2019 International Swimming League, Lewisville: Day 2 Live Recap

2019 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE: GROUP B, MATCH 1

• Saturday, October 19th – Sunday, October 20th
• 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Central Time
• The LISD Westside Aquatic Center – Lewisville, TX
• Short Course Meters (SCM)
• Group B: Iron, LA Current, London Roar, New York Breakers
• Live Stream, Event Schedule, and Viewer’s Guide
• U.S. Live Stream (ESPN3)
• Complete Lewisville Results

Day 2 of the ISL’s Lewisville stop is about to get underway. Yesterday, the London Roar ripped off six straight wins at one point, and while their 19 point lead doesn’t look huge on paper, it’s hard to see the next-closest team, the LA Current, challenging the Roar unless the Current has a near-perfect day. Still, with several relays and the thrilling skins races, we should be in for a fun, close, day of competition.

SwimSwam’s Jared Anderson provides live color commentary on each race in italics, below:

Lane Assignments

• New York Breakers, 131 points – Lanes 1-2
• Iron, 186 points – Lanes 3-4
• London Roar 253 points – Lanes 5-6
• LA Current, 234 points – Lanes 7-8

WOMEN’S 100 FREE

1. Cate Campbell (LON) – 51.37
2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 51.91
3. Madi Wilson (NYB) – 52.82 / Bronte Campbell (LON) – 52.82
4. (tie)   
5. Pernille Blume (NYB) – Margo Geer (LAC) – 53.01 
6.  (tie)
7. Alyssa Tetzlaff (LAC) – 53.43
8. Kim Busch (IRO) – 53.80

The Roar picks up today where they left off yesterday, as Cate Campbell got the win with a 51.37 and Bronte Campbell tied for 3rd with a 52.82. Ranomi Kromowidjojo of Iron was the only woman besides Cate Campbell to break 52, taking 2nd with a 51.91. Madi Wilson of the Breakers actually tied with Bronte Campbell for the bronze medal, and there was also a tie between the Breakers’ Pernille Blume and the Current’s Margo Geer for 5th, both touching in 53.01.

Cate Campbell has been outstanding – she was faster here than Sjostrom was at either Group A meet. Sister Bronte taking 4th might have been moderately disappointing. Madison Wilson for the Breakers was the surprise performer, moving up to 3rd in a good opening event for New York. It was a tough event for LA, with finishes of 6th and 7th.

MEN’S 100 FREE

1. Kyle Chalmers (LON) – 46.22
2. Vladimir Morozov (IRO) – 46.29
3. Nathan Adrian (LAC) – 46.63
4. Marcelo Chierighini (NYB) / Ryan Held (LAC) – 47.06
5. (tie)
6. Szebasztian Szabo (IRO) – 47.31
7. Cameron McEvoy (LON) – 47.36
8. Marius Kusch (NYB) – 47.69

Vladimir Morozov and Marcelo Chierighini took it out quick, but as we’ve seen time and time again, Kyle Chalmers had a wicked back half to surge past Morozov over the final few strokes, and take the win, 46.22 to 46.29. Veteran Nathan Adrian stayed at the front of the pack the whole way, and ultimately took 3rd in 46.63. Chierighini faded just a bit, tying with the Current’s Ryan Held for 4th in 47.06.

A pretty tightly-packed field that could see a lot of shuffling in Budapest next week. Chalmers just beat Morozov, and you wonder if that gives any indication how the two would do in the multiround skins race later on – Morozov is without question faster over 50 meters, but Chalmers has elite endurance that should serve him well, should he make it past round 1.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST

1. Breeja Larson (NYB) – 1:03.80
2. Alia Atkinson (IRO) – 1:04.23
3. Annie Lazor (LAC) – 1:04.75
4. Emily Escobedo (NYB) – 1:05.51
5. Jess Hansen (LON) – 1:05.54
6. Sydney Pickrem (LON) – 1:05.78
7. Bailey Andison (LAC)  – 1:06.35
8. Fanny Lecluyse (IRO) – 1:07.50

Speedster Alia Atkinson was in the lead early on, but Breeja Larson got the Breakers’ first win of the day by passing Atkinson on the second half and winning 1:03.80 to 1:04.23. The Breakers got 1st and 4th place finishes, as Emily Escobedo grabbed 4th in 1:05.51. The LA Current got a 3rd place finish courtesy of Annie Lazor (1:04.75).

The Breakers have shown up much better today after a completely listless day 1. Larson gets the blowout win and Escobedo is 4th. For what it’s worth, Larson was much faster than Lilly King was at either Group A meet, which bodes well for the American derby. London has been excellent pretty much all-around, but women’s breaststroke has been a rare weakness – they take just 5th and 6th.

MEN’S 100 BREAST

1. Felipe Lima (LAC) – 57.17
2. Michael Andrew (NYB) – 57.45
3. Kirill Prigoda (LON) – 57.61
4. Will Licon (LAC) – 57.97
5. Matthew Wilson (LON) – 58.20
6. Erik Persson (IRO) – 58.76
7. Marco Koch (NYB) – 59.29
8. Peter John Stevens (IRO) – 59.86

It was a little tighter of a race here, but Felipe Lima held off Michael Andrew, 57.17 to 57.45, to earn the first win of the day for the LA Current. The Current also got a 4th place finish from Will Licon (57.97), and Kirill Prigoda of the Roar earned 3rd with a 57.61.

A strong showing for the Current, going 1-4. London is very deep in breaststroke and takes 3-5, even without Peaty in the mix. And the Breakers are definitely swimming better than yesterday – a more rested Andrew takes second in a key swim for the Breakers, who are trying to claw back a huge Iron lead for third.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE

1. Holly Hibbott (LON) – 4:02.28
2. Ajna Kesely (IRO) – 4:03.70
3. Boglarka Kapas (LON) – 4:03.98
4. Katie McLaughlin (LAC) – 4:04.08
5. Veronika Andrusenko (IRO) – 4:04.99
6. Revea Foos(NYB) – 4:07.10
7. Ella Eastin (LAC) – 4:07.19
8. Gabby DeLoof (NYB) – 4:10.10*

The lead shifted several times over the race, but ultimately it was the Roar’s Holly Hibbott who got her hand on the wall first, winning in 4:02.28. The Roar also got a 3rd place finish from Boglarka Kapas, who just touched out the Current’s Katie McLaughlin, 4:03.98 to 4:04.08. Ajna Kesely finished just ahead of Kapas, taking 2nd for Iron in 4:03.7o.

A great showing for London, which has good talent in what is clearly the weaker group for distance free. Hibbott’s winning time would have been 4th in both Indy and Naples. Meanwhile the Breakers continue to hurt for freestylers: Deloof misses the benchmark time in 8th, which was a major problem for them across the board yesterday.

MEN’S 400 FREE

1. Eljah Winnington (LON) – 3:38.84
2. Kristof Milak (IRO) – 3:40.83
3. Jack McLoughlin (NYB) – 3:40.87
4. Clyde Lewis (NYB) – 3:43.21
5. Andrew Seliskar (LAC) – 3:44.37
6. Gergely Gyurta (IRO) – 3:47.05
7. Peter Bernek (LON) – 3:47.41
8. Blake Pieroni (LAC) – 3:50.42

The young Australian Elijah Winnington, who has been teetering on the verge of his big international breakthrough, won a men’s 400 free that was truly lacking most of the biggest names internationally in the 400 free. Among those he beat: his fellow Australian Jack McLoughlin, who was 6th at the World Championships. Kristof Milak, the 200 fly World Record holder, swimming within a second of his lifetime best, to take 2nd in 3:40.83.

Another Australian, Clyde Lewis, finished 4th in 3:44.37 as he stretched up from his preferred 200 free to grab important points for the Breakers.

Elijah Winnington was extremely fast, just like he was in the 200 free. In Group A, no one broke 3:41 between the two meets, but Winnington went 3:38. Also a nice swim for the flyer Milak, who was second for Iron. As a team, the Breakers probably looked best, getting 3rd and 4th with their pair of Australians. LA Current struggled quite a bit, as we’d projected here: Seliskar is a strong freestyler, but there’s still a difference between him and guys like Winnington.

WOMEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY

1. London Roar 2 – 3:47.91
2. LA Current 2 – 3:50.61
3. Iron 2 – 3:51.85
4. New York Breakers – 3:52.25
5. London Roar – 3:53.98
6. LA Current – 3:54.97
7. New York Breakers – 3:5975
8. Iron – 4:01.08

Led off by Minna Atherton, who has turned into a surprise star at this meet, in 55.45, just .42 seconds away from the World Record, the London Roar built a big lead before handing off to Cate Campbell, which meant a dominant event win. That also meant that Campbell was able to back off on the last 50 meters of this race and conserve crucial energy for the triple-points skins later in the meet. She still split 52.0, among the best in the field, but she was 50.8 in the 400 free relay on Saturday. This relay went essentially to chalk, with the Current taking 2nd, Iron 3rd, and Breakers 4th – the same as the team standings.

London has been pretty dominant in the relays so far, and they take another one here. Their time was about a half-second off what the Cali Condors went last week in Naples. With London’s B relay beating LA’s B, it’s becoming very clear who the top team is this week in Lewisville. Iron is starting to fall away from LA in the battle for second as well – LA’s relay depth is just stronger in most events.

Result through first break.

MEN’S 200 IM

1. Andrew Seliskar (LAC) – 1:54.17
2. Gunnar Bents (IRO) – 1:55.42
3. Josh Prenot (LAC) – 1:55.56
4. Matthew Wilson (LON) – 1:56.31
5. Finlay Knox (LON) – 1:57.07
6. Adam Telegdy (IRO) – 1:57.26
7. Tomas Peribonio (NYB) – 1:58.76
8. Jonathan Gomez (NYB) – 2:00.53

Racing on a short turnaround after the 400 free, Andrew Seliskar won the men’s 200 IM in 1:54.17. This race put a big stake in the London momentum, with the Current going 1-3 from Seliskar and Josh Prenot, who took 3rd in 1:55.56.

Interrupting them was Gunnar Bentz in 2nd in 1:55.42. London held serve with a 4th-5th finish from Matthew Wilson (1:65.31) and Finlay Knox (1:57.07).

What a swim for Seliskar, who was coming right off of the brutally punishing 400 free before the break. That’s definitely better than we expected for LA, and Prenot taking 3rd is a big gain. This field generally has better male IMers than Group A, which had a lot of versatile types just filling in. The Breakers were downright awful here, though, getting 7th and 8th. Gomez was a half-second under the benchmark time, so he’ll at least score points.

WOMEN’S 200 IM

1. Katinka Hosszu (IRO) – 2:06.22
2. Sydney Pickrem (LON) – 2:07.53
3. Anastasia Gorbenko (LAC) – 2:08.01
4. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (IRO) – 2:08.84
5. Ella Eastin (LAC) – 2:09.48
6. Emily Overholt (NYB) – 2:10.26
7. Abbey Harkin (NYB) – 2:12.70
8. Taylor McKeown (LON) – 2:15.22*

Not surprising at all to see world recorder holder Katinka Hosszu win this one, and she did so with relative ease, finishing over a second ahead of the Roar’s Sydney Pickrem, 2:07.53 to 2:06.22. Iron also earned 4th place points thanks to Zsuzsanna Jakabos‘ 2:08.84 finish. The Current picked 3rd (Anastasia Gorbenko, 2:08.01) and 5th Ella Eastin (2:09.48), helping them to stay in the hunt against the Roar.

Hosszu’s calling card is the IMs, and she’s held up well there so far with wins in both IM races in Lewisville. She didn’t have to do too much against this field, either, winning by more than a second. Iron was predictably great in a 200-meter race. LA had the depth, going 3-5, while London earned more points at the top (2nd) but also took 8th with McKeown and missed the benchmark time badly

MEN’S 50 FLY

1. Szebasztian Szabo (IRO) – 22.47
2. Tom Shields (LAC) – 22.51
3. Michael Andrew (NYB) – 22.70
4. Dylan Carter (LAC) – 23.04
5. Marius Kusch (NYB) – 23.09
6. Kristof Milak (IRO) – 23.18
7. Vini Lanza (LON) – 23.32
8. Alexander Graham (LON) – 23.39

Iron gets two in a row, as Szebasztian Szabo ran down Tom Shields and Michael Andrew to win 22.47 to 22.51. The Current gets some big points here, as they also got a 4th place finish from Dylan Carter (23.04).

Some momentum for Iron with a second-straight win. It’s a shame their relays just aren’t quite as strong in depth, because Iron has swum really well this weekend. LA also gets a nice bump in its pursuit of London – they go 2-4 while London is 7-8. Also interesting that LA used Dylan Carter over Jack Conger. Conger is more of a 100/200 guy, but it may also suggest they’re resting him up for the mixed free relay coming up.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY

1. Beryl Gastadello (LAC) – 25.15
2. Farida Osman (LAC) – 25.47
3. Holly Barratt (LON) – 25.49
4. Marie Wattel (LON) – 25.63
5. Tayla Lovemore (NYB) – 25.86
6. Alia Atkinson (IRO) – 26.30
7. Kimberly Buys (IRO) – 26.35
8. Alys Thomas (NYB) – 27.28

We’re not used to hearing softball-style chants in swimming, but it was kind of fun to hear the Current bench chanting “one-two” after Beryl Gastadello and Farida Osman swept the top two spots, 25.17 and 25.47. The Roar’s Holly Barratt  and Marie Wattel earned 3rd and 4th in 25.49 and 25.63.

Another huge swing for the LA Current, as their two beat London’s two by tenths in what was a battle of strengths. LA actually shuffled up their lineup, using Gastaldello instead of Tetzloff last-minute. That might mean Tetzloff is resting up for that mixed relay too. The 50-meter event was tough for Iron, and the Breakers also struggled. LA has pulled London back in some today, and the skins could theoretically flip things.

MEN’S 100 BACK

1. Guilherme Guido (LON) – 50.16
2. Ryan Murphy (LAC) – 50.36
3. Matt Grevers (LAC) – 50.58
4. Robert Glinta (IRO) – 50.82
5. Christian Diener (LON) – 51.11
6. Jacob Pebley (NYB) – 51.37
7. Richard Bohus (IRO) – 51.92
8. Christopher Reid (NYB) – 53.88

This was the exact same field as yesterday’s 50 back, and it had almost the exact same result. Once again, Guilherme Guido of the Roar upset the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100 back, Americans Ryan Murphy and Matt Grevers, both swimming for the Current. Guido held off a late charge by Murphy to win 50.16 to 50.36, with Grevers taking 3rd in 50.58.

Guilherme Guido might be the underrated meet MVP for London. Where LA should have had a massive backstroke advantage, the Brazilian Guido got wins in both the 50 and 100 back. He was exactly as fast today as Kliment Kolesnikov was in winning Group A’s Indy match, and faster than Evgeny Rylov at Naples. LA will still get a solid points haul from a 2-3, but it puts a damper on their aggressive attempts to run down London late. The Breakers continue to struggle despite fielding a bunch of male backstrokers. They were 6th and 8th for the lowest point total of all four teams there.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK

1. Minna Atherton (LON) – 55.43
2. Kathleen Baker (LAC) – 56.89
3. Amy Bilquist (LAC) – 57.13
4. Ali DeLoof (NYB) – 58.03
5. Mie Nielsen (IRO) – 58.68
6. Holly Barratt (LON) – 59.17
7. Gabby DeLoof (NYB) – 1:00.15
8. Katalin Burian (IRO) – 1:00.80

Minna Atherton earns the backstroke sweep, earning gold here to go with her golds in the 50 and 200 backstrokes yesterday. As is her style, she ripped it out quickly, putting almost a second between herself and the field over the first 50. She won in 55.43, the fastest time on U.S. soil and putting herself in the top ten of all time.

That field she defeated included former LCM world record holder Kathleen Baker, who took 2nd for the Current in 56.89. Baker’s teammate Amy Bilquist finished just behind, taking 3rd in 56.13.

Atherton was outstanding for London, and she and Guido have effectively dampened the LA backstroke group that features multiple long course world record-breakers. Cal combo Baker and Bilquist going 2-3 was a good total for LA, but they actually only outscored London 13-12.

MIXED 4×100 FREE

1. Roar 2 – 3:17.54
2. LA Current – 3:19.96
3. NY Breakers – 3:20.80
4. Roar – 3:20.83
5. NY Breakers 2 – 3:23.44
6. Iron – 3:23.89
7. Iron 2 – 3:27.48
8. LA Current — DQ

LA Current held the lead through the first half, but the Roar’s ‘2’ team stormed back to win by over two seconds, with a time of 3:17.54. The Current was able to grab 2nd, but took a big blow as their other relay team was disqualified for an early takeoff.

Lots of strategy here. LA didn’t use any of their skins entrants, and so their early lead evaporated. Still, taking 2nd without your stars is a solid result for the Current. Meanwhile London took the win, but had to use both Campbell sisters, who should be swimming the skins in a short while. The worst result was Iron, which used both of its skins contenders (Morozov, Kromowidjojo) and still took just 6th and 7th. A DQ on the LA Current B team is a big hurt – that’s going to cost double-digit points.

Team Scores Through Break 2

1. London Roar – 430.5
2. LA Current – 395.0
3. Iron – 314.0
4. NY Breakers – 249.5

Results through second break.

Hoping to hold their lead, the London Roar seems to be opting for endurance over pure speed and is swimming Cam McEvoy for Brunot Fratus and and Emma McKeon for Bronte Campbell in the upcoming skins race.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY

1. Katinka Hosszu (IRO) – 2:05.52
2. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (IRO) – 2:06.98
3. Katie McLaughlin (LAC) – 2:07.49
4. Ella Eastin (LAC) – 2:07.58
5. Emily Overholt (NYB) – 2:08.00
6. Alys Thomas (NYB) – 2:09.02
7. Boglarka Kapas (LON) – 2:09.27
8. Marie Wattell (LON) – 2:14.31

The Iron get a big 1-2 finish here, as the Iron Lady, Katinka Hosszu, wins in 2:05.52 and teammate Zsuzsanna Jakabos picks up 2nd in 2:06.98. The Current got 3rd and 4th, thanks to Katie McLaughlin (2:07.49) and Ella Eastin (2:o7.58).

A big late push for Iron, as Hosszu and Jakabos go 1-2 and beat the field by a huge margin. Hosszu is probably the best in the world at swimming multiple events in a session, and that prowess is really showing up late in this one. A bit of a unique finish, as LA was 3-4, New York 5-6 and London just 7-8. Worse for London, Wattel was well off the benchmark time and won’t score any points.

MEN’S 200 FLY

1. Kristof Milak (IRO) – 1:50.94
2. Tom Shields (LAC) – 1:51.96
3. Jack Conger (LAC) – 1:53.13
4. Gunnar Bentz (IRO) – 1:53.94
5. Vini Lanza (LON) – 1:54.55
6. Mackenzie Darragh (NYB) – 1:55.94
7. Jonathan Gomez (NYB) – 1:56.59
8. Elijah Winnington (LON) – 1:57.36

This race featured the world record holder in LCM versus two NCAA 200 fly championships. The former, Kristof Milak, was able to hold off the latter, Tom Shields and Jack Conger, to win in 1:50.94 and get the first place points for the Iron. Shields (1:51.96) and Conger (1:53.13) pulled in a nice point haul for the Current, keeping them close to the Roar with just the skins events left to go.

A great swim for Milak, and Iron continues its dominance in the most punishing races of the format. Iron is 1-4. LA, continually well-rounded, goes 2-3. Again, London is falling off late, with a 5-8 finish. The skins have the ability to totally flip the meet, and things are still up in the air, with 18.5 points between London and LA, though London is probably set up better in the skins overall with a big chance to 1-2 the women’s race.

Team Scores

1. London Roar – 437.5
2. LA Current – 419.0
3. Iron – 344.0
4. NY Breakers – 261.5

WOMEN’S 50 FREE SKINS

ROUND 1 – QUARTERFINAL

1. Cate Campbell (LON) – 23.83
2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 23.85
3. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.01
4. Margo Geer (LAC) – 24.22
5. Beryl Gastaldello (LAC) – 24.23
6. Pernille Blume (NYB) – 24.28
7. Kim Busch (IRO) – 24.54
8. Catie DeLoof (NYB) – 24.60

The Roar got two women into the final, as the McKeon for Bronte Campbell swap paid dividends. Cate Campbell just out touched Ranomi Kromowidjojo for the top spot, 23.83 to 23.84. McKeon qualified 3rd in 24.01, while Margo Geer make it in by 0.01s over teammate Beryl Gastaldello, 24.22 to 24.23.

London getting two swimmers into the next round is key. LA missed the cut with Gastaldello, though the top three were pretty far ahead. This will be an intriguing case study into exactly how much endurance matters – McKeon is much more of a 200 swimmer than anyone else left – but how much that will help is still somewhat unknown. LA probably needs Geer into the final to have a chance at winning the meet.

ROUND 2 – SEMIFINAL

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 24.09
2. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.25
3. Cate Campbell (LON) – 24.31
4. Margo Geer (LAC) – 25.08

Kromowidjojo helped out the LA Chargers big-time, preventing a London 1-2. But McKeon’s endurance really held up – she was better than Cate Campbell in round 2, which is very surprising. Kromowidjojo’s 24.0 was excellent – only a tenth behind Sjostrom’s round 2 swim in Naples.

ROUND 3 – FINAL

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 24.46
2. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.79

Kromowidjojo’s start probably made the difference here, as she shot out to the lead immediately, and held off McKeon down the final stretch. Both women

With a 33-14 split over LA, London has probably iced this meet, even without a win from McKeon. Kromowidjojo really proved herself a massive sprint factor here, winning a brutal three-round showdown with no ‘easy’ rounds compared to the field. Iron could win both skins races – they scored 29 here compared to 33 for London and only 14 for LA.

Updated Scores

1. London Roar – 470.0
2. LA Current – 433.0
3. Iron – 373.0
4. NY Breakers – 265.5

MEN’S 50 FREE SKINS

ROUND 1 – QUARTERFINAL

1. Nathan Adrian (LAC) – 21.02
2. Cameron McEvoy (LON) – 21.17
3. Vladimir Morozov (IRO) – 21.27
4. Michael Andrew (NYB) – 21.31
5. Kyle Chalmers (LON) – 21.36
6. Ryan Held (LAC) – 21.41
7. Szebasztian Szabo (IRO) – 21.59
8. Marcelo Chierighini (NYB) – 21.85

One swimmer from each team moves on in what was a brutally close field. There’s a lot of intrigue among the four: Andrew is usually fast through doubles, and so is Morozov. Adrian is one of the most consistent sprinters in the business and a good 100 guy, and McEvoy is also more of a 100 type who should have endurance on his side.

Note: there’s a several minute delay here, as something seems to be wrong with the bulkhead. The swimmers are probably welcoming the extra rest, but also raring to go again.

ROUND 2 – SEMIFINAL

1. Vladimir Morozov (IRO) – 21.24
2. Nathan Adrian (LAC) – 21.58
3. Michael Andrew (NYB) – 21.61
4. Cameron McEvoy (LON) – 21.68

Some lane lines came loose in between rounds, which provided the four men a fair amount of extra rest – it might have wound up being double the amount of rest usually provided between rounds. Morozov had an outstanding start, much less Dressel and Manaudou did in the Group A skins. Bumping out the London swimmers is pretty key for LA, though the meet is probably already set.

A note from last round: Adrian’s 21.02 was the fastest round 1 swim we’ve seen this ISL season.

ROUND 3 – FINAL

1. Vladimir Morozov (IRO) – 22.21
2. Nathan Adrian (LAC) – 23.33

Morozov was great – his start basically held up better than anyone else’s, and he had the final round won from the moment he and Adrian hit the pool. Iron will sweep both skins races for a total of 58 overall points, a great haul. LA gets 24 in the men’s skins, outscoring London (14), but not by enough to steal the meet. The win for Morozov is going to clinch MVP status for him, though.

Final Team Scores

1. London Roar – 484.5
2. LA Current – 457.0
3. Iron – 402.0
4. NY Breakers – 278.5