2023 SPEEDO ATLANTA CLASSIC
- Friday, May 12 – Sunday, May 14, 2023
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, Georgia
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream
In his first meet back in almost a year, Caeleb Dressel swam in prelims of the 200 butterfly at the Speedo Atlanta Classic on Saturday morning. Dressel touched the wall in a final time of 2:05.18 for 12th and a spot in the B final.
Dressel was out in a 59.98 on the first 100 and came back in a 1:05.20 in the second 100. His splits were a 27.26-32.72-33.21-31.99.
This was Dressel’s first time swimming the LCM 200 fly since the end of March 2021 where he swam it in finals at the ISCA Senior Cup in St. Petersburg, Florida (prelims were SCY, finals were LCM). There he swam touched in a 1:58.74.
His lifetime best comes from the 2019 Atlanta Classic as he swam a 1:56.29 then. His entry time of 1:58.45 is his second fastest time ever which he swam at the 2019 US Open.
This also is the first time he swam it in prelims since the beginning of March 2021 when he swam it at the Pro Swim Series in San Antonio. In San Antonio, he swam a 2:01.62 in prelims and went on to swim a 2:02.15 in finals. Notably, Dressel has never competed in the 200 fly at the international level.
On day 1 in Atlanta, Dressel DFS’ed the 200 freestyle in favor of the 100 fly. This morning, Dressel competed in the 200 fly before swimming a 22.92 in the 50 free, finishing second behind Florida training partner Macguire McDuff. His best time in the 50 free is a 21.04.
Dressel is entered in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle for day 3 of the meet.
Smart as always. Look at the finishing 31. He has so much firepower and is playing with using it when HE chooses. This sort of racing is both fun and will help him finish the 100 free — which is a challenge for anyone, including him. He’s smart and smartly coached. Now he just has to make sure he’s an expert in keeping it light and fun, no matter what expectations or critiques are out there. He is Caeleb’s and God’s Caeleb. Enjoy! It’s a joy watching you.
“God’s Caeleb”? So it was god who threw that piano on him, thanks for explaination.
Lots of folks eager to “soft-criticize” this swim, but guessing that Caeleb’s goal for the race was something different than time, more just a training/feel/work-the-final-50 type swim. If he wanted to maximize time/place, he would have split it differently.
Happy to see him try different races than usual and enjoy the process. Hope he keeps the 200 IM for tomorrow.
I thought his PB was a 1:56+ in the 2-fly. Looking for this result now…
The article itself says he went 1:56 at the 2019 Atlanta Classic.
Probably a big indicator of where he’s at given his past much more impressive performances over the longer distance, it’s rather understandable though and if there was anyone expecting him to show back up after the hiatus throwing down such impressive swims as he has done in the past, eh it was probably just innocent hype.
I have no doubts about his work ethic and I expect him to be fully ready to go next year. The reality of the timing of his comeback this year is quite apparent though, it’s going to be a struggle to make the team for him, and he probably expected as much. It’s good to see him in the water again and enjoying… Read more »
2:05? I guess that one hurt. It actually HURT.
I will once again marry my peanut butter toast as I did two years ago, if dressel goes 1:57 in finals
I will officiate.
Everyone seems so upset but A) his swimming B) how many people in this chat can go 2:05 in a 2 fly in season C) he’s a big man and those that know how brutal it is to swim this event in season let alone with this much muscle (I can relate) and considering the sets they do at Florida, none of us have the right to talk (and let’s not forget this is a prelim swim)
Not a criticism since this isn’t one of his main events, but wild to think a certain female 16 year old went faster this year.