM event at this meet as training for loaded program and the progress in this competition is none of her concern.
Keep up with current events:
https://swimswam.com/r-smith-drops-2im-for-1bk-gastaldello-favors-50fr-over-1bk-in-des-moines/
I intentionally didn’t mention Katie Ledecky, because in her 400IM races the breaststroke isn’t the weakest stroke.
I’m learning positivity from you but I’m only at the beginning of this road… Be patient, not everybody are possessing such a great gift of yours. 😀
How many times have Regan Smith been under 59 in the 100 bk?? More than seebohm?Masse??
58’s are getting monotonous for her.
Try https://www.usaswimming.org/Home/times/data-hub for details.
U.S. and World Lists
All Time Top Performances
Gender: Women
Course: LCM
100 BK Women’s
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they look easy for her …..a 58.7 in March is ridiculous .
Prelims too…with how she swam her fly races PBing, we may see a 57 tonight…
I think Lochte had always been putting up 1:58-2:01 2im in season with those long finishes, chasing back to when this meet was called Arena Grand Prix.
Brent Hayden 22.25 is good after 7 years off. He oldest than Ervin who madest comeback age at 31. Lochte is tired after 400free/400IM.
Brent is 36,5 years old. He need 22.01 canada trials end March.
Lochte looked easy in the 200 IM today
Andrew is better now. Very quikly boy.
Lochte is never rested for intermediate meets in season like this. If he can do 1:58 maybe 1:57 now that implies he is ready to taper, press play & punch his ticket to Tokyo in a few months.
Lochte going 1:57 tonight is about as likely as Carson Foster making the Olympic team.
Brent f’in Hayden with the 22.25. Huh.
Brent Hayden tho😯 coming back
Regan Smith dropping over 2.5s in the 2im
Home girl can’t breaststroke 🙁
Needs to learn Molly Hannis’ breaststroke. It’s all dolphin motions, which Regan’s got down.
She’d be 208 with Margalis breast split