2020 Pro Swim Series – Knoxville: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

• Thursday, January 16 – Sunday, January 19, 2020
• Knoxville, TN – Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center – University of Tennessee
• Long course meters (LCM) format
• Thursday distance session: 4 PM (U.S. Eastern Time)
• Fri-Sun.: 9:30 AM Prelims / 6:30 PM Finals
• Meet site
• Live Stream
  • All Prelims, B finals, Thursday & Sunday finals
  • Friday & Saturday A Finals
• Psych Sheets
• Live results
• Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheets

Thursday is the 2nd day, but first prelims session, of the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville. This morning, the 200 free, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 400 IM will be contested, with the 6 fastest heats of each event in an ‘A’ flight, followed by the remainder of the entries.

Among the highlight races of the day will be the women’s 100 breaststroke, led by top seeds Molly Hannis and Annie Lazor and also including NC State swimmer Sophie Hansson, who could be Sweden’s key to a medal in the women’s medley relay at this summer’s Olympic Games.

Also keep an eye out for the men’s 200 free which includes a number of probable 800 free relay Olympians like Jack Conger, US National Champion Andrew Seliskar, American Record holder in yards Dean Farris, and teen-sensation Carson Foster.

Women’s 200 Free

• PSS Record: 1:54.43, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016
• Trials Cut: 2:01.69

Top 8

1. Penny Oleksiak (CAN)- 1:58.77
2. Allison Schmitt (SUN)- 1:59.04
3. Melanie Margalis (SPA)- 1:59.05
4. Simone Manuel (ALTO)- 1:59.16
5. Kaersten Meitz (BA)- 1:59.63
6. Madisyn Cox (TXLA)- 1:59.78
7. Hali Flickinger (SUN)/Regan Smith (RIPT)- 1:59.85
8. –

Coming in as the top seed is Canada’s Rio Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak at 1:58.77, just three-tenths faster than London Olympic champion Allison Schmitt (1:59.04). Sneaking in right behind Schmitt were Olympic teammates Melanie Margalis (1:59.05) and Simone Manuel (1:59.16).

Rounding out the top 8 and staying under 2:00 were Badger’s Kaersten Meitz (1:59.63), Texas Longhorn Madisyn Cox (1:59.78), and Sun Devil’s Hali Flickinger and Riptide’s Regan Smith tying for seventh at 1:59.85.

Men’s 200 Free

• PSS Record: 1:44.82, Sun Yang (CHN), 2016
• Trials Cut: 1:50.79

Top 8

1. Carson Foster (RAYS)- 1:49.04
2. Jake Magahey (SA)- 1:50.31
3. Mikel Schreuders (UN)/Zach Apple (MVN)- 1:50.59
4. –
5. Dare Rose (SCAR)- 1:50.82
6. Zane Grothe (BCH)- 1:50.92
7. Joey Reilman (TNAQ)- 1:51.18
8. Grant House (SUN)- 1:51.28

Coming in with a new Tennessee pool record was teen Carson Foster (1:49.04), eclipsing Joao de Lucca‘s 2019 mark of 1:49.48. Fellow teen Jake Magahey‘s 1:50.31 was good enough to take second over Mikel Schreuders and Zach Apple (1:50.59).

Another teen, Dare Rose (1:50.82), come out of prelims in 5th over Worlds finalist and Athens Bulldog Zane Grothe (1:50.92). Joey Reilman (1:51.18) and Grant House (1:51.28) close out the event’s top 8.

Women’s 100 Breast

• PSS Record: 1:05.57, Rebecca Soni (USA), 2011
• Trials Cut: 1:10.99

Top 8

1. Annie Lazor (MVN)- 1:07.72
2. Sophie Hansson (NCS)- 1:08.04
3. Emily Escobedo (COND)- 1:09.01
4. Micah Sumrall (CGSC)- 1:09.10
5. Bethany Galat (AGS)- 1:09.11
6. Jocelyn Ulyett (LU)- 1:09.97
7. Lydia Jacoby (STSC)- 1:10.02
8. Emma Weber (TOPS)- 1:10.33

Topping the women’s 100 breast in the only sub-1:08 swim was Annie Lazor at 1:07.72, just three-tenths ahead of NC State’s Sophie Hansson. A second behind Hansson were veterns Emily Escobedo (1:09.01), Micah Sumrall (1:09.10), and Bethany Galat (1:09.11).

Rounding out the sub-1:10 swims was Jocelyn Ulyett at 1:09.97. The remaining top 8 finishers included Lydia Jacoby (1:10.02) and Emma Weber (1:10.33).

Men’s 100 Breast

• PSS Record: 58.86, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
• Trials Cut: 1:03.29

Top 8

1. Nic Fink (ABSC)- 1:01.12
2. Nils Wich-Glasen (UN)- 1:01.50
3. Carlos Claverie (CARD)- 1:01.64
4. Anton McKee (PRVT)- 1:01.66
5. Tobias Bjerg (DEN)- 1:01.86
6. Andrew Wilson (ABSC)- 1:01.94
7. Michael Houlie (TENN)- 1:02.03
8. Richard Funk (CAN)- 1:02.55

Cruising to the top of the men’s 100 breast was ISL Cali Condor Nic Fink at 1:01.12. South Carolina alum Nils Wich-Glasen (1:01.50), Louisville Cardinal Carlos Claverie (1:01.64), Iceland’s Anton McKee (1:01.66), and Denmark’s Tobias Bjerg (1:01.86) all followed Fink.

Rounding out the top 8 was ISL Cali Condor Andrew Wilson (1:01.94), Tennessee’s Michael Houlie (1:02.03), and Canadian Richard Funk (1:02.55).

Women’s 100 Fly

• PSS Record: 56.38, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2016
• Trials Cut: 1:00.69

Top 8

1. Amanda Kendall (MVN)- 58.07
2. Regan Smith (RIPT)/Kelsi Dahlia (CARD)- 58.90
3. –
4. Hali Flickinger (SUN)- 59.31
5. Rebecca Smith (CAN)- 59.44
6. Erika Brown (TENN)/Natalie Hinds (ABSC)- 59.50
7. –
8. Farida Osman (UN)- 59.88

Crushing the women’s 100 fly and coming into the final’s top seed is Mission Viejo Nadadore Amanda Kendall at 58.07. Her prelims time was good enough to bump her from 10th to 7th in the world rankings, taking down her 58.25 season best from the US Open.

Also slipping under 59 seconds in a tie for second at 58.90 are 400 medley relay world record-holders Regan Smith and Kelsi Dahlia. Worlds silver medalist Hali Flickinger took fourth in prelims with 59.31.

The remaining top 8 qualifiers included Canadian Rebecca Smith (59.44), Tennesse’s Erika Brown and Athens Bulldog Natalie Hinds (59.50), and Egyptian native Farida Osman (59.88).

Men’s 100 Fly

• PSS Record: 51.00, Jack Conger (USA), 51.00
• Trials Cut: 54.19

Top 8

1. Giles Smith (SUN)- 53.25
2. Ryan Held (NYAC)- 53.38
3. Dean Farris (HARV)- 53.43
4. Ryan Coetzee (TNAQ)- 53.70
5. Rasmus Nickelsen (DEN)- 53.90
6. Josiah Binnema (CAN)- 53.99
7. Zach Harting (CARD)- 54.03
8. Matthew Josa (CAL)- 54.28

Giles Smith, representing Sun Devil Swim Club, comes in as the prelims leader at 53.25, just 0.13s ahead of Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held (53.38). Freestyler Dean Farris (53.43) held off South African Ryan Coetzee (53.70) for third.

Denmark’s Rasmus Nickelsen (53.90) and Canada’s Josiah Binnema (53.99) round out the top 8 qualifiers along with Worlds finalist Zach Harting (54.03) and Cal alum Matthew Josa (54.28).

Women’s 400 IM

• PSS Record: 4:31.07, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
• Trials Cut: 4:51.79

Top 8

1. Madisyn Cox (TXLA)- 4:44.06
2. Hali Flickinger (SUN)- 4:46.83
3. Mariah Denigan (LAK)- 4:48.48
4. Bethany Galat (AGS)- 4:48.50
5. Megan Kingsley (ABSC)- 4:49.68
6. Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN)- 4:49.97
7. Alex Walsh (NAC)- 4:49.98
8. Bella Sims (SAND)- 4:50.60

After taking 6th in the 200 free, Texas Longhorn Madisyn Cox snagged the top 400 IM spot by more than 2 seconds at 4:44.06. Sliding into second was Sun Devil’s Hali Flickinger (4:46.83), followed by teen Mariah Denigan (4:48.48) and Aggie’s Bethany Galat (4:48.50).

Athens Bulldog Megan Kingsley (4:49.68), Denmark’s Helena Rosendahl Bach (4:49.97), and Nashville’s Alex Walsh (4:49.98) also finished under 4:50. Rounding out the top 8 was Sandpipers of Nevada’s Bella Sims (4:50.60).

Men’s 400 IM

• PSS Record: 4:08.92, Chase Kalisz (USA), 2018
• Trials Cut: 4:25.99

Top 8

1. Jarod Arroyo (FORK)- 4:17.86
2. Carson Foster (RAYS)- 4:22.01
3. Kieran Smith (UN)- 4:22.66
4. Sam Stewart (UN)- 4:25.15
5. Tristan Cote (UCSC)- 4:25.48
6. Josh Zakala (CAN)- 4:28.77
7. Baylor Nelson (MAC)- 4:32.07
8. Sawyer Grimes (SAND)- 4:32.21

Taking a full second off his own Puerto Rican national record (4:18.94) and coming in as the top 400 IM seed was ASU commit Jarod Arroyo. Arroyo’s top time of 4:17.86, which also took down Josh Prenot‘s 2019 Tennessee pool record (4:18.74), comes in as the 16th-fastest time in the world this season. Finishing in the top three were fellow teen Carson Foster (4:22.01) and Florida sophomore Kieran Smith (4:22.66).

Texas’ Sam Stewart (4:25.15), U of Calgary Swim Club’s Tristan Cote, and Canada’s Josh Zakala (4:28.77) also finished within the 4:30 barrier. Rounding out the top 8 were Baylor Nelson (4:32.07) and Sawyer Grimes (4:32.21).