2021 Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – MISSION VIEJO (#3)

• April 8-11, 2021
• Marguerite Aquatics Center, Mission Viejo, CA
• LCM
• Prelims – 4:00pm PST/Finals – 10:00am PST
• Meet central
• Meet information
• Psych sheets
• Live stream (USA Swimming – evening prelims & 800 free Thursday)
• Live stream (Olympic Channel – mid-day finals)
• Live results

Day Three Prelims: Friday, April 9

The preliminary session for Saturday’s Finals at 2021 Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo is taking place Friday night and will feature heats of the women’s and men’s 200 fly, 50 free, 100 back, 200 breast, and 400 free. In flipping the traditional prelims-in-the morning, finals-at-night scenario, USA Swimming is preparing its athletes for the scheduling format at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

Among the races to watch on Friday night are the men’s 50 free, where Bruno Fratus will be trying to make his third Olympic team for his native Brazil. Because of rising COVID numbers in Brazil and improving statistics in the United States, the Brazilian Federation made an exception for Fratus and designated Mission Viejo as his official selection meet. Fratus needs only to swim 22.01 to make the FINA A cut and satisfy Brazil’s selection criteria. He is seeded second (21.31) behind Caeleb Dressel (21.04).

Abbey Weitzeil (24.47) comes in with the fastest 50 free time on the women’s side.

Hali Flickinger (2:05.96) and recent NCAA champion Nicolas Albiero (1:56.05) are the top seeds in the women’s and men’s 200 fly.

The women’s 100 back is loaded with talent, including Kathleen Baker (58.56), Phoebe Bacon (58.63), and Olivia Smoliga (58.73). Olympic champions Ryan Murphy (52.44) and Matt Grevers (52.75) headline the men’s race.

Annie Lazor, top seed in the 200 breast (2:20.77) will be challenged by Day 2’s 100 breast champion, Lilly King (2:21.39). Nic Fink will try to get the 100/200 double win in the men’s race. He is second seed (2:08.16) to Andrew Wilson (2:07.77).

Katie Ledecky, after a stunning 1:54.40 in the 200 free, will be the one to beat in the women’s 400 free with her entry time of 3:59.28. Zane Grothe (3:45.78) is top seed on the men’s side.

Women’s 200 Meter Butterfly

• Pro Swim Record: 2:06.11 Hali Flickinger (2020)
• Trials Wave II: 2:12.56
• Trials Wave I: 2:14.59

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 2:06.68 q
2. Katie Drabot 23 Alto Swim Club-P 2:09.24 q
3. Lillie Nordmann 18 Alto Swim Club-P 2:10.54 q
4. Katie Crom 17 Mission Viejo Na 2:11.45 q
5. (tie) Haley Anderson 29 Mission Viejo / *Remedy Rule 24 Longhorn Aquatic 2:11.75 q
6. –
7. Rachel Klinker 20 Unattached-PC 2:11.94 q
8. Justina Kozan 17 Mission Viejo Na 2:13.68 q
9. *Jade Foelske 19 Unattached-AZ 2:14.08 q
10. Leah Gingrich 31 Columbus Aquatic 2:14.28 q
11. Ally McHugh 23 Wisconsin Aquati 2:15.28 q
12. Hallie Kinsey 20 Unattached-CA 2:18.52 q

With two open lanes and 12 swimmers in the women’s 200 fly, everyone was guaranteed a spot in the final. Katie Drabot led heat 1 from start to finish. She was out in 1:01.6 and built her lead over the second half to win in 2:09.24. Katie Crom powered past Remedy Rule and Haley Anderson to finish second with 2:11.45. Rule and Anderson tied for third with 2:11.75.

Hali Flickinger moved to #2 in the world for the current season with her heat 2 win in 2:06.68. Lillie Nordmann was second with 2:10.54, ahead of Rachel Klinker who improved by .3 to clock a 2:11.94. Kelly Pash and Olivia Bray did not swim.

Men’s 200 Meter Butterfly

• Pro Swim Record: 1:53.84 Luca Urlando (2019)
• Trials Wave II: 1:59.63
• Trials Wave I: 2:01.19

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Gabriel Jett 18 Clovis Swim Club 1:57.82 q
2. Chase Kalisz 27 Athens Bulldog S 1:58.10 q
3. Michael Tenney 22 Brea Aquatics-CA 1:58.58 q
4. Nicolas Albiero 21 Unattached-KY 1:59.05 q
5. Zach Harting 23 Cardinal Aquatic 1:59.32 q
6. *Zheng Quah 24 California Aquat 1:59.83 q
7. Keanan Dols 22 Gator Swim Club- 2:00.03 q
8. Dylan Porges 20 TAC Titans-NC 2:01.07 q
9. Harry Homans 21 Unattached-CA 2:01.13 q
10. Grant Sanders 23 Gator Swim Club- 2:01.26 q
11. *Etay Gurevich 25 Unattached-AZ 2:01.34 q
12. *Jarod Arroyo 20 Una SUN-AZ 2:02.04 q
13. Tom Shields 29 California Aquat 2:02.10 q
14. Dillon Hillis 20 Una GSC-FL 2:02.91 q
15. *Alex Kunert 25 Unattached-NC 2:04.37 q
16. Sebastien Sergile 17 SwimAtlanta-GA 2:04.60 q

Tom Shields led through the first half of heat 1 but it was Keanan Dols in lane 7 who came from behind to get the win in 2:00.03, dropping 1.7 seconds from his seed time. Grant Sanders touched second from the other end of the pool, dropping 1.3 seconds with 2:01.26. Jarod Arroyo (2:02.04) edged Shields (2:02.10) for third place.

Gabriel Jett led from start to finish and clocked a massive 1:57.82 to win heat 2. He improved by 2.8 seconds and qualified for Wave 2 with his swim. Nicolas Albiero, the NCAA champion in this event, came in second with 1:59.05 ahead of Zheng Quah (1:59.83).

Michael Tenney led for most of the final heat but he was touched out by Chase Kalisz, 1:58.10 to 1:58.58, at the end. Zach Harting went 1:59.32 for third.

Women’s 50 Meter Freestyle

• Pro Swim Record: 24.17 Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• Trials Wave II: 25.65
• Trials Wave I: 25.99

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Abbey Weitzeil 24 California Aquat 24.80 q
2. *Kasia Wasick 29 Team Rebel Aquat 24.85 q
3. Julie Meynen 23 Unattached-SE 25.26 q
4. *Beryl Gastaldello 26 Aggie Swim Club- 25.33 q
5. *Kalia Antoniou 21 Univ Alabama Swi 25.40 q
6. Kelsi Dahlia 26 Cardinal Aquatic 25.42 q
7. Natalie Hinds 27 Athens Bulldog S 25.43 q
8. Katie McLaughlin 23 California Aquat 25.44 q
9. *Anika Apostalon 26 Irvine Novaquati 25.65 q
10. Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 25.68 q
11. (tie) Alyssa Marsh 23 Team Elite-NC  / *Diana Petkova 20 Una BAMA-SE 25.72 q
12. –
13. *Eloise Riley 20 Unattached-PC 25.74 q
14. Madeline Banic 23 Tennessee Aquati 25.75 q
15. Allison Schmitt 30 Sun Devil Swimmi 25.77 q
16. Gabi Albiero 19 Unattached-KY 25.91 q

Eloise Riley beat her seed time by .3 to win heat 1 in 25.74, .01 ahead of Madeline Banic (25.75). Katie Crom, swimming in her home pool, dropped .2 to place third with a Wave 1-qualifying 25.94.

Julie Meynen (25.26) clipped Kalia Antoniou (25.40) in the first circle-seeded heat. Anika Apostalon (25.65) came in third. Kasia Wasick was the first to break 25 seconds in heats; she won heat 3 with 24.85. Beryl Gastaldello (25.33) and Natalie Hinds (25.43) were half a body behind.

Abbey Weitzeil was .10 off Simone Manuel’s 15th-fastest world time with 24.80 in heat 4. Kelsi Dahlia went 25.42 for second place, coming to the wall .02 ahead of Katie McLaughlin.

Men’s 50 Meter Freestyle

• Pro Swim Record: 21.51 Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• Trials Wave II: 22.71
• Trials Wave I: 23.19

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. *Bruno Fratus 31 Coral Springs Sw 21.73Jq
2. Michael Andrew 21 Race Pace Club-S 22.24 q
3. Caeleb Dressel 24 Gator Swim Club- 22.29 q
4. Zach Apple 23 Mission Viejo Na 22.30 q
5. Payton Sorenson 27 Unattached-AZ 22.46 q
6. (tie) *Matt Targett 35 Team Elite-NC/NY / Nathan Adrian 32 Una CAL-PC 22.48 q
7. –
8. *Bjorn Seeliger 21 Unattached-PC 22.53 q
9. Santiago Grassi 24 Unattached-SE 22.66 q
10. Michael Chadwick 25 North Carolina A 22.69 q
11. *Jonathan Berne 23 Univ Alabama Swi 22.77 q
12. *Dylan Carter 25 Team Elite-NC 22.81 q
13. (tie) Dean Farris 23 Veritas Swimming / Luis Martinez 25 Unattached-SE 22.89 q
14. –
15. Sid Farber 22 The Dolphins Por 22.90 q
16. *Eric Friese 22 Una GSC-FL 22.92 q

Bruno Fratus got one step closer to punching his ticket to Tokyo in Friday night’s heats. Given that the Brazilian Federation designated PSS Mission Viejo as his replacement Olympic selection meet, all Fratus needed to do was achieve the FINA A qualifying standard and then wait to see if two swimmers go faster at Brazil’s selection meet in April. Part 1 of that two-step dance was achieved tonight when Fratus clocked a 21.73 to win his heat. Payton Sorenson (22.46) and Nathan Adrian (22.48) came in second and third behind him.

Fratus’ time is the second-fastest in the world so far this season. He squeezes between Florent Manaudou (21.72) and Thom de Boer (21.74).

In the final heat, Caeleb Dressel went 22.29 to edged Zach Apple by .01. Matt Targett dropped .4 from his seed time to finish third with 22.48. Dressel and Apple qualified third and fourth overall because Michael Andrew had won the first circle-seeded heat with 22.24.

Women’s 100 Meter Backstroke

• Pro Swim Record: 58.18 Regan Smith (2020)
• Trials Wave II: 1:01.49
• Trials Wave I: 1:02.69

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Kathleen Baker 24 Team Elite-NC/NY 59.45 q
2. Olivia Smoliga 26 Athens Bulldog S 59.59 q
3. Rhyan White 21 Univ Alabama Swi 1:00.39 q
4. Isabelle Stadden 18 Unattached-PC 1:00.48 q
5. Ali Deloof 26 Tennessee Aquati 1:00.78 q
6. Isabel Ivey 20 Unattached-PC :00.85 1:01.03 q
7. Lisa Bratton 24 Aggie Swim Club- 1:01.09 q
8. Sherridon Dressel 22 Una GSC-FL 1:02.00 q
9. Emma Karam 16 Reno Aquatic Clu 1:02.13 q
10. Ayla Spitz 20 Unattached-PC 1:02.53 q
11. Macky Hodges 16 Mission Viejo Na 1:03.24 q
12. Lucie Nordmann 20 Alto Swim Club-P 1:03.51 q
13. Justina Kozan 17 Mission Viejo Na 1:04.13 q
14. Taylor McCoy 21 Cougar Aquatics- 1:04.45 q
15. *Monika Gonzale 25 Aggie Swim Club- 1:06.09 q

Olivia Smoliga won heat 1 in 59.59, just off her season-best from San Antonio (59.49). Ali DeLoof was second in 1:00.78, while Isabel Ivey touched third with 1:01.03.

Isabelle Stadden went 1:00.48 in heat 2 ahead of Sherridon Dressel (1:02.00)and Emma Karam (1:02.13). That was a best time for Karam by .45.

Kathleen Baker moved to #5 in the world with her heat 3 win in 59.45. It was her best swim of the season so far and she came to the wall a body length ahead of Rhyan White (1:00.39) and Lisa Bratton (1:01.09).

Men’s 100 Meter Backstroke

• Pro Swim Record: 52.40 David Plummer (2016)
• Trials Wave II: 55.51
• Trials Wave I: 56.59

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Daniel Carr 22 Unattached-PC 53.73 q
2. *Hugo Gonzalez 22 Una CAL-PC 53.84 q
3. Ryan Murphy 25 California Aquat 54.41 q
4. Bryce Mefford 22 Unattached-PC 55.09 q
5. Will Grant 19 Veritas Swimming 55.23 q
6. Destin Lasco 19 Unattached-PC 55.37 q
7. Matt Grevers 36 Unattached-AZ 55.39 q
8. Jack Aikins 18 SwimAtlanta-GA 55.59 q
9. Abrahm DeVine 24 Team Elite-NC 55.67 q
10. *Sebastian Somerset 20 Una CAL-PC 55.93 q
11. Chase Kalisz 27 Athens Bulldog S 56.19 q
12. Jay Litherland 25 Dynamo Swim Club 56.25 q
13. Diego Camacho S 18 Unattached-SI 56.35 q
14. Dean Farris 23 Veritas Swimming 56.46 q
15. (tie) Isaac Gwin 21 Air Force Academy / Jack Kirby 20 Una USCA-CA 56.52 q
16. –

Chase Kalisz improved his seed time by .4 to win heat 1 of the 100 back in 56.19. Daniel Carr followed with a 53.73 in the next heat, winning by well over a body length. Dean Farris (56.46) and Isaac Gwin (56.52) led the next wave of finishers, tightly bunched with 56s. Ryan Lochte swam in that heat, finishing 7th with 56.69.

In the penultimate heat, Will Grant (55.23) got his hand to the wall just ahead of Matt Grevers (55.39), who looked like he had the win all sewn up. Jack Aikins (55.59) was third.

Hugo Gonzalez (53.84) beat Ryan Murphy (54.41) and Bryce Mefford (55.09) in the final heat. Destin Lasco finished .28 behind Mefford with a best time by .4 (55.37) that qualifies for the Wave 2 Olympic Trials meet.

Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke

• Pro Swim Record: 2:20.77 Annie Lazor (2019)
• Trials Wave II: 2:30.49
• Trials Wave I: 2:33.29

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Lilly King 24 Indiana Swim Clu 2:24.07 q
2. Emily Escobedo 25 Condors Swim Clu 2:24.40 q
3. Annie Lazor 26 Mission Viejo Na 2:25.55 q
4. Madisyn Cox 25 Longhorn Aquatic 2:27.16 q
5. Micah Sumrall 30 Gamecock Aquatic 2:27.75 q
6. Brooke Forde 22 Alto Swim Club-P 2:28.01 q
7. Melanie Margali 29 Saint Petersburg 2:28.50 q
8. Bethany Galat 25 Aggie Swim Club- 2:28.69 q
9. Lydia Jacoby 17 Unattached-AK 2:28.87 q
10. Meghan Small 22 Tennessee Aquati 2:30.06 q
11. Isabelle Odgers 20 Una NOVA-CA 2:30.40 q
12. Abigail Herscu 16 Livermore Aqua C 2:31.73 q
13. Ali Harrison 21 Unattached-PC 2:34.16 q
14. Kaitlyn Dobler 19 Unattached-OR 2:37.28 q
15. *Ema Rajic 21 Unattached-PC 2:37.40 q
16. Gigi Johnson 16 SwimAtlanta-GA 2:37.65 q

Micah Sumrall (2:27.76) won the first heat in a tight race against Brooke Forde (2:28.01) and Bethany Galat (2:28.69). Forde went 2.5 seconds faster than her seed time. Skyler Smith went for her 100 split in that heat. After a 1:10.79 last night in prelims and a 1:10.88 this morning in the final of the 100 breast, Smith split 1:11.07 on her first 100 of the 200.

Lilly King, seeded second in this event with 2:21.39, won heat 2 handily going 2:24.07. Madisyn Cox touched second in 2:27.16. Meghan Small, entered with no time and swimming in lane 8, was 2:30.06 for third.

Emily Escobedo ran away with the final heat from lane 5, winning in 2:24.40. Top-seeded Annie Lazor was second to the wall in 2:25.55. Melanie Margalis (2:28.50) rounded out the top three.

Men’s 200 Meter Breaststroke

• Pro Swim Record: 2:08.95 Andrew Wilson (2018)
• Trials Wave II: 2:15.28
• Trials Wave I: 2:17.89

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Nic Fink 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:11.37 q
2. Lyubomir Epitropov 21 Unattached-SE 2:11.95 q
3. Michael Andrew 21 Race Pace Club-S 2:12.67 q
4. Tommy Cope 23 Club Wolverine-M 2:12.70 q
5. Charlie Swanson 23 Club Wolverine-M 2:13.07 q
6. Andrew Wilson 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:13.23 q
7. Kevin Cordes 27 Athens Bulldog S 2:13.31 q
8. Brandon Fischer 32 Livermore Aqua C 2:13.47 q
9. *Nils Wich-Glas 26 Gator Swim Club- 2:13.71 q
10. Reece Whitley 21 Unattached-PC 2:14.23 q
11. *Miguel Chavez 26 Team Elite-NC 2:14.37 q
12. Zachary Nelson 23 Air Force Academ 2:14.78 q
13. Jonathan Tybur 24 Gator Swim Club- 2:16.24 q
14. *Mauro Castillo 25 Aggie Swim Club- 2:17.37 q
15. Grant Sanders 23 Gator Swim Club- 2:17.45 q
16. Jay Litherland 25 Dynamo Swim Club 2:17.73 q

Josh Prenot swam exhibition in the first heat, which he won with 2:11.87. Sean Grieshop and Tom Peribonio stopped the clock at exactly the same time, tying for second place with 2:18.10.

Reece Whitley got out to a strong start in the next heat. He was a body length ahead of Charlie Swanson and 1.4 seconds ahead of Miguel Chavez at the 100 wall. Swanson began to close the gap over the third 50. Whitley seemed to run out of gas over the final 50 meters, while Swanson picked up momentum. Swanson passed Whitley with 15 meters left to go and got the heat win with 2:13.07. Whitley (2:14.23) pulled out a second-place finish, but Chavez (2:14.27) nearly caught him.

Nic Fink, who won the 100 breast final this morning, edged Lyubomir Epitropov, 2:11.37 to 2:11.95, in heat 3. Tommy Cope touched third in 2:12.70.

Michael Andrew beat his seed time by .33 to win the final heat in 2:12.67 ahead of Andrew Wilson (2:13.23) and Kevin Cordes (2:13.31).

Women’s 400 Meter Freestyle

• Pro Swim Record: 3:57.94 Katie Ledecky (2018)
• Trials Wave II: 4:13.28
• Trials Wave I: 4:16.89

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Katie Ledecky 24 Nation’s Capital 4:01.37 q
2. Emma Nordin 21 Unattached-AZ 4:07.72 q
3. *Joanna Evans 23 Longhorn Aquatic 4:08.71 q
4. Leah Smith 25 Unattached-AZ 4:09.79 q
5. Haley Anderson 29 Mission Viejo Na 4:09.85 q
6. Ally McHugh 23 Wisconsin Aquati 4:11.18 q
7. Hali Flickinger 26 Sun Devil Swimmi 4:11.20 q
8. Claire Tuggle 16 Santa Maria Swim 4:12.07 q
9. Ashley Twichell 31 TAC Titans-NC 4:12.34 q
10. *Robin Neumann 23 Unattached-PC 4:13.39 q
11. Katie Crom 17 Mission Viejo Na 4:18.44 q
12. Ayla Spitz 20 Unattached-PC 4:19.03 q
13. Kendall Dawson 23 Pitchfork Aquati 4:19.84 q
14. Sarah Dimeco 20 Unattached-PC 4:21.98 q
15. *Ayumi Macias A 24 Unattached-AZ 4:23.08 q
16. Rachel Klinker 20 Unattached-PC 4:29.65 q

Katie Ledecky put up a world-leading 4:01.37 en route to winning her heat of the 400 free. It was her 22nd-fastest swim in the event, and her best performance since PSS Des Moines in March 2020. Ledecky has swum under 4 minutes 19 times. Tonight she split 58.4-1:01.4-1:01.5-59.9, holding mostly 30.7-second 50s through the middle 200 meters. Joanna Evans went out with Ledecky and held onto her second spot throughout the remained of the heat. She took nearly 2 seconds off her seed time to finish with 4:08.71. Ally McHugh was third in 4:11.18.

Emma Nordin dropped 2.3 seconds to win heat 1 in 4:07.72. Leah Smith (4:09.79) and Haley Anderson (4:09.85) also registered sub-4:10s.

Men’s 400 Meter Freestyle

• Pro Swim Record: 3:43.55 Sun Yang (2016)
• Trials Wave II: 3:54.21
• Trials Wave I: 3:37.29

Top 16 qualifiers:

1. Zach Yeadon 21 Unattached-PC 3:51.89 q
2. Jordan Wilimovsky 26 KSwim-CA 3:53.33 q
3. Patrick Callan 21 Una CW-MI 3:53.41 q
4. Will Gallant 19 Mission Viejo Na 3:55.39 q
5. Mikey Calvillo 20 Indiana Swim Clu 3:55.81 q
6. Andrew Seliskar 24 California Aquat 3:56.06 q
7. Chris Wieser 25 DART Swimming-SN 3:56.40 q
8. Dylan Porges 20 TAC Titans-NC 3:56.52 q
9. *Kushagra RAWAT 21 KSwim-CA 3:57.24 q
10. Cole Kuster 19 Coronado Swim As 3:57.53 q
11. Zane Grothe 28 Boulder City Hen 3:58.81 q
12. *James Freeman 20 Una UOFM-MN 3:58.84 q
13. Arik Katz 19 Veritas Swimming 3:59.72 q
14. David Heron 26 Mission Viejo Na 3:59.74 q
15. Christopher Mykkanen 20 Unattached-CA 4:01.04 q
16. Keaton Jones 16 Swim Neptune-AZ 4:02.94 q

Dylan Porges obliterated his seed time of 4:00.01 to win heat 1 in 3:56.52 and qualify for Wave A with a .7 margin. Jordan Wilimovsky came from behind to touch out Patrick Callan in heat 2, 3:53.33 to 3:53.41. Will Gallant finished third with 3:55.39.

Zach Yeadon dominated the final heat, coming to the wall in 3:51.89 ahead of Andrew Seliskar (3:56.06) and Chris Wieser (3:56.40). Khader Baqlah and Batur Unlu both went for their 200 times in that heat. Neither hit the FINA A standard of 1:47.02. Baglah split 1:47.72 while Unlu went 1:47.97.