2021 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio (March): Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO (MARCH)

• March 3-7, 2021
• North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex, San Antonio, TX
• LCM Format
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Session Timelines
• Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Live Stream (Olympic Channel)
• Start Times (Central Time): Women’s Prelims: 10 AM / Men’s Prelims: 90 minutes after women’s prelims (between 11:30-12:00) / Finals: 7 PM

The second day of the 2021 Pro Swim Series in San Antonio continue with the finals of the men’s and women’s 100-meter free, 100-meter breast, 200-meter fly, and 400-meter free. Be on the lookout for Olympians and national stars in both A and B finals, so don’t forget to toggle between USA Swimming and the Olympic Channel to catch them all.

Kicking off the evening will be Olympic teammates Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil in the 100 free A-final, featuring distance queen Katie Ledecky. On the men’s side, catch Olympic champions Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressel warm the pool up in the 100 free B-final. Following will be the A-final, led by 22-year-old Maxime Rooney, Olympian Blake Pieroni, and Worlds medalist Andrew Seliskar.

Afterwards will be a star-studded women’s 100 breast A-final, led by Olympian Molly Hannis, Pan Ams champ Annie Lazor, and reigning 2021 PSS champ Emily Escobedo. Backstroke ace Kathleen Baker will also contest in the 100 breast B-final. On the men’s side, Michael Andrew leads a veteran 100 breast pack, including Olympian Kevin Cordes.

The women’s 200 fly will feature an Olympic Trials final preview, as Worlds runner-up Hali Flickinger will go against Worlds teammate Katie Drabot and 19-year-old sensation Regan Smith. The men’s side is also stacked with international medalists, including top seed Chase Kalisz, Worlds finalist Zach Harting, and versatile star Jay Litherland, featuring sprinter Caeleb Dressel.

Capping off the evening will be Olympians Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith in the women’s 400 free A-final. Catch some fast racing in the B-final, led by 15-year-old Cavan Gormsen and WUGs champ Kaersten Meitz. The last race of the session, the men’s 400 free, will showcase Pan Ams champ Chris Wieser, Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash, and Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky.

THURSDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

WOMEN’S 100 FREE — FINALS

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2017)
• American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel, USA (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel, USA (2018)
• Junior World Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak, CAN (2016)
• Pro Swim Record: 53.12– Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2016)

1. Simone Manuel (Alto Swim Club), 54.62
2. Abbey Weitzeil (California Aquatics), 54.68
3. Katie Ledecky (Nation’s Capital), 54.74

It was a tight race down the stretch for the women’s 100 free A-final, with nearly six swimmers touching within two-tenths of a second. Winning the race was Simone Manuel, touching in at 54.62, roughly three-tenths slower than this morning. Taking second place by just six one-hundredths was Abbey Weitzeil at 54.68, taking 0.02 off her season best. Touching in six one-hundredths behind Weitzeil for third was Katie Ledecky, clocking in 54.74, ranking 8th in the nation this season.

Tying for fourth place were Cal’s Katie McLaughlin and Team Elite’s Linnea Mack at 54.82. Athens’ Olivia Smoliga placed sixth at 55.03, followed by France’s Beryl Gastaldello (55.22) and backstroker Regan Smith (55.26).

Israel’s Andi Murez, training at Team Elite, won the B-final in 55.17, which would have placed sixth.

MEN’S 100 FREE — FINALS

• World Record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo Filho, BRA (2009)
• American Record: 46.96 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 47.39 – Ryan Held, USA (2019)
• Junior World Record: 47.57 – Andrei Minakov, RUS (2020)
• Pro Swim Record: 48.00 – Nathan Adrian, USA (2016)

1. Blake Pieroni (Sandpipers of Nevada), 49.19
2. Zach Apple (Mission Viejo Nadadores), 49.49
3. Maxime Rooney (Pleasanton Seahawks), 49.51

At the first 50, Maxime Rooney led the pack in at 23.11. Heading into the last 15 meters, Blake Pieroni and Zach Apple began to accelerate on Rooney. Under the flags, it was Pieroni who drove into the wall first at 49.19, now 4th in the nation this season. Apple placed second in 49.49, just a meager two one-hundredths over Rooney (49.51). Taking fourth by one one-hundredth was Longhorn Aquatics’ Tate Jackson (49.52).

Winning the B-final was Cal veteran Nathan Adrian, touching in at 49.53, which would have placed 5th in the A-final. The next two fastest times in the event were Wolfpack Elite training-mates Justin Ress (49.60) and Coleman Stewart (49.69). Gator Swim Club training-mates Jordan’s Khader Baqlah (49.73) and Caeleb Dressel (49.75) had the next fastest swims, both out of the B-final.

Cal’s Andrew Seliskar (49.77) and Ryan Held (49.82) rounded out the sub-50 swims this evening. Held currently holds the top time in the nation at 49.00 from the 2020 U.S. Open.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST — FINALS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• American Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy, USA (2009)
• Junior World Record: 1:05.39 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2014)
• Pro Swim Record: 1:05.57 – Rebecca Soni, USA (2011)

1. Molly Hannis (Tennessee Aquatics), 1:07.10
2. Annie Lazor (Mission Viejo Nadadores), 1:07.31
3. Emily Escobedo (Condors Swim Club), 1:08.51

As the rest of the field tired on the last 50, Molly Hannis continued to accelerate into the finish, touching in with the top time in the nation at 1:07.10. Taking second place just behind Hannis was Annie Lazor, clocking in at 1:07.31, now 4th in the US. Both Hannis and Lazor now moved up in the top-25 world rankings this season, ranking 11th and 17th respectively.

Clocking in sub-1:09 swims for 3rd and 4th respectively were Condors’ Emily Escobedo (1:08.51) and Gamecock Aquatics’ Micah Sumrall (1:08.70).

Winning the B-final was Team Elite’s Kathleen Baker, touching in at 1:09.47, which would have placed 7th in the A-final.

MEN’S 100 BREAST — FINALS

• World Record: 56.88 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)
• American Record: 58.64 – Kevin Cordes, USA (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 58.74 – Kevin Cordes, USA/Joao Gomes, BRA (2017)
• Junior World Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
• Pro Swim Record: 58.86 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)

1. Michael Andrew (Race Pace Club), 1:00.10
2. Nic Fink (Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:00.34
3. Kevin Cordes (Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:01.35

Out in a 28.01 to reach the early lead was Michael Andrew. As Andrew began to separate himself from the field, so did Nic Fink. At the wall, Fink progressively inched at Andrew towards a photo finish. At the wall, it was Andrew who held off Fink at 1:00.10. Fink settled for second at 1:00.34. Andrew remains 3rd in the nation after his morning 1:00.23 swim. At the January PSS meet here in San Antonio, Fink’s acceleration earned him the win at 1:00.84.

Taking third place was Kevin Cordes at 1:01.35, with Longhorn’s Will Licon (1:01.63) and Cal’s Josh Prenot (1:01.73) all getting under the 1:02 barrier.

Winning the B-final was Germany’s Nils Wich-Glasen, clocking in at 1:02.68, which would have placed 7th in the A-final.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY — FINALS

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu, CHN (2019)
• American Record: 2:04.14 – Mary Descenza, USA (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:05.87 – Hali Flickinger, USA (2018)
• Junior World Record: 2:06.29 – Suzuka Hasegawa, JPN (2017)
• Pro Swim Record: 2:06.11 – Hali Flickinger, USA (2020)

1. Hali Flickinger (Sun Devil Swimming), 2:07.55
2. Regan Smith (Riptide), 2:08.85
3. Katie Drabot (Alto Swim Club), 2:10.20

For the majority of the race, Regan Smith and Hali Flickinger were neck-and-neck just as their last race from the 2020 PSS meet in Des Moines in March 2020. However, Smith could not hang on to Flickinger’s pace. Flickinger got to the wall first a 2:07.55, just off her morning swim of 2:07.20, which leads the nation. Smith settled for second at 2:08.85, which is two-tenths off her season best of 2:08.68 from the 2020 U.S. Open. Both swimmers remain the only US women to swim under 2:10 in the 200 fly this season. Flickinger’s swim from this morning ranks 4th in the world.

Coming in with the third-fastest time both in the pool and the nation was Katie Drabot, clocking in a 2:10.20. Also swimming the fourth-fastest time in the San Antonio pool and US this season was Columbus’ Leah Gingrich (2:10.42). Chopping four seconds from this morning to place 5th was 17-year-old Katie Crom of Mission Viejo (2:11.31).

Winning the B-final was Riptide’s Katherine Randall, touching out SOCAL’s Ashlyn Fiorilli at 2:17.05.

MEN’S 200 FLY — FINALS

• World Record: 1:50.73 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2019)
• American Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps, USA (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
• Junior World Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2018)
• Pro Swim Record: 1:53.84 – Luca Urlando, USA (2019)

1. Zheng Quah (Cal Aquatics), 1:57.52
2. Tom Shields (Cal Aquatics), 1:59.05
3. Chase Kalisz (Athens Bulldog), 1:59.08

Looking sharp from start to finish was Cal’s Zheng Quah, who represents Singapore internationally, touching in at 1:57.52. That time now bumps Quah into the top-25 times in the world this season.

Also looking sharp was Cal veteran Tom Shields, who held on tight until Chase Kalisz nearly caught him. Shields was able to touch out Kalisz 1:59.05-1:59.08. Both times now rank 7th and 8th in the nation this season.

Touching in fourth was Cardinal Aquatics’ Zach Harting, clocking in at 1:59.31. Out of the B-final, 18-year-old Matthew Fenlon of Badger Swim Club also clocked 1:59.31 to win the heat.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE — FINALS

• World Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2016)
• American Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• Junior World Record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• Pro Swim Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)

1. Katie Ledecky (Nation’s Capital), 4:05.00
2. Leah Smith (Unattached), 4:07.41
3. Emma Weyant (Sarasota Sharks), 4:09.22

Coming off the 100 free and quadrupling to a familiar 400-meter distance was Katie Ledecky, who as you may have guessed led the race from start to finish. Ledecky clocking in a time of 4:05.00, which is just off her morning swim of 4:04.72, which ranks second in the world this season behind China’s Wang Jianjiahe. Taking second was Leah Smith, clocking in at 4:07.41, which ranks 8th in the world this season. Third-place finisher Emma Weyant also moved up in the top-25 world rankings at 4:09.22, now the 3rd-fastest time in the US this season.

Winning the B-final was 15-year-old Cavan Gormsen at 4:12.51.

MEN’S 400 FREE — FINALS

• World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen, USA (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen, USA (2008)
• Junior World Record: 3:44.60 – Mack Horton, AUS (2014)
• Pro Swim Record: 3:43.55 – Sun Yang, CHN (2016)

1. Marwan El Kamash (Indiana Swim Club), 3:50.05
2. Jacob Heidtmann (Team Elite), 3:53.80
3. Jordan Wilimovsky (KSwim), 3:55.03

Easily winning the 400 free was Egyptian native Marwan El Kamash, who trains at Indiana Swim Club, touching in at 3:50.05. Placing second was German native Jacob Heidtmann (3:53.80), who swims with Team Elite, followed by Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky (3:55.03).

Winning the B-final was 19-year-old Arik Katz of Veritas Swimming, clocking in 4:02.44.