The 2015 Long Course Speedo Sectionals in Athens, Georgia kicked off Thursday, featuring some of the top athletes from SwimMAC Elite and Club Wolverine. Elite swimmers from around the globe added prestige to the meet, putting up some fast times during day one prelims.
Melanie Margalis took the top seed in the women’s 200m IM sporting a 2:13.49 in the process. She was out quick on the fly leg splitting a 28.83, and held on well with a 33.34 backstroke split. She stepped off the gas a bit on the second half of her race. Taking the second seed behind her was SwimMAC Carolina’s Kristy Coventry who went a 2:16.02. Margalis also took the top seed in the women’s 50 freestyle touching in at 26.12.
The men’s 200m IM featured two of the top American swimmers on the national team: Ryan Lochte and Connor Jaeger. The two were very close together this morning, but ultimately Lochte took the top seed in 2:02.57 ahead of Jaeger’s 2:02.60. Jaeger started his race off well with a 25.82 fly split, and came home fast on the freestyle. On the last 50 he was a 28.74, much faster than Lochte. The two will face off in finals tonight where Lochte has the definite advantage as the world record holder.
The men’s 50 freestyle had Michael Chadwick dropping 0.29 seconds from his seed time to go a 22.61. That was the fastest time of the morning. Japanese national teamer and Club Wolverine’s Junya Koga was right behind him in 22.83. Michael Trice grabbed the third seed in 22.96. The final has plenty of talent including two NC State swimmers: Simonas Bilis and Ryan Held. Miguel Ortiz will join them from Club Wolverine to add even more prestige to the final.
Cammile Adams took the top spot heading into finals in the women’s 200m fly with a 2:10.82. That time was a few second slower than the 200 fly she swam in Rome just a few weeks ago. There, Adams was a 2:07.52 which currently ranks her sixth in the world this season. Behind Adams this morning was Megan Kingsley in 2:13.38.
South African Dylan Bosch came very close to cracking the top 25 world rankings in the men’s 200m fly with a 1:57.34. In order to do so, he’s going to need to go faster than a 1:56.92 tonight. That time would be a season-best for him. Bosch looked very strong through 150 meters, splitting a 26.70 off the start and splitting the next two 50s under 30 seconds. He lost ground on the last 50 however, splitting a 31.36 on the way home. Mick Litherland wasn’t far behind him in 1:57.72. He was over a second faster than Bosch on the last 50, but wasn’t as strong in the middle of the race.
Jaeger doing a 200 IM ? Wowwwww , that’s interesting .
I think the bigger story here is that 1:57.72 from Mic Litherland. He’s kinda overshadowed by his brothers, but I looked it up and that time puts him as the 9th fastest American in the past year, just between Phelps (1:57.62) and Luchsinger (1:57.74). This includes all the swims from Nationals last year and the pro series meets this year. So it’s safe to say he’ll be in contention for making the finals at OTs next year. And given how close the 2 fly field is, if you’re in the finals you have a shot at making the team.
**** 10th fastest American in the past year, sorry
Yeah I agree – Since Jay and Kevin both have had at least a few “world-level” swims and it is nice to see Mick put one like that up as well.
Anyone have a link for the live results for this event?
Unbelievably, the Meet results are not even on the meet information page. I can’t even get The crummy new edition of Meet Mobile to cough it up.