Reported by James Sutherland.
MEN’S 100 FLY FINAL
- Gunnar Bentz, DYNA, 53.03
- Tom Shields, CAL, 53.08
- Vini Lanza, IST, 53.12
The men’s 100 fly final proved to be incredibly close, with the top-3 finishers all within a tenth of each other. Indiana’s Vini Lanza got out to the early lead turning in 24.56, but Gunnar Bentz and Tom Shields were hot on his tail as the three raced for home. At the wall it was Bentz, who came back in 27.94, out-touching the other two for the win in 53.03, with Shields 2nd in 53.08 and Lanza 3rd in 53.12.
Camden Murphy of the Athens Bulldogs had the fastest back half of anyone in 27.73, claiming 4th in 53.30, while Drew Kibler (53.62) and Nicolas Albiero (53.92) also cracked 54 seconds for 5th and 6th. Carson Foster won the B-final for 9th overall in 55.18.
MEN’S 200 FLY FINAL
- PSS Record: 1:55.29, Li Zhuhao, 2017
- Chase Kalisz, ABSC, 1:55.72
- Pace Clark, ABSC, 1:57.93
- Corey Gambardella, IST, 2:00.04
It was a 1-2 in the men’s 200 fly for the Athens Bulldogs, as Chase Kalisz and Pace Clark were the only men sub-2:00 in 1:55.72 and 1:57.93 respectively.
Kalisz had the fastest split of the field on every single 50 to come just under a tenth over his season-best of 1:55.63 which ranks him 9th in the world. Clark dropped his season-best of 1:58.23 by a few tenths.
Indiana’s Corey Gambardella went a best time in the heats and did so once again to take 3rd in 2:00.04, narrowly edging Brendan Meyer (2:00.43) and Nicolas Albiero (2:00.54). Albiero also went a new best time. Cal’s Tom Shields also saw a large improvement from prelims to win the B-final in 1:59.12.
Isn’t Bruno Fratus being trained by his wife? Hey whatever works. If anything Tom could focus on the 50 fly.
Sounds like he needs a change. I remember being at that point several times when I swam. Realize he is a Cali guy, but maybe he needs to try a new environment. Huge talent, and I think he could really vie for the 200 free spot (relay) if he had more focus on it.
He could swim for Marsh, who, last cycle, ran the scrap heap of fading male Olympians.
Hope he finds a way to effectively deal with that perennial “piano on the back” in the second 100.
That’s what the surgery was for. Crush injuries to the vertebra from the repeated piano traumas.
Good luck to him. It’ll be a massive challenge to make any teams in the 100, but if he does, he’s got a shot at a medal
There’s Conger and then who? The 100 is completely wide open. Much less likely to beat Conger and Kalisz (if he swims it) in the 200 fly.
Seriously? You’re forgetting Dean Farris in the 100 fly?
The reigning world champion…
Well, I know that. I meant he only has to beat Conger to make the team in the 100. He’s much more likely to beat him in the 100 than the 200.
Uh, does the name “Caeleb Dressel” sound familiar?
Sounds like he is done.
Reading this right after ISL season 2 and have to laugh. He really turned his career around