Atlanta Classic: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

We’re headed into day 2 finals here at the 2016 Atlanta Classic and tonight’s session will see plenty of action from some of the nation’s best. Joseph Schooling and Ryan Murphy headline the 200 fly and 100 back, respectively. In the 50 free, Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian will be racing on the men’s side. Natalie Coughlin will battle with Olivia Smoliga in the women’s 100 back, and Katie Ledecky will take center pool in the 400 freestyle final.

2016 ATLANTA CLASSIC – DAY 2 – FINALS

WOMEN’S 200 FLY:

  1. Hali Flickinger– 2:08.61
  2. Ella Eastin– 2:10.25
  3. Lauren Case- 2:12.01

Hali Flickinger took it out hard in the womens 100 fly, leading by 2 seconds when she turned in 1:01 at the 100 mark. Ella Eastin made a late charge on the final 50 and started to close the gap, but Flickinger held on for the win in 2:08.61 to Eastin’s 2:10.25. That’s the fastest Flickinger has ever been in season, just a second off her best of 2:07.59 from 2015 Nationals. Eastin also posted a best in-season time, just a tenth shy of her 2:10.12 from last summer.

Rounding out the top 3 was Lauren Case, who touched in 2:12.01. Following closely behind her were Megan Kingsley (2:12.31) and Christina Bechtel (2:12.64).

Swimming out of the C final, Elizabeth Beisel posted a 2:13.71 to win her heat.

MEN’S 200 FLY:

  1. Joseph Schooling– 1:57.37
  2. Pace Clark- 1:58.03
  3. Kyle Higgins- 1:58.83

Joseph Schooling led the men’s 200 fly from start to finish, completing his sweep of the butterfly events with a 1:57.37. On the final 50, Pace Clark gave him a late run for his money. Clark came from behind to finish 2nd in 1:58.03. Kyle Higgins rounded out the top 3 behind them with his 1:58.83.

After taking it out with Schooling, Tom Shields faded on the last 50, finishing 5th in 1:59.45. Just ahead of him was Jack Conger, who posted a 1:59.42.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE:

  1. Simone Manuel– 25.21
  2. Olivia Smoliga– 25.25
  3. Lia Neal– 25.32

With only a tenth separating the top 3 finishers, Simone Manuel got her hand on the wall 1st in the 50 free. Manuel clocked a 25.21 to take the win ahead of Olivia Smoliga, who touched in 25.25 for 2nd. Manuel’s Teammate Lia Neal finished a close 3rd with her 25.32

Atlanta local and U.S. Olympian Amanda Weir was 4th in the final, swimming a 25.56.

MEN’S 50 FREE:

  1. Nathan Adrian– 21.93
  2. Marcelo Cherighini- 22.29
  3. Bruno Fratus- 22.53

Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian finished ahead of a loaded field in the men’s 50 free. Adrian was the lone man under 22, hitting the wall for a time of 21.93. A pair of Brazilian postgrads from Auburn, Marcelo Chierghini (22.29) and Bruno Fratus (22.53), finished behind him for 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Caeleb Dressel, the only swimmer in the final who opted out of wearing a racing suit and raced in a speedo, wound up 4th in this race with a 22.68.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK:

  1. Olivia Smoliga– 1:00.13
  2. Natalie Coughlin– 1:01.18
  3. Bridgette Alexander- 1:01.46

Olivia Smoliga and Natalie Coughlin went head to head in the women 100 back. Smoliga finished the race with a commanding lead, clocking a 1:00.13. Coughlin was slightly off her prelims time to finish 2nd in 1:01.18.

The race for 3rd came down to the touch between Bridgette Alexander and Alex Walsh. Alexander was able to get her hand on the wall faster, posting a 1:01.46 to Walsh’s 1:01.51.

MEN’S 100 BACK:

  1. Ryan Murphy– 53.08
  2. Jacob Pebley- 54.27
  3. Taylor Dale- 55.36

Ryan Murphy dominated the men’s 100 back, finishing over a body length ahead of the field. Murphy split a 25.75 at the 50 on his way to a 53.08. Murphy’s teammate Jacob Pebley was the 2nd place finisher, clocking a 54.27.

Behind the Cal teammates, 3rd went to Taylor Dale, who posted a 55.36 to hold off Michael Taylor (55.53) and Corey Main (55.73).

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST:

  1. Melanie Margalis- 2:26.66
  2. Laura Sogar- 2:28.32
  3. Sarah Henry- 2:28.70

Melanie Margalis was well ahead of the field in the women’s 200 breast final. Margalis posted a 2:26.66 to win the event by nearly 2 seconds. Laura Sogar and Sarah Henry had a close race for 2nd behind her. Sogar (2:28.32) held on to finish ahead of Henry, who made a late charge to place 3rd in 2:28.70. Also under 2:30 was Annie Zhu, who clocked a 2:29.61.

MEN’S 200 BREAST:

  1. Josh Prenot– 2:09.49
  2. Reece Whitley– 2:14.99
  3. Moises Loschi- 2:15.47

Josh Prenot picked up his first win of the meet tonight, leading start to finish to win the men’s 200 breast. Prenot finished over 5 seconds faster than anyone else in the final, clocking a 2:09.49. That clips his previous season best of 2:09.50 from Arena Pro Swim Orlando.

Reece Whitley and Moises Loschi were locked in a close battle for 2nd. Loschi started to catch up to Whitley on the back hald, but Whitley held on for 2nd in 2:14.99 to Loschi’s 2:15.47.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE:

  1. Katie Ledecky– 4:00.31
  2. Hali Flickinger– 4:09.03
  3. Brittany MacLean– 4:10.24

Katie Ledecky was in a league of her own in the women’s 400 free, splitting 1:58.38 to the feet at the 200 on her way to a quick final time of 4:00.31. Behind her, Georgia teammates Hali Flickinger and Brittany MacLean battled for 2nd, with Flickinger clocking a 4:09.03 to finish ahead of MacLean in 4:10.24.

MEN’S 400 FREE:

  1. Walker Higgins- 3:55.15
  2. Jay Litherland- 3:55.58
  3. Adam Linker- 3:57.24

The men’s 400 free was one of the closest races of the night, with half a second separating the top 2 and 6 tenths separating the 3rd through 6th place finishers. Walker Higgins and Jay Litherland battled for the win. In the end, Higgins got to the finish first in 3:55.15 ahead of Litherland’s 3:55.58.

There were 4 men in the 3:57-range in the race for 3rd place. Adam Linker clocked a 3:57.24 to finish ahead of the group, just .01 ahead of Chris Yeager (3:57.25). Kevin Litherland (3:57.51) and Bryan Lee (3:57.86) made late charges on the final 50, but fell short to place 5th and 6th, respectively.

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

Talking about Katie Ledecky, she’s entered in the 800 free today.
She swam the 400 free this week 1.14s faster than in Austin last January, the week she broke the 800 free world record….
Maybe it means nothing and maybe she was more ready for the longer distances there and more focused on the shorter distances this week but we must still keep an eye on the clock tonight. We never know with her! 🙂

bobo gigi
8 years ago

Women’s 200 fly
Easy win for Hali Flickinger. She will fight with Katie McLaughlin to grab the second spot behind Cammile Adams.

Men’s 200 fly
Jack Conger is still my favorite for the second spot behind Michael Phelps but Pace Clark always has big last 50 and could surprise. Logical win for Schoolings after what he did in the 100. Looks like Shields has again taken a piano on his head in the last 50. It’s usual in season for him. Even when he’s tapered.

Women’s 50 free
Very slow times. Simone Manuel is great right now in the 200 free but her sprint is not present yet. Weird. She should be at least in 24.70/53.50 at… Read more »

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Schooling

Now I have the proof that the massive downvotes come probably from the same person. They have come suddenly! In a few seconds! At a time when I’m not sure there are many people connected to the site! 😆 On a Sunday morning here in France, during the night in USA, I’m not sure it comes from USA. Maybe someone from France or a woman from Australia? 😆
That’s really hilarious! 😆 😆 😆 😆

paolo
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Hi, Bobo. I’ve already written what I happened today morning (in Italy).
I made a sort of experiment, too (I gave the downvote about at 9 am in the Italian morning, i.e. about at 3 am ET in the Usa) and I don’t know – and I don’t care – if this is a site’s problem/fault or there are other explanations.
Certainly, it’s quite bizarre.

Gina
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

‘First I took Manhattan then we took Berlin ….. I told you I was one of those’

Anyhow we are just getting this hacking ready for Nov . 1 vote for Bernie 77 for Donald .

Rafael
8 years ago

Shields dying in the last 50 of a 200 should be told with an as always before.

Jim C
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

Sounds like good strategy for a training meet.

Rafael
Reply to  Jim C
8 years ago

Jim that happens to Shields in all meets since I remember hearing his name. Not a strategy!

tm71
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

that is typical. shields only chance to make the team is in the 100.

Gina
Reply to  tm71
8 years ago

Possibly but does that mean he ought not compete the 200 in these meets?

Marcus
Reply to  Gina
8 years ago

Maybe his coach has him train and swim 2fly at meets to help his 100 fly

Gina
Reply to  Marcus
8 years ago

Of course . There are philosophies in fly training . Some do only repeats of high quality technique & others go for the stamina angle. It might be better for some to exit at the 150mark but people would complain about that too.

paolo
Reply to  Gina
8 years ago

Just for information.
I gave one downvote to Gina’s comment and simultaneously appeared a lot of upvotes.
I don’t know if this is true also for other cases, but that’s what happened.

Dave
8 years ago

53 flat for Murphy right now under heavy training is ominous for the rest of the world. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him go around 51.5 in Omaha once he gets some rest.

Briand
Reply to  Dave
8 years ago

Yep, more likely than not the WR goes down at trials.

aussie crawl
Reply to  Dave
8 years ago

Dreaming.

E GAMBLE
8 years ago

Caeleb didn’t wear a racing suit?

swimdoc
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

Swam nude.

jiggs
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

He was also picking up valuable coins from the bottom.

Gold Medal Meldonium
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

Caeleb’s messin’ with their heads! When he shows up in Omaha wearing with a racing suit, all of his competitors are going to go: “Whoa!”

E GAMBLE
Reply to  Gold Medal Meldonium
8 years ago

I wish he had messed with their heads today by swimming a 21.5 today. Go Caeleb!!!!!

Crawler
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

The case for NCAA swimming long course is getting clearer by the day. Let’s stop this nonsense of swimming SCY!

Caleb
Reply to  Crawler
8 years ago

what does that have to do with anything here?

Crawler
Reply to  Caleb
8 years ago

That dominant SCY college swimmers have difficulty confirming in LCM. Dressel’s 18.20 (tapered) should translate into a very low 21, and a 21 high when not fully tapered in LCM, not 22.7.

LCM is totally different from SCY and I think college swimmers need a lot of time to adjust to a different tempo and way of expending the energy.

PKWater
Reply to  Crawler
8 years ago

You should tell that to Ryan Murphy…

Crawler
Reply to  PKWater
8 years ago

There are always exceptions, besides Murphy swims 100/200 and this was a 100.

Caleb
Reply to  Crawler
8 years ago

Most of the college guys and gals are just beaten up, halfway through a 12- or 13-week training cycle between ncaas and O-trials. Although cal looks a little sharper. But look what dressel was swimming back at the end of January or start of February; it wasn’t 18.2s

SamH
Reply to  Crawler
8 years ago

Dude, he is in a practice suit and also under heavy training. Believe it or not he swam 20 mid at some meets in the college season. I don’t see any cause for concern, and quite frankly I am sick and tired of hearing people bash all NCAA swimmers just because they have a couple swims “below the audience’s standard” at that point in time.

The American record will go down at trials, from Adrian and/or Dressel- guarantee.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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