2018 TYR Pro Swim Series – Atlanta: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2018 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – ATLANTA

• March 1-4, 2018
• McAuley Aquatic Center
• Atlanta, GA
• LCM
• Psych Sheet
• Event page
• SwimSquad Projections
• Saturday prelims heat sheet
• Live stream
• Live results

We’re heading into day 3 prelims of the TYR Pro Swim Series stop in Atlanta, where swimmers are set to compete for finals spots in the 200 fly, 100 breast, 100 back, 200 IM, and 400 free. Several stars headline today’s session, including Jack Conger (200 fly), Ryan Murphy (100 back), Ryosuke Irie (100 back), Chase Kalisz (200 fly/200 IM), Kevin Cordes (100 breast), Zane Grothe (400 free), Clark Smith (400 free), Will Licon (200 IM), and Josh Prenot (200 IM) on the men’s side. The women’s events feature Hali Flickinger (200 fly), Kelsi Dahlia Worrell (200 fly), Molly Hannis (100 breast), Olivia Smoliga (100 back), Taylor Ruck (100 back), Wang Jianjiahe (400 free), Melanie Margalis (200 IM), and Madisyn Cox (200 IM).

WOMEN’S 200 FLY:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:06.76- Cammile Adams, Austin 2012
• Pool Record: 2:07.29- Susie O’Neil, 1995

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hali Flickinger– 2:09.47
2. Kelsi Worrell– 2:12.47
3. Liliana Szilagy– 2:12.95
4. Haley Anderson– 2:13.77
5. Olivia Carter– 2:14.14
6. Lillie Nordmann– 2:14.32
7. Alena Kraus- 2:14.54
8. Sarah Gibson– 2:15.01

Hali Flickinger was the only swimmer to break 2:10 this morning, turning in 1:02.49 en route to her 2:09.47. That makes her the 7th fastest swimmer in the world this year. In finals, she’ll be up against Hungarian Liliana Szilagy, who is currently ranked #5 in the world with a 2:08.48 from January. Kelsi Worrell had the fastest front-end speed this morning with a 1:02.40 and held on for 2nd seed heading into finals.

MEN’S 200 FLY:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:55.29- Li Zhuhao, Indianapolis 2017
• Pool Record: 1:55.94- Chase Kalisz, 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Jack Conger– 1:57.60
2. Chase Kalisz– 2:00.09
3. Pace Clark– 2:00.90
4. Mack Darragh– 2:00.96
5. Dare Rose– 2:01.21
6. Tripp Cooper- 2:02.54
7. Tom Shields– 2:03.24
8. Antonio Nunez- 2:03.38

Jack Conger swam to #3 in the world this year with his 1:57.60. After his best time in the 100 fly earlier in the meet, he could potentially have a big swim in store for tonight. Chase Kalisz cruised to 2nd seed ahead of teammate Pace Clark. Kalisz is currently the fastest man in the world this year with his 1:55.63 from the Austin Pro Swim. 15-year-old Dare Rose knocked over half a second from his time to join them in the final. The championship heat will also feature Olympic butterflier Tom Shields.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:05.57- Rebecca Soni, Charlotte 2011
• Pool Record: 1:05.83- Rebecca Soni, 2011

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Molly Hannis– 1:06.43
2. Yuliya Efimova– 1:07.46
3. Yu Jingyao- 1:08.43
4. Breeja Larson– 1:08.45
5. Shi Jinglin– 1:08.53
6. (T-6) Micah Sumrall- 1:08.70
7. (T-6) Alia Atkinson– 1:08.70
8. Faith Knelson- 1:08.72

Molly Hannis was within a few tenths of her best to take the top seed by a second over Russian Olympic medalist Yuliya Efimova. Hannis is now the fastest 100 breaststroker in the world this year, topping Katie Meili’s 1:06.49 from the Austin Pro Swim. There will be several Olympic breaststrokers in this final tonight, as Breeja Larson, China’s Shi Jinglin, and Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson will also be in the mix after qualifying for finals with 1:08s.

MEN’S 100 BREAST:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 58.86- Adam Peaty, Indianapolis 2017
• Pool Record: 1:00.31- Brendan Hansen, 2011

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Andrew Wilson– 59.19
2. Josh Prenot– 1:00.59
3. Cody Miller– 1:01.00
4. Michael Andrew– 1:01.11
5. Kevin Cordes– 1:01.27
6. Will Licon– 1:01.45
7. Felipe Lima– 1:01.46
8. Nic Fink– 1:01.55

Andrew Wilson knocked a few tenths off his lifetime best as he demolished the Pool Record by over a second. He took it out in 27.75 and split a 31.44 coming home. Wilson overtook Adam Peaty (59.62) as the fastest man in the world this year, but Peaty put up a 58.78 in Edinburgh today to reclaim that position. He’ll be joined in the final by Olympic medalists Josh Prenot, Cody Miller, and Kevin Cordes. Last season’s NCAA champ Will Licon and World Championships breaststroker Nic Fink will also be in the mix, as will Brazilian Worlds medalist Felipe Lima. Singaporean Lionel Khoo (1:01.61) and Sweden’s Erik Persson (1:01.67) narrowly missed out on the final.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 58.96- Emily Seebohm, Santa Clara 2016
• Pool Record: 59.86- Ali DeLoof, 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Olivia Smoliga– 1:00.26
2. Taylor Ruck– 1:00.38
3. Federica Pellegrini– 1:00.61
4. Alexia Zevnik– 1:00.98
5. Kayla Sanchez– 1:01.02
6. Jade Hannah- 1:01.04
7. Ali DeLoof– 1:01.31
8. Carlotta Zofkova- 1:01.37

Olivia Smoliga notched the top spot by hundredths over Taylor Ruck. In tonight’s final, Ruck will be seeking a backstroke sweep. She’s been having a great meet so far, breaking the Canadian Record in the 200 free last night and posting a best time in the 200 back. Federica Pellegrini will look for another backstroke medal tonight after finishing as the runner-up to Ruck in the 200 back. Also in the mix is Pool Record holder Ali DeLoof, who qualified 7th.

MEN’S 100 BACK:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 52.40- David Plummer, Indianapolis 2016
• Pool Record: 53.08- Ryan Murphy, 2016

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Ryosuke Irie– 54.33
2. Markus Thormeyer– 55.17
3. Jacob Pebley– 55.21
4. Ryan Murphy– 55.60
5. Shane Ryan– 56.01
6. Paul Le- 56.02
7. Luca Spinazzola- 56.26
8. Simone Sabbioni- 56.67

Japanese backstroke star Ryosuke Irie was the only man to break 55 this morning, flipping in 26.15 en route to a 54.33. Teammates Jacob Pebley and Ryan Murphy will battle again tonight after their close race in the 200 back last night. Pebley once again negative split his prelims race. He flipped in 27.77 through the front half, but brought it home 3 tenths faster in 27.44.

WOMEN’S 200 IM:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.66- Katinka Hosszu, Charlotte 2015
• Pool Record: 2:09.39- Caitlin Leverenz, 2011

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Taylor Ruck– 2:14.14
2. Kayla Sanchez– 2:14.53
3. Madisyn Cox– 2:15.35
4. Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson- 2:15.54
5. Rebecca Smith– 2:16.67
6. Virginia Bardach Martin- 2:18.76
7. Olivia Carter– 2:19.06
8. Hillary Metcalfe- 2:19.48

Taylor Ruck set herself up for another finals double. The Canadian junior led the way with Ruck taking top seed and Kayla Sanchez finishing a few tenths back. They’ll also have Rebecca Smith among the talented Canadian juniors in the final. Last night’s 400 IM champ, Madisyn Cox, has been having a great meet. She set herself up to challenge for another title as the 3rd seed and will go for the IM sweep.

MEN’S 200 IM:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:56.32- Michael Phelps, Indianapolis 2012
• Pool Record: 1:57.21- Chase Kalisz, 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Chase Kalisz– 2:02.38
2. Michael Andrew– 2:02.83
3. Josh Prenot– 2:03.34
4. Mack Darragh– 2:03.41
5. Will Licon– 2:03.88
6. Uvis Kalnins- 2:03.92
7. Simon Sjodin- 2:03.93
8. Raunak Khosla- 2:04.78

The majority of swimmers in the top 8 qualified on the back end of a double. Chase Kalisz, who qualified for the 200 fly final, cruised to the top spot this morning. Michael Andrew and Josh Prenot, who qualified for the 100 breast final, rounded out the top 3 this morning. 2017 NCAA champ Will Licon is also slated to swim in the final of both events with Andrew and Prenot. Mack Darragh will join Kalisz in this race and the 200 fly.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 3:59.54- Katie Ledecky, Austin 2016
• Pool Record: 4:00.31- Katie Ledecky, 2016

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Wang Jianjiahe– 4:10.50
2. Ashley Twichell– 4:11.46
3. Hali Flickinger– 4:13.73
4. Erica Sullivan- 4:14.51
5. Kristel Kobrich- 4:14.63
6. Haley Anderson– 4:14.71
7. Kaitlynn Sims– 4:15.06
8. Chloe Freeman- 4:17.07

Wang Jianjiahe set herself up to challenge for a distance sweep. Tonight, she’ll be up against U.S. National Teamers Ashley Twichell, Hali Flickinger, Erica Sullivan, and Haley Anderson. This is the 2nd final Flickinger has qualified for, as she also qualified as top seed in the 200 fly. 17-year-old Kaitlynn Sims of Magnolia Aquatic Club knocked over a half a second off her lifetime best to qualify 7th.

MEN’S 400 FREE:

• Pro Swim Series Record: 3:43.55- Sun Yang, Santa Clara 2016
• Pool Record: 3:44.38- Park Tae Hwan, 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Marwan El Kamash– 3:56.00
2. Zane Grothe– 3:56.02
3. Jeremy Bagshaw- 3:56.13
4. Dimitrios Dimitriou- 3:57.13
5. Trey Freeman– 3:57.21
6. Jake Magahey– 3:57.61
7. Dare Rose– 3:58.46
8. Nick Carlson- 4:00.36

The top 3 were separated by just over a tenth, with Marwan El Kamash leading the way to slightly edge 800 free champ Zane Grothe for the top spot. 16-year-old Jake Magahey of SwimAtlanta broke 4:00 for the first time, knocking over 3 seconds off his best to qualify 6th. Scarlet Aquatics’ 15-year-old Dare Rose went another best time, shaving over half a second off his time to qualify for his 2nd championship final of the day.

Olympic freestylers Clark Smith and Matias Koski were no shows this morning.