Caeleb Dressel Swims Lifetime Best in 200 Free at Richmond PSS

2019 PRO SWIM SERIES – RICHMOND

American superstar swimmer Caeleb Dressel not only won the 200 free on Thursday evening at the Pro Swim Series stop in Richmond, Virginia; but he did so in a new lifetime best of 1:47.31. That’s a .14 second drop from his previous best time, which was a 1:47.45 done at the 2017 US National Championships; and is half-a-second faster than he swam at Pan Pacs last summer.

While Dressel’s bread-and-butter races are 100 meters-and-shorter, for him to be swimming lifetime bests in a 200 meter event in long course at this point of the season shows us something. Hard to say exactly what, given the sort of enigma that is Dressel, with his extreme versatility, and the superficial incongruity of a sprinter training in the traditionally-high-volume Gregg Troy system.

This summer, the US will be fighting to regain control of the 800 free relay that during the Michael Phelps era was almost-automatic. While the Americans (with Phelps) won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games, the relay without Phelps at the last two World Championships has been unable to win after having taken the previous 5 long course World titles. In 2017, they took bronze, which was their lowest finish from 2001 (the last relay before Phelps broke through and became a mainstay).

If Dressel is the man who is filling that Phelps role on Team USA, a 3-relay hammer, a medal-gobbler who is in contention for 5+ golds every year, then the Americans really need him to become that man on the 800 free relay as well. The Brits, who have won the last 2 World Championships in this event, are still a very young team – their oldest finals swimmer from the 2017 title-winning team Stephen Milne is still only 24. If Dressel can start touching 1:45s on relay starts, which seems well within reach when he’s going 1:47.3 in April in a high-volume training program; and if Jack Conger can get back to 1:45; and if Zane Grothe‘s speed continues to develop; that would make the Americans the favorites again.

This result is one small step in that direction, and one of the more exciting swims we’ve seen from Dressel since his collegiate career ended.

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dprdan
4 years ago

I think you all forgot about Jack Levant. He was 5th at Nationals last summer and 2nd fastest 18u ever.

Caleb
Reply to  dprdan
4 years ago

The Worlds team is already picked and he’s not on it, but yeah, definitely in the mix for 2020. Haas, Seliskar, Pieroni, Dressel, Conger, Grothe, Levant, Farris, Apple… maybe Lochte or Dwyer if they’re still going. Even Grant House was 1:46 last summer. And watch out for the young guys — my money’s on Urlando to make top 6 next summer (at least) and there are several more.

Woke Stasi
4 years ago

What about Jack Conger on the 4×200 relay? He’s on the Worlds team.

Dangus
4 years ago

Pretty fast ngl

Eagleswim
4 years ago

“a 3-relay hammer, a medal-gobbler who is in contention for 5+ golds every year”

I like this

Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

I think the best news out of this race is that Dressel’s conditioning without overtraining is on target for a strong multi-event Worlds. That was a tough, leg heavy double.

dmswim
4 years ago

“…the superficial incongruity of a sprinter training in the traditionally-high-volume Gregg Troy system.” Using the ten dollar words today I see.

E.Y
4 years ago

4×800 Fc Relay –

Blake Pieroni (Lead off)
Caeleb Dressel
Zane Grothe
Townley Haas (Anchor)

Jabroni Pepperoni
Reply to  E.Y
4 years ago

Dressel should lead off any relay he’s on to take advantage of his start. Grothe is improving but I think Seliskar or Conger could be just as fas if not faster

SwimGeek
Reply to  Jabroni Pepperoni
4 years ago

Seli went 1:45 flat last summer (3 times). He backed it up with a breakthrough spectacular ncaa season. He needs to be penciled into every 4×200 lineup going forward right after Haas.

YINZ
4 years ago

How about certain Dean Farris? Boy seems like elite 200 free swimmer. How came he was not even mentioned in any combination for 800 relay?

ShoeBaca
Reply to  YINZ
4 years ago

Representing Ireland

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  ShoeBaca
4 years ago

That was actually hilarious. Was April 1 so long ago?

Swimmy
Reply to  ShoeBaca
4 years ago

April fools joke

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  YINZ
4 years ago

Because worlds team is already picked and most people, on a serious note, probably wouldn’t see him beating Haas, seliskar or dressel long. Maybe pieroni,. Whilst his 1.29.1 was great, take into consideration he’s enormous and a great kicker, 4 less walls to bully people less. But I’d say a 1.46 low is on the cards depends who can beat that I suppose on the day.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
4 years ago

Two of the best kickers/underwater guys ever —- Lochte and Phelps —- had killer 200 LCM frees at their peaks. People also said Dressel needed the walls and wouldn’t translate to LCM. Dean didn’t kill anyone with his underwaters in the back or free at NCAAs. Size? Matt Biondi was 6’7″ and 210 lbs and won bronze in the 200 free at the ’88 Olympics. I agree 1:46 is in the cards this year, but I think for 2020 and beyond the sky’s the limit.

50free
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

He’s proven in the 100free LC but I also noticed Bowen Becker almost mowing him down above water

Caleb
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
4 years ago

He was 48.5 int he 100 last summer so hard to say his speed doesn’t translate to LC. 1:47 wasn’t shabby either – he’s no Ryan Hoffer. I think he’ll consider it a disappointment if he doesn’t get into the 1:45s this summer. USA is very deep in this event. Unlike GBR or Australia, they don’t need everyone to be on their game. With at least 7 or 8 strong candidates, I’m comfident the 2020 relay will have everyone with a 1:45 flat start or better.

SwimGeek
Reply to  YINZ
4 years ago

Because his PR in LC 200 is 1:47.94. He SHOULD be great in this event. He’s built for it; his stroke should translate. But we need to see that 1:29.1 become a 1:45 in the big pool before we jump on board.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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