Toronto 2015 Pan American Games: Day Five Prelims Live Recap

TORONTO 2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

For full coverage of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games including photos, live recaps, record posts, and more, visit our Toronto 2015 Pan American Games event channel here.

To see a complete preview of day four prelims click here.

 

WOMEN’S 800m FREESTYLE – B FINAL

  • World record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky (USA) 2014
  • Pan Am Games record: 8:34.65 – Kaitlin Sandeno (USA) 1999
  • Americas record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky (USA) 2014
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season:

Top placings so far in final one 

  1. Bruna Veronez (Brazil) 8:40.75
  2. Monserrat Ortuno (Mexico) 8:45.81
  3. Natalie Jaspeado (Mexico) 8:53.70

Bruna Veronez of Brazil led the first final of the women’s 800m freestyle in start-to-finish fashion, claiming the win in 8:40.75.

Behind here were the two Mexican ladies who absolutely brought the heat. Monserrat Ortuna beat one of the top Mexican swimmers, Natalie Jaspeado, in order to sit in second with one final remaining.

Ortuno was a 8:45.81 at the wall after closing out her race fairly strongly. Jaspeado was in third up until the 200 where she dropped into a battle for fourth and fifth. During the last 100, Jaspeado turned on the jets in order to grab a top three finish.

 

WOMENS 200m IM

  • World record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (USA) 2009
  • Pan Am Games record: 2:13.07 – Julia Smit (USA) 2007
  • Americas record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (USA) 2009
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season:

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Caitlin Leverenz (USA) 2:11.04
  2. Sydney Pickrem (Canada) 2:11.16
  3. Meghan Small (USA) 2:13.90

Caitlin Leverenz and Sydney Pickrem had quite the showdown in the women’s 200m IM this morning which might foreshadow what will happen tonight during finals.

Leverenz went out to an early lead, touching first after the fly in 28.45. The backstroke has long been her weakness, and that’s where Pickrem managed to make up plenty of room.

Touching second at the 100 to Pickrem, Leverenz chased her down in order to regain the lead with only 50-meters of freestyle remaining. Pickrem and Leverenz were locked in a battle to the wall, however it was Leverenz who touched first in 2:11.04. Pickrem was second in 2:11.16.

Leverenz and Pickrem are now ranked fifth and sixth in the world this season.

2014-2015 LCM Women 200 IM

KatinkaHUN
HOSSZU
08/03
2:06.12*WR
2Siobhan-Marie
O'CONNOR
GBR2.08.4508/02
2Kanako
WATANABE
JPN2.08.4508/03
4Maya
DiRADO
USA2.08.9908/03
5Sydney
PICKREM
CAN2.10.0808/02
6Hannah
MILEY
GBR2.10.1908/03
View Top 27»

 

MEN’S 200m IM

  • World record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (USA) 2011
  • Pan Am Games record: 1:57.79 – Thiago Pereira (Brazil) 2007
  • Americas record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (USA) 2011
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season:

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Henrique Rodrigues (Brazil) 1:59.91
  2. Ty Stewart (USA) 2:00.25
  3. Gunnar Bentz (USA) 2:01.26

Henrique Rodrigues was the only man this morning to dip under the two-minute barrier in the men’s 200m IM. Rodrigues swam a very tight race, rocking a 1:59.91 at the touch.

With him the whole way as American Ty Stewart out of lane five. Stewart was right with him at the end, putting up the second fastest time of the morning with a swift 2:00.25.

Nobody else was under 2:01, giving American Gunnar Bentz a crack at a medal position as he took the third seed overall in 2:01.26. There were multiple swimmers in that 2:01 range including Canadian Luke Reilly and Brazilian Thiago Pereira.

Pereira looked extremely smooth and relaxed this morning as though he was holding back a lot. He’ll get to race for gold tonight after winning heat three in a time of 2:01.68.

 

MEN’S 1500m FREESTYLE – B FINAL

  • World record: 14:31.02 – Sun Yang (China) 2012
  • Pan Am Games record: 15:12.33 – Charles Peterson (USA) 2007
  • Americas record: 7:41.86 – Ryan Cochrane (Canada) 2012
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season:

Top placings so far in final one 

  1. Ricardo Vargas (Mexico) 15:27.23
  2. Alejandro Gomez (Venezuela) 15:27.30
  3. Arturo Perez (Mexico) 15:42.39

Rarely do you see any sort of a distance event ending so closely that it comes down to the touch, but that’s exactly what happened in the second final of the men’s 1500m freestyle.

Ricardo of Vargas was on an absolute mission, and ate up an eight second deficit in order to take down Alejandro Gomez of Venezuela.

Vargas swam a time of 15:27.23 to Gomez’s 15:27.30, just barely out-touching him for the second final win. Now, Vargas will be the top seed overall as finals approach.

Although his time doesn’t look to be in contention for a medal, if six swimmers tonight go slower than his time he will end up on the podium.

WOMEN’S 4x100m MEDLEY RELAY

  • World record: 3:52.05 – USA 2012
  • Pan Am Games record: 4:01.00 – USA 2011
  • Americas record: 3:52.05 – USA 2012

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. USA 3:57.35
  2. Canada 4:02.28
  3. Brazil  4:11.06

The United States looked unbeatable after their relay performance this morning. Natalie Coughlin led things off with a 59.20 100m backstroke, the fastest she’s been since the 2011 World Championships.

Katie Meili was a 1:06.50 to extend the Americans lead. Right after, Kelsi Worrell jumped in to put the red white and blue even further in front. Allison Schmitt dove in for the freestyle leg, dropping a 53.95 to absolutely destroy the previous games record.

After Schmitt and Coughlin’s performances, it’s likely that they will keep the same four for the relay tonight.

Coughlin could swim the freestyle, but Schmitt’s 53.95 is a very good performance, and the difference between Coughlin’s backstroke and Smoliga’s backstroke is much greater than Coughlin’s freestyle and Schmitt’s freestyle.

The Americans look to be an absolute lock for gold tonight, the only question is: how fast can they go?

 

MEN’S 4x100m  MEDLEY RELAY

  • World record: 3:27.28 – USA 209
  • Pan Am Games record: 3:37.27 – USA 2003
  • Americas record: 3:27.28 – USA 209

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. USA 3:38.99
  2. Canada 3:39.09
  3. Brazil 3:42.83

Unlike the women’s relay, the men’s relay was extremely close and highlighted what could be a potential upset for tonight’s final.

Nick Thoman swam above 55-seconds on his leadoff and the Americans didn’t get the lead they anticipated. On the breaststroke leg, Brad Craig picked things up allowing Eugene Godsoe to build on his lead during the fly.

On the freestyle, Canadian Yuri Kisil chased down Michael Weiss and almost caught him, losing by just one tenth of a second.

Depending on who will be subbed in where tonight, there’s potential for a much closer final than previously anticipated as was evident by this mornings performance.

 

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Sportinindc
8 years ago

According to the all time performance table in the 100 back, Franklin has swam faster than Coughlin’s fresh post of 59.20 only 6 times – all from 2011 and 2012. Here’s hoping she finds her way back by Kazan.

Sportinindc
Reply to  Sportinindc
8 years ago

Plus 2 more in 2013. Nothing sInce then.

aquajosh
8 years ago

Andreina Pinto looked like she wanted to strangle the mascot toy she was holding on the podium last night after the 400. I expect that she’s going out guns blazing to win the 800 decisively. She was the only South American female to make an Olympic final in 2012, so I can’t imagine she’s fully peaked for this meet though.

Bobo, I don’t think Natalie needs to focus on the 100 back. By focusing on freestyle, she has taken the pressure off of her backstroke, which helps her stay fresher, and it also keeps expectation from getting in the way of performance. Do I think she will swim the 100 back at Trials? Yes, but I think Kathleen Baker is… Read more »

Rafael
Reply to  aquajosh
8 years ago

I´ve never saw her swimming IM or breast.. she is probably now a 54 low freestyler a 57 flyer maybe and a 59 backstroker.. but also never saw her swim any 200m race.. She went 58 mid at fly already but a time ago it was.. she went much better lately.
Drswim.. I think Brandonn will push Feeley too he wants to go below 15:10 and probably has enough for it.. even focusin on Jr Worlds..

bobo gigi
Reply to  aquajosh
8 years ago

I didn’t say she must give up freestyle. Yes, it helps her to stay fresh mentally and have fun in another stroke.
100 fly? I know she has been a great butterflyer in the early 2000s but I’m not sure that’s a good idea right now just when new talents wake up that event in USA. 57 low will be necessary to qualify. I don’t see her able to multiple the races on fly.
And about the second spot in the 100 back, today I would give her to either Kathleen Baker, Natalie Coughlin or Amy Bilquist who I think, has the biggest potential in the future.

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

I’m not sure about the “who” in my last sentence. 🙂
who?
whom?

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

I’ve just wondered why I’ve asked that stupid question. 🙄
Amy Bilquist who, I think, has….

DrSwim_Phil
8 years ago

I think Feely wins the 1500. It’s one thing for Cochrane to swim the 400 unshaved/untapered. The 1500 is another thing entirely. And Feely closed on Cochrane in the 400.

bobo gigi
8 years ago

We believed and herself the first probably, that her best chance to go to Rio was now on free with the 50 or with 4X100 relay. She was more focused on free in the last few years.

Will that swim change her mindset going into the olympic year?
I presume that yes.
That’s her baby race.
She has taken time off from backstroke to stay fresh mentally and motivated.
It works perfectly and shows that she has managed her career in a very smart way.
No other American apart from Missy is sure to swim as fast at trials next year. On paper she has more chances of qualification than in the 50 free. The… Read more »

bobo gigi
8 years ago

7th best time in career for Natalie Coughlin
3rd best time in career in textile
27th swim under the minute
Best time since 59.12 at 2011 worlds
First woman in history under the minute on 8/12/2002 with a magical and legendary 59.58

TexasBackstroker
8 years ago

I called Couhhlin’s backstroke being amazing on this relay, so happy for her!

I don’t see Scmitt going more than .1 faster, .2-.3 if she’s feeling the heat.

Meilie and Worrell obviously we’re holding back, so I’m assuming the same splits for them that I guessed yesterday.

Back: Coughlin 59.47 (still the second fastest time by an American, and will still hold of Medeiros for the lead, but she had to be giving full exertion in that)

Breast: Meili 1:05.20
Fly: Worrell 56.98
Free: Scmitt 53.79

3:55.44

What I wish for

Back: Coughlin 58.88
Breast: Meili 1:04.99
Fly: Worrell 56.75
Free: 53.60

3:54.22

(Not entirely unrealistic, but not highly likely all of them will have… Read more »

bobo gigi
8 years ago

I didn’t know that rule of only 2 changes between the prelims and the final. Thanks Braden for the information.
Stupid rule.

Anyway, with such pathetic breast and free legs, USA has absolutely no chance of winning the gold.
Brazil on paper is much faster.
Guido 53.40/53.50 Thoman 53.20/53.30
França 58.60/58.80 split Craig 1.00.70 split
Mendes 52.20 split Smith 51.40 split
Chierighini 47.70 split Jones or Schneider 48.60/48.70 split

Rafael
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Brazil (even without Cielo) and with mendes on fly (Pereira it still our best flyer and can split a 51 mid, but won´t swim at night probably as he is pretty tired and has 200 IM justbefore) can put a team to go 3:31 now.. good to fight for Bronze on Worlds adding Cielo and putting Pereira on fly.. potential for a 3:30 3:29 high..

Flyin'
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

Someone please get us a few good breaststrokers 😛

KT
8 years ago

Just watched the video of the woman’s race. Natalie looked really relaxed and comfortable the first 30meters. I think she saved just enough to dip under 59 tonight.

bobo gigi
Reply to  KT
8 years ago

Hopefully you’re right and hopefully I’m wrong but it would really surprise me.
She will be next to her the Brazilan Medeiros and will have to fight. Not the same as when you swim very relaxed in prelims well ahead.
Natalie, make me wrong. Anyway, I’m rooting for her.

About Mitch Bowmile

Mitch Bowmile

Mitch worked for 5-years with SwimSwam news as a web producer focusing on both Canadian and international content. He coached for Toronto Swim Club for four seasons as a senior coach focusing on the development of young swimmers. Mitch is an NCCP level 2 certified coach in Canada and an ASCA Level …

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