2021 Pro Swim Series – Richmond: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2021 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – RICHMOND

• January 14-17, 2021
• Collegiate School Aquatics Center, Richmond, VA
• Start Times (Eastern Time): Women’s Prelims: 9:00 a.m. / Men’s Prelims: 90 minutes after women’s prelims (between 11:30-12:00) / Finals: 7:00 p.m.
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Info (Both Sites)
• Schedule/Initial Timelines
• Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Psych sheets
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2021 TYR Pro Swim Series – Richmond”

Tonight is the last finals session of the 2021 January Pro Swim Series in Richmond. The timed finals of the men’s and women’s 1500 free, followed by the finals of the men’s and women’s 200 IM, 200 back, and 100 free will be contested this evening.

After topping the women’s 400 free both here in Richmond and in the overall PSS results, 31-year-old veteran Ashley Twichell of TAC Titans will be featured in the women’s 1500 free timed finals. The women’s 100 free will feature last night’s 50 free champion Catie DeLoof while the men’s 100 free is stacked with sprint standouts Justin Ress, Michael Chadwick, Coleman Stewart, and 18-year-old David Curtiss.

Women’s 1500 Free Timed Final

• PSS Record: 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018

1. Ashley Twichell (TAC)- 16:13.09
2. Caroline Pennington (TAC)- 16:33.21
3. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC)- 16:35.05

Topping yet another distance event here in Richmond is 31-year-old Ashley Twichell of the TAC Titans, clocking in a 16:13.09. That knocks five seconds off her season best of 16:18.11 from the 2020 U.S. Open in Greensboro. Twichell now improves to #15 in the world this season. Out of San Antonio, Ally McHugh posted the top PSS time in a 16:12.87, two-tenths ahead of Twichell, which now ranks 12th in the world this season.

Taking second here was 17-year-old TAC Titan training-mate Caroline Pennington. who booked a new personal best of 16:33.21. That time now ranks Pennington at #60 all-time in 17-18 age group history. 15-year-old Cavan Gormsen finished in third place at 16:35.05, knocking 22 seconds off her lifetime best. That now puts Gormsen at #48 in 15-16 age group history.

Men’s 1500 Free Timed Final

• PSS Record: 14:53.12, Jordan Wilimovsky (USA), 2016

1. Josh Parent (ABF)- 15:30.74
2. Dylan Porges (TAC)- 15:31.46
3. Anders Aistars (MVN)- 16:21.26

16-year-old Josh Parent of the Bluefish Swim Club won the men’s 1500 free here in Richmond at 15:30.74, shaving 15 seconds off his lifetime best. Parent’s time now puts him at #32 all-time in 15-16 age group history. After coming home in a blazing 27.84 on the last 50, TAC Titan Dylan Porges clocked a lifetime best of 15:31.46 to finish in second place.

16-year-old Mission Viejo Nadadore Anders Aistars took third place with a 16:12.26.

Women’s 200 IM Finals

• PSS Record: 2:08.66, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015

1. Emily Escobedo (COND)- 2:15.38
2. Letitia Sim (TNT)- 2:16.43
3. Miranda Tucker (UN)- 2:16.96

Winning her third event in Richmond was 25-year-old Emily Escobedo, clocking the top time of 2:15.38. That was just outside Escobedo’s lifetime best of 2:14.84, set at the 2019 U.S. Open. 17-year-old Letitia Sim came in second at 2:16.43, knocking two-tenths off her lifetime best from the 2020 U.S. Open in Huntsville.

Finishing in third was Michigan alum Miranda Tucker, touching in at 2:16.96. Her 2019 calendar best rests at 2:15.53 from July 2019.

Men’s 200 IM Finals

• PSS Record: 1:56.32, Michael Phelps (USA), 2012

1. Arsenio Bustos (WAC)- 2:01.66
2. Andy Dorsel (MAC)- 2:05.70
3. Holden Smith (RPC)- 2:06.80

Winning by 4 seconds in the men’s 200 IM was 17-year-old Arsenio Bustos of Woodbridge Aquatic Club, clocking in a lifetime best of 2:01.66. This morning, Bustos cruised to a 2:07.01 to qualify 4th into this evening’s final. His time this evening knocked 2.33 seconds off his previous career best of 2:03.99 from the 2019 Summer Junior Nationals. Bustos’ time also ranks him at 20th all-time in 17-18 age group as well as the 13th-fastest swim by an American 17-year-old.

Coming in second was 18-year-old Andy Dorsel, touching in at 2:05.70 to knock a second from this morning. 17-year-old Holden Smith finished in third at 2:06.80, also dropping over a second from this morning.

Women’s 200 Back Finals

• PSS Record: 2:05.94, Regan Smith (USA), 2020

1. Josephine Fuller (NOVA)- 2:13.33
2. Zoe Dixon (NOVA)- 2:13.38
3. Aislin Farris (ABF)- 2:14.40

It was a tight battle between NOVA of Virginia teammate Josephine Fuller and Zoe Dixon in the women’s 200 back final, with only 0.05s separating the pair. At the touch, it was 17-year-old Fuller who took the win in a lifetime best of 2:13.33, which now ranks #78 in 17-18 age group history. 16-year-old Dixon settled for second in a lifetime best of 2:13.38, now #53 all-time in 15-16 age group history. 16-year-old Aislin Farris of the Bluefish Swim Club took third at 2:14.40.

Finishing in 5th place was 14-year-old Levenia Sim, whose 2:15.45 evening swim puts her at #50 all-time in 13-14 age group history.

Men’s 200 Back Finals

• PSS Record: 1:55.04, Xu Jiayu (CHN), 2017

1. Baylor Nelson (MAC)- 2:02.42
2. J.T. Ewing (FISH)/Caleb Maldari (ABF)- 2:02.82

17-year-old Baylor Nelson took the men’s 200 back final in a tight four-man finish, clocking in the top time of 2:02.42. Tying for second place was 16-year-old J.T. Ewing and 15-year-old Caleb Maldari, both touching in at 2:02.82. Both Ewing and Maldari are now tied at #50 all-time in 15-16 age group event history.

Finishing in 4th place by 0.02s was 18-year-old Billy Swartwout, clocking a 2:02.84.

Women’s 100 Free Finals

• PSS Record: 53.12, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2016

1. Catie DeLoof (CA-Y)- 54.33
2. Kayla Wilson (TIDE)- 55.96
3. Ali DeLoof (TNAQ)- 56.07

Sweeping the women’s sprint events here in Richmond was 23-year-old Catie DeLoof, who clocked in the only sub-55 swim at 54.33. That time marks a season best for C. DeLoof, ranking her 17th in the world this season. 16-year-old Kayla Wilson broke 56 seconds for the first time to take second place at 55.96. Wilson’s time now ranks her #49 all-time in 15-16 age group event history.

26-year-old Ali DeLoof finished in third place at 56.07 while 16-year-old Erin Gemmell finished a tenth behind for 4th place at 56.17

Men’s 100 Free Finals

• PSS Record: 48.00, Nathan Adrian (USA), 2016

1. Justin Ress (WOLF)- 49.18
2. Michael Chadwick (NCAC)- 49.52
3. Austin Surhoff (UN)- 49.76

Winning the last event here in Richmond was 23-year-old Justin Ress, taking the men’s 100 free at 49.18. At the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Knoxville, Ress clocked a season best of 49.81. Ress’ time this evening is now the 3rd-fastest American swim, only behind Nathan Adrian (49.07) and Ryan Held (49.00). 25-year-old Michael Chadwick took second place at 49.52, just 0.04s off his season best of 49.48 from this past December.

30-year-old Austin Surhoff swam to another lifetime best, hitting 49.76 to take third place. Surhoff’s swim is in fact the 10th-fastest swim by a 30-year-old American in history. Backstroke ace Coleman Stewart also finished under the 50-second barrier to finish in 4th place at 49.84.