Pro Swim Series- San Antonio: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2022 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES SAN ANTONIO

THURSDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

The first full Finals Session of the 2022 Pro Swim Series- San Antonio kicks off tonight at 6 PM CST. Tonight’s Finals Session will feature the 200 free, 100 breast, 100 fly and 400 IM.

Florida’s Katie Ledecky cruised to the top seed in the women’s 200 free by over 3 seconds, clearly shutting down to a cruise pace over the final 50 meters. Splitting 57.2/58.9 by 100, we’ll look to see a monstrous 200 tonight.

Maxime Rooney had scratched the 200 free, allowing Caeleb Dressel to sneak into the A-Final. Dressel has the opportunity to show us why he could be a contender for a relay spot in Budapest.

Shaine Casas looks to continue his momentum since joining the Texas Post-Grade group. He topped the field in prelims by over a full second in the 100 fly (51.14) en route to dropping the 2nd-fastest time in the world for 2022.

Anna Elendt was the only top seed to hit a lifetime best (1:05.96), cracking 1:06 for the first time and dropping the 2nd-fastest time in the world for 2022. She will have her work cut out for her tonight as she’s racing two Olympic medalist breaststrokers in Lilly King and Annie Lazor.

Women’s 200m Freestyle

  • World Record: Federica Pellegrini (ITA, 2009): 1:52.98
  • American Record: Allison Schmitt (USA, 2012): 1:53.61
  • US Open Record: Allison Schmitt (USA, 2012)/Katie Ledecky (USA, 2021): 1:54.40
  • Junior World Record: Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS, 2021): 1:55.11
  • Pro Swim Record: Katie Ledecky (USA, 2021): 1:54.40

Top 8:

  1. Katie Ledecky (UN-FLOR) – 1:55.66
  2. Paige Madden (UN-1) – 1:57.12
  3. Leah Smith (TXLA) – 1:58.55
  4. Hali Flickinger (SUN) – 1:58.90
  5. Melanie Margalis (SPA) – 1:59.74
  6. Gabby Deloof (CW) – 2:00.55
  7. Anna Peplowski (IU) – 2:00.81
  8. Beata Nelson (WA) – 2:02.33

The women’s 200 freestyle featured 4 Tokyo Olympic medalists and two Rio Olympic gold medalists. There was no doubt that this would be a competitive race and would feature several athletes vying for a spot on the US World Championship Team in a few weeks.

Katie Ledecky wasted no time getting out in front of the field, splitting 27.6 on the 1st 50 meters. By the 100 mark (56.8), she was  already .4 under her prelims split. Ledecky’s turnover looked solid, getting into a nice high-elbow catch and powering herself through the water. Her final time was a full second off her season-best (1:54.66) from the 2022 FL SZ South Sectionals Championships, but she looks to be in a great spot with the International Team Trials taking place later this month.

Paige Madden (1:57.12) had a great swim as well to take 2nd place overall in a new personal best time. Leah Smith (1:58.55), Hali Flickinger (1:58.90), and Melanie Margalis (1:59.74) round out our athletes that broke 2:00.

Men’s 200m Freestyle

  • World Record: Paul Biedermann (GER, 2009): 1:42.00
  • American Record: Michael Phelps (USA, 2008): 1:42.96
  • US Open Record: Michael Phelps (USA, 2008): 1:44.10
  • Junior World Record: Sunwoo Kim (KOR, 2021): 1:44.62
  • Pro Swim Record: Sun Yang (CHN, 2016): 1:44.82

Top 8:

  1. Drew Kibler (TEX-ST) – 1:47.61
  2. Michael Cotter (TAC-NC) – 1:48.63
  3. Bar Soloveychik (UN-o1-MN) – 1:49.07
  4. Caeleb Dressel (GSC-FL) – 1:49.12
  5. Daniel Namir (UN-02-AZ) – 1:49.61
  6. James Freeman (UN-02-MN) – 1:50.90
  7. Jay Litherland (DYNA-GA) – 1:51.14
  8. Zach Apple (ISC-IN) – 1:51.43

Fresh off an NCAA Title in the 200-yard freestyle, Drew Kibler looked very solid, taking the lead into the 100 and never looking back. He actually negative split his last 100 (27.6/27.3), which helped him put up the 5th-fastest time of the world for 2022.

Dressel was out 1st at the 50 (25.0), but he faded off after the 75, clearly focusing on his stroke and sticking to his individual plan. Dressel has publicly stated that he’s not focused on the times during this portion of the season, rather on “feel” and making adjustments before the focus meet. Dressel finished 4th overall with a time of 1:49.12.

Kibler stated that this Long Course race “Was smooth transition (from short course), but we have a few things to clean up before World Champ Trials.”

Michael Cotter (18) of the TAC Titans, the only teenager in the field, came back strong and took 2nd overall in a new personal best time of 1:48.63.

Women’s 100m Breaststroke

  • World Record: Lilly King (USA, 2017): 1:04.13
  • American Record: Lilly King (USA, 2017): 1:04.13
  • US Open Record: Jessica Hardy (USA, 2009): 1:04.45
  • Junior World Record: Ruta Meilutyte (LTU, 2013): 1:04.35
  • Pro Swim Record: Lilly King (USA, 2021): 1:05.32

Top 8:

  1. Lilly King (ISC) – 1:05.32
  2. Anna Elendt (TEX) – 1:05.58
  3. Annie Lazor (ISC) – 1:07.05
  4. Mona McSharry (TENN) – 1:08.14
  5. Emma Sundstrand (MIA) – 1:10.71*
  6. Nicole Frank (AZFL) – 1:10.71*
  7. Brearna Crawford (IU) – 1:10.75
  8. Tjasa Pintar (TENN) – 1:11.43

Lilly King was out significantly faster (a full second) than she was this morning, splitting 30.6 at the 50. Anna Elendt didn’t give up, pushing King all the way down the stretch.

Lilly King got the job done by about .3, winning in a time of 1:05.32. King’s consistency in the 1:05-range has been noticeable, with her 1:05.32 being her 2nd-fastest of the season.

Elendt (1:05.58) re-breaks her German National Record that she set this morning and holds her spot as the #2 performer in the world this season.

Annie Lazor (1:07.05) drops over a second from the prelims to round out the top 3 finishers.

Men’s 100m Breaststroke

  • World Record: Adam Peaty (GBR, 2019): 56.88
  • American Record: Michael Andrew (USA, 2021): 58.14
  • US Open Record: Michael Andrew (USA, 2021): 58.14
  • Junior World Record: Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA, 2017): 59.01
  • Pro Swim Record: Adam Peaty (GBR, 2017): 58.86

Top 8:

  1. Michael Andrew (MASA-SI) – 59.03
  2. Nic Fink (MAAC-GA) – 59.32
  3. Caspar Corbeau (TEX-ST) – 59.78
  4. Cody Miller (SAND-CA) – 1:01.11
  5. Tommy Cope (ISC-IN) – 1:01.39
  6. Chase Kalisz (ABSC-GA) – 1:01.64
  7. Rafal Kusto (NCS-NC) – 1:01.91
  8. Andres Puente Bustamante (TAMU-GU) – 1:02.42

Michael Andrew took it out in 27.4, much faster than the prelims. This paid dividends as no other competitor was able to catch him. Andrew’s time of 59.03 nearly gets him to the 58-second barrier that he desired to be at, but still beats his time from the Westmont Pro Series.

Even though no one was able to catch Andrew, several athletes came home stronger than Andrew. Fink, for example, closed in 30.7, while Andrew faded home with a 31.59 split.

Two Americans in this field, Fink and Andrew, are already ranked Top-5 in the world for 2022. Andrew’s 59.03 ranks his as the 2nd-fastest performance of the year.

Michael Andrew wanted to be 58.8, but he’s excited on what he can improve on over the next few weeks. Andrew will also race the 100 fly in the next few minutes.

Women’s 100m Butterfly

  • World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE, 2016): 55.48
  • American Record: Torri Huske (USA, 2021): 55.66
  • US Open Record: Torri Huske (USA, 2021): 55.66
  • Junior World Record: Penny Oleksiak (CAN, 2016): 56.46
  • Pro Swim Record: Ssarah Sjostrom (SWE, 2016): 56.38

Top 8:

  1. Claire Curzan (TAC) – 57.02
  2. Kelsi Dahlia (CARD) – 58.73
  3. Kelly Pash (TEX) – 58.87
  4. Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 58.90
  5. Beata Nelson (WA) – 58.95
  6. Natalie Hinds (UN-05) – 59.37
  7. Dakota Luther (UN-05) – 59.42
  8. Olivia Bray (TEX) – 59.80

We knew that another Curzan vs. Dahlia battle was upon us for Night 2 of the San Antonio PSS, and this one didn’t disappoint.

However, Curzan looked untouchable in this race. She had nearly a full second lead at the 50-meter mark (26.3) and continued to build her lead through the 2nd 50. She was able to slip underneath the wave on the turn end and utilized her underwater kickouts to power into the back-half. Her 57.02 re-establishes herself as the top time in the world for 2022.

Dahlia, now 27, is still competing at a high level and broke the world record in the 100 SCM butterfly in the last ISL Season. The 8-time World Championship medalist finished 2nd overall (58.73), bettering her time from the morning.

All 8 finishers broke 1:00, with most athletes bettering their times from the prelims.

Men’s 100m Butterfly

Top 8:

  1. Shaine Casas (UN-01-ST) – 51.09
  2. Caeleb Dressel (GSC-FL) – 51.79
  3. Coleman Stewart (WOLF-NC) – 51.93
  4. Eric Friese (UN-09-FL) – 52.10
  5. Ilya Kharun (SAND-CA) – 52.83
  6. Zach Harting (CARD-KY) – 52.87
  7. Djurdje Matic (GWU-PV) – 53.30
  8. Michael Andrew (MASA-SI) – 54.05

Casas was out in commanding fashion, taking out his 100 in 23.7, which was the only sub-24 split from the field. Casas was back faster than he did in prelims, splitting 27.3 on the back 50.

Casas shaves a few hundredths to hit a new lifetime best and maintains his position as #2 in the world for 2022.

Dressel, the current world record holder, drops over a second from the prelims to take 2nd (51.79). Coleman Stewart of NC State also dipped under the 52-second barrier to take 3rd (51.93).

Michael Andrew was clearly hurting from his 100 breast, taking the race out in an aggressive 24.5 but fading home in 29.5.

Women’s 400 IM

  • World Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN, 2016): 4:26.36
  • American Record: Katie Hoff (USA, 2008): 4:31.12
  • US Open Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN, 2015): 4:31.07
  • Junior World Record: Alba Vazquez (ESP, 2019): 4:38.53
  • Pro Swim Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN, 2015): 4:31.07

Top 8:

  1. Hali Flickinger (SUN-AZ) – 4:40.62
  2. Ching Hwee Gan (IU-IN) – 4:53.22
  3. Kate McCarthy (EDI-MN) – 4:53.29
  4. Anna Freed (IU-IN) – 4:56.93
  5. Nicole Frank Rodriguez (AZFL-FG) – 4:57.54
  6. Ella Flowers (RICE-GU) – 5:00.89
  7. Sierra Schmidt (SAC-AZ) – 5:02.65
  8. Abby Grottle (TAMU-GA) – 5:08.66

This event featured the youngest field of night with 4 teenagers competing in the A-Final.

Flickinger (4:40.62) dropped a full 10 seconds from the prelims to win the event by nearly 13 seconds. Flickinger looked strong on the fly (1:02.11) and back legs (1:12.53), smooth on the breaststroke, and charged home on the freestyle (1:02.53), nearly breaking 30 seconds on the last 50 (30.14).

There was a tight battle for 2nd, with Ching Hwee Gan had the better freestyle split and out-touched Kate McCarthy.

Men’s 400 IM

  • World Record: Michael Phelps (USA, 2008): 4:03.84
  • American Record: Michael Phelps (USA, 2008): 4:03.84
  • US Open Record: Michael Phelps (USA, 2008): 4:05.25
  • Junior World Record: Ilia Borodin (RUS, 2021): 4:11.17
  • Pro Swim Record: Chase Kalisz (USA, 2018): 4:08.92

Top 8:

  1. Jay Litherland (DYNA-GA) – 4:19.63
  2. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero (UN-13-FL) – 4:21.79
  3. Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz (AGS-GU) – 4:23.29
  4. David Schlicht (SUN-AZ) – 4:23.59
  5. Charlie Swanson (NOVA-VA) – 4:25.32
  6. Mikey Calvillo (IU-IN) – 4:25.54
  7. Matheo Mateos (AZFL-FG) – 4:27.97

Leon Marchand dropped the fastest time in the world (4:10.3) before being disqualified due to a turn violation. Despite being DQed, it’s evident that Marchand is still primed off his NCAA debut and could put together a stellar 400 IM at the World Championships. His time from tonight was just off his time that earned him 6th place in Tokyo (4:11.16).

Marchand’s best time in the event is a 4:09.65 from the French National Championships.

Marchand was disqualified for the infamous “Lochte” turn, where athletes utilize their underwater kicks on their back during the freestyle portion of the IM.

With the DQ, Jay Litherland (4:19.63) earned the win.

 

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Ledecky forever
1 year ago

“Michael Andrew is exhausted after swimming 100 breast”

Laughs in Zhang Yufei.

Pacific Whirl
Reply to  Ledecky forever
1 year ago

He has nothing to do with Zhang. Why did you mention her? A lot of elite swimmers in the world can handle doubles or even triples.

Last edited 1 year ago by Pacific Whirl
Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Pacific Whirl
1 year ago

R/whooosh

Dan
1 year ago

How does Eric Friese 100 fly time stack up for World qualifying for Germany?

CHMI
Reply to  Dan
1 year ago

51.60 is the standard for the 100 fly to qualify for Worlds. With his 52.10 he is also just .15 off the qualification standard for the European Championship (51.95).
Nobody has been under the standard for the 100 fly or faster than Friese, so he could at least take the relay spot.

Germanizer
Reply to  Dan
1 year ago

He didn‘t clear the national standard for worlds, which is 51,60. He also missed the cut for European Championships, which is 51,95.

IM FAN
1 year ago

I am still pissed at that anal judge from the 2015 worlds who got upset at Lochte kicking on his back, which prompted the ever stupid “lochte rule”.

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

Didn’t Ella Eastin miss out on Worlds because of the Lochte rule?

RMS
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

Isn’t this the same rule that disqualified Ella Eastin in the 400 IM?

Cate
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

Judges are there to enforce the rules. Grow up.

Yikes
Reply to  Cate
1 year ago

If nobody protested BS rules imagine all the dumb stuff we’d all be doing today. Judging is fairly subjective and should be open to criticism, they don’t have divine power or anything. If you see a discussion you don’t like just move right along and maybe grab a snickers while you’re at it. 🙄😉

Last edited 1 year ago by Yikes
Mediocre Swammer
Reply to  Cate
1 year ago

I don’t think most people have a problem with the enforcement of the rule since then, but rather the interpretation that ended up making what Lochte was doing illegal. Interpretation had to occur to decide that kicking on one’s back was the same as “swimming backstroke.”

The Weez
Reply to  Mediocre Swammer
1 year ago

Exactly. Things may have changed, but such rules seem asinine. Similar to the (still existent) rule that on the freestyle leg of an IM, one may do whatever stroke they want, except one that has already been performed (so….it’s not really FREE style…and it basically limits one to doing corkscrew. Maybe the “old” butterfly (with breaststroke kick and fly arms, is this best called the Chimera?).

Rules that make one say, “why?”

Or that are of limited upside but considerable downside risk (i.e. the Lochte rule).

Nstell
1 year ago

Leon was 4:09.65 at National French Champs, so that’s his best time

Sub13
1 year ago

Seems people have realised how low quality all the IM times in Tokyo were and have decided to give them a crack

Troyy
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Marchand was already an IMer.

yoo
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

The Men’s 200IM in Tokyo was pretty quick, Shun Wang became the 3rd fastest performer all time and Duncan Scott almost got Cseh’s European record.

Last edited 1 year ago by yoo
There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  yoo
1 year ago

Years of Phelps/Lochte crunching 1:54s for fun have desensitized us to impressive IM times lol

BadShoulder
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Kalisz’s winning 400 IM (4:09.42) was pretty slow, but the depth behind him was incredible. Last summer, it took a time of 4:10.20 to make the final, which was much faster than the 8th place heat finishers in the past (4:13.55, 4:13.33, 4:11.74, and 4:16.77 in 2016, 2012, 2008, and 2004 respectively). In the next few years I think we’ll see an explosion of very fast 400 IMs from guys like Marchand and Foster (and Borodin if international sanctions on Russia are lifted), sort of like what’s been happening with the men’s 200 free and women’s 100 back/fly recently. Phelps’ record is still light years ahead of the times people are putting up now, but I have a feeling it’ll… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by BadShoulder
Taa
Reply to  BadShoulder
1 year ago

1/2 the final in Tokyo was old guys. Add Clareburt and Smith to those other 3 guys you mentioned and that is all there is going sub 4:10 right now. Marchand trained all season with Bowman and he didn’t drop. Foster didn’t drop last week either. I don’t thing any of these guys are going sub 4:08 anytime soon. I’d pick Seto so win worlds if he swims it.

McKeown-Hodges-McKeon-Campbell
Reply to  Taa
1 year ago

half the final were old guys, and seto still finished 9th in the heats. not sure how you can pick seto based on that analysis

Swimmerfromjapananduk
Reply to  McKeown-Hodges-McKeon-Campbell
1 year ago

That was last summer. He had an incredible short course season and doesn’t look bad.

Stewart 100 back gold in Fukuoka
Reply to  Swimmerfromjapananduk
1 year ago

That was also last winter. He recently lost to Honda in 400 IM at Japan Nationals.

Stewart 100 back gold in Fukuoka
Reply to  Taa
1 year ago

I don’t see sub 4:08 this year either, but with so many young guys coming up, we can hope for a better field leading into Paris.

Ledecky forever
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

You know that Marchand swam 400 IM in Tokyo, right?

jamesjabc
1 year ago

Re Curzan “Her 57.02 re-establishes herself as the top time in the world for 2022″.

What does this mean? She was already the top time of the year with a faster time from a month ago. This swim didn’t change anything?

Swim like a fish drink like a fish.
1 year ago

Can we please fix this stupid rule/// I bet it wasn’t even enforced correctly

Swim like a fish drink like a fish.

Aged like a fine wine

Yup
1 year ago

That 54.05 double………

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Yup
1 year ago

Came home in a 29.5, bodes well for his 200im after that double.

Ledecky forever
Reply to  Yup
1 year ago

Laughs in Zhang Yufei and Emma McKeon.

Grant Drukker
Reply to  Yup
1 year ago

Honestly who cares, already won the 100 breast. Least he showed up for both finals. A lot of swimmers don’t even do that these days.