2022 Pro Swim Series – Westmont: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2022 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

• March 2-5, 2022
• FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
• Start Times (CT): 9:00 am prelims / 6:00 pm finals (Wednesday finals at 5:00 pm)
• Long Course Meters (50 meters)
• Meet Central
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• Live Stream (USA Swimming)
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THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

Today marks the first full day of the Westmont Pro Swim Series at the FMC Aquatic Center. This morning will feature heats of the 100 free, 100 breast, 200 fly, and 400 free. No event this morning has more than 2 heats, so things should move quickly. Follow along on this post for event-by-event updates.

In the women’s 100 breaststroke today, we’ll get to see all 3 breaststroke U.S. Olympians from Tokyo competing. World Record holder Lilly King sits as the top seed this morning, while Olympic Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby has made the trip from Alaska, and is the #2 seed. Annie Lazor, Bronze medalist in the Tokyo 200 breast, enters as the 3rd seed.

After a strong performance in the 1500 last night, Katie Ledecky will be back in action in the 400 free today. There are only 5 swimmers in the event, so we’ll see just how much effort Ledecky puts into the race this morning.

The men’s 100 free should be an exciting race. Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple, Bowe Becker, Ryan Held, and Maxime Rooney are all in the mix, plus Shaine Casas.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS:

• World: 51.71 7/23/2017 Sarah Sjostrom
• American: 52.04 7/26/2019 Simone Manuel
• U.S. Open: 52.54 7/25/2018 Simone Manuel
• Jr World: 52.70 8/11/2016 Penny Oleksiak
• Pro Swim: 53.12 2016 Sarah Sjostrom

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 54.41
2. Erika Brown (TNAQ) – 54.54
3. Linnea Mack (TE) – 54.77
4. Olivia Smoliga (UN-AZ) – 54.87
5. Natalie Hinds (UN-FL) – 54.93
6. Mallory Comerford (CARD) – 55.02
7. Paige Madden (CA) – 55.21
8. Beata Nelson (UN-WI) – 55.43
9. Gabby DeLoof (CW) – 55.44

Although the field is small at this meet, the field in the women’s 100 free is stacked. Abbey Weitzeil led the way this morning, clocking a 54.41. The swim looked fairly relaxed, and marks Weitzeil’s first LCM 100 free of 2022. She has a personal best of 52.99, which she swam at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics last summer.

Erika Brown was right behind this morning, and Linnea Mack, Olivia Smoliga, and Natalie Hinds all swam 54s as well. With Mallory Comerford, Paige Madden, Beata Nelson, and Gabby DeLoof rounded out the championship final, this is sure to be an exciting race tonight.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE  – PRELIMS:

• World: 46.91 7/30/2009 Cesar Cielo Filho
• American: 46.96 7/25/2019 Caeleb Dressel
• U.S. Open: 47.39 7/31/2019 Ryan Held / Caeleb Dressel
• Jr World: 47.57 10/30/2020 Andrei Minakov
• Pro Swim: 48.00 2016 Nathan Adrian

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Maxime Rooney (PLS) – 49.42
2. Caeleb Dressel (GSC) – 49.62
3. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 49.68
4. Shaine Casas (UN-ST) – 50.23
5. Bowe Becker (SAND) – 50.45
6. Nate Germonprez (iSWM) – 50.51
7. Zach Apple (ISC) – 51.33
8. Rex Maurer (UN-CA) – 51.95
9. Mark Szaranek (GSC) – 52.46

The 2nd heat was superior this morning, giving us the 3 fastest times of prelims, and the only 3 times under 50 seconds. Maxime Rooney led the race from about 40 meters on, getting into the wall in a solid morning swim of 49.42. Caeleb Dressel was just behind, touching in 49.62, just ahead of Illinois-native Ryan Held (49.68).

Shaine Casas led the 1st heat, swimming a 50.23, which is only 1.32 seconds off his personal best. Notably, junior swimmers Nate Germonprez and Rex Maurer made their way into the championship final. Germonprez’s swim marked a personal best, chipping 0.22 seconds off his previous mark.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS:

• World: 1:04.13 7/25/2017 Lilly King
• American: 1:04.13 7/25/2017 Lilly King
• U.S. Open: 1:04.45 8/7/2009 Jessica Hardy
• Jr World: 1:04.35 7/29/2013 Ruta Meilutyte
• Pro Swim: 1:05.32 4/8/2021 Lilly King

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Lilly King (ISC) – 1:07.33
2. Annie Lazor (ISC) – 1:07.72
3. Piper Enge (BC) – 1:08.56
4. Lydia Jacoby (STSC) – 1:08.76
5. Tara Vovk (UN-IL) – 1:08.94
6. Aubree Brouwer (SPA) – 1:10.80
7. Emma Weber (TOPS) – 1:10.85
8. Gabriella Grobler (SMU) – 1:13.32
9. Sophia Bricker (UN-CO) – 1:13.34

Lilly King took control of the 1st heat, splitting 31.42 on the opening 50 to establish a healthy lead. Indiana pro teammate Annie Lazor came back on King a bit over the 2nd 50, but would finish 0.39 seconds behind.

15-year-old Piper Enge hung tough in the 2nd heat, swimming to a monumental new personal best of 1:08.56. The swim marks a nearly 3-second improvement from her previous best, which stood at 1:11.50 from the Santa Clara Futures meet last summer.

Lydia Jacoby did what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing her do: closing fast on the final 25 meters of the race. Just as was the case in Tokyo, it didn’t seem like Jacoby could get her hands on the wall first, until suddenly it did. She led Northwestern’s Tara Vovk 1:08.76 to 1:08.94 in the first heat.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS:

• World: 56.88 7/21/2019 Adam Peaty
• American: 58.14 6/13/2021 Michael Andrew
• U.S. Open: 58.14 6/13/2021 Michael Andrew
• Jr World: 59.01 8/23/2017 Nicolo Martinenghi
• Pro Swim: 58.86 2017 Adam Peaty

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Michael Andrew (MASA) – 59.86
2. Nic Fink (MAAC) – 1:00.98
3. Will Licon (TXLA) – 1:01.83
4. Charlie Swanson (NOVA) – 1:01.92
5. Kevin Houseman (UN-IL) – 1:01.98
6. Anton McKee (PRVT) – 1:02.13
7. Nick Mahabir (CTSE) – 1:02.69
8. Sam Stewart (UN-MS) – 1:03.19
9. Youssef El Kamash (ISC) – 1:03.48

Michael Andrew handled the field this morning, finishing as the only swimmer under 1:00, and over a second faster than Nic Fink, who was 2nd-fastest. The swim marks Andrew’s fastest of 2022 by a huge margin – 2.35 seconds. As is usually the case with MA, he was out fast, splitting 27.71 on the first 50.

Nic Fink and Will Licon looked much more relaxed this morning, so it will be interesting to see how much they come down from their morning times tonight.

We had another teen make it into the championship final in this event. 16-year-old Nick Mahabir swam a 1:02.69, a new personal best, to take 7th.

Notably, Cody Miller scratched out of this race.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS:

• World: 2:01.81 10/21/2009 Zige Liu
• American: 2:04.14 7/30/2009 Mary Descenza
• U.S. Open: 2:05.85 6/17/2021 Hali Flickinger
• Jr World: 2:06.29 4/13/2017 Suzuka Hasegawa
• Pro Swim: 2:06.11 3/5/2020 Hali Flickinger

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Hali Flickinger (SUN) – 2:06.67
2. Lucy Bell (FAST) – 2:12.65
3. Leah Gingrich (HURR) – 2:15.89

Hali Flickinger didn’t waste an opportunity to swim a fast 200 butterfly, swimming a 2:06.67 to finish just 0.56 seconds off her PSS record of 2:06.11 from March of 2020. She was just over a second off her personal best of 2:05.65, which she swam at the Tokyo Olympics. Given the speed of her swim this morning, it appears her PSS record is in play tonight, and her 2:05.85 U.S. Open record may be as well.

Lucy Bell was just half a second off her personal best of 2:12.06, so we’ll be on the lookout for her cracking a new best time tonight.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS:

• World: 1:50.73 7/24/2019 Kristof Milak
• American: 1:51.51 7/29/2009 Michael Phelps
• U.S. Open: 1:52.20 7/2/2008 Michael Phelps
• Jr World: 1:53.79 6/30/2017 Kristof Milak
• Pro Swim: 1:53.84 6/14/2019 Gianluca Urlando

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Zach Harting (CARD) – 1:59.76
2. Federico Burdisso (UN-IL) – 1:59.87
3. Tommy Bried (UN-KY) – 2:01.06
4. Owen Watkins (FAST) – 2:03.01
5. Brandon Chapman (UN-CO) – 2:04.49
6. Iago Moussalem (UN-GA) – 2:05.79
7. Brian Lee (BC) – 2:10.56

Zach Harting and Federico Burdisso led the way this morning, both putting up sub-2:00 performances. The race tonight will more than likely come down to the two of them. This morning, Burdisso was out significantly faster, splitting 55.67 on the first 100, while Harting was 56.74. Harting came back better, however, splitting 1:03.02 on the 2nd 100 to Burdisso’s 1:04.20.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS:

• World: 3:56.46 8/7/2016 Katie Ledecky
• American: 3:56.46 8/7/2016 Katie Ledecky
• U.S. Open: 3:57.94 5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky
• Jr World: 3:58.37 8/23/2014 Katie Ledecky
• Pro Swim: 3:57.94 5/17/2018 Katie Ledecky

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Katie Ledecky (UN-FL) – 4:02.80
2. Leah Smith (TXLA) – 4:06.40
3. Fantine Lesaffre (WOLF) – 4:20.08
4. Ilektra Lebl (SMU) – 4:25.60
5. Heidi Stalkfleet (IFLY) – 4:26.41

Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith both looked calm, cool, and collected as they swam the 400 this morning. Ledecky clocked a 4:02.80, not too far off her 2022 best of 4:00.95. Given how she looked this morning, it appears very possible Ledecky will be under 4:00 tonight.

Smith was 4:06.40, very close to her season best from last year (2021), which was a 4:04.83. She also looked in control this morning, splitting 1:02.58 on both 100 #2 and #3, before coming home in 1:01.74. With Ledecky to race tonight in finals, Smith looks poised to potential get back down close to 4:00 for the first time since 2019.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS:

• World: 3:40.07 7/26/2009 Paul Biedermann
• American: 3:42.78 8/10/2008 Larsen Jensen
• U.S. Open: 3:43.53 6/29/2008 Larsen Jensen
• Jr World: 3:44.60 4/1/2014 Mack Horton
• Pro Swim: 3:43.55 2016 Sun Yang

Top 9 Qualifiers:

1. Jake Mitchell (UN-MI) – 3:54.71
2. Alec Enyeart (TST) – 3:55.25
3. Marwan ElKamash (ISC) – 3:55.29
4. Patrick Callan (UN-MI) – 3:55.45
5. Nicolas D’Oriano (WOLF) – 3:58.66
6. Rex Maurer (UN-CA) – 4:01.47
7. Zane Grothe (BCH) – 4:01.95
8. Aryan Nehra (UN-FL) – 4:04.02
9. Advait Page (UN-FL) – 4:06.70

U.S. Olympian jake Mitchell led the field this morning, swimming a 3:54.71 to lead the field this morning. Mitchell was out fairly quick, splitting 55.73 on the first 100, but he floated up to 59.79 and 1:00.27 on the following 100s.

18-year-old Alec Enyeart was 2nd this morning, swimming a 3:55.25, just off his personal best of 3:54.82.