Toronto 2015 Pan American Games: Day Three 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 three prelims click here.

 

Day three will kick off with the women’s 400m IM, an event where American Caitlin Leverenz is the favourite. This will be her first big swim of the meet, so look for her to make a splash and try to establish herself as the top IMer at this meet. She will have the middle lane in the first heat. Emily Overholt and Sydney Pickrem  of Canada will be side-by-side in heat number two and will be looking to try and take down Leverenz tonight. Overholt is the top seed with a 4:37.89, so she’s in a sturdy position to do so.

The men’s 400m IM features a couple Brazilian studs with the likes of Brandonn Almeida and Thiago Pereira. Michael Weiss of the United States has plenty of potential to be competitive as well.

Yesterday Weiss injured his fingers reaching in for the finish of the 200m freestyle. The severity of his injury is unknown.

Oh Canada is the women’s 100m butterfly going to be fast. Canadian record holder Katerine Savard, Cal’s Noemie Thomas, and short course American record holder Kelsi Worrell are all in contention for gold. Savard holds a 57-low personal best and is favoured to win the event later on tonight. If she wants to do that, she’s going to need to hold off all advances from the two college swimmers beside her.

The American depth in the 100m butterfly is crazy right now, and that depth extends to top seed Giles Smith. One of the only guys who could throw down with Smith at this meet is Santo Condorelli of Canada. Thiago Pereira, Arthuer Mendes and Albert Subirats might have something to say about that though.

The women’s 4×200 freestyle relay will hopefully be just as exciting as the 4x200m freestyle relay. Both the US and Canada have very strong teams with the slight edge going to the US. Once again, it should be a close one.

WOMEN’S 400m IM

  • World record: 4:28.42 – Ye Shiwen (China) 2012
  • Pan Am Games record: 4:38.46 – Joanne Malar (Canada) 1999
  • Americas record: 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (USA) 2008
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season: 4:37.56

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Caitlin Leverenz (USA) 4:37.74
  2. Emily Overholt (Canada) 4:39.84
  3. Sydney Pickrem (Canada) 4:40.77

Caitlin Leverenz went for Joanne Malar’s Pan American Games record this morning and at the touch that’s exactly what she got. Without a big weakness, Leverenz charged way out in front on heat one to easily finish in 4:37.74. She looked smooth and in control, but didn’t have to race much considering how far ahead she was.

Heat two of two was a race down to the wire. Canadian Emily Overholt, Canadian Sydney Pickrem, and American Katie Mills all battled it out in order to come out on top.

Mills led at the halfway point, but after a huge breaststroke leg by Overholt she was passed. Soon enough, Pickrem got by her as well and the three finished in that order.

Overholt swam a time of 4:39.84 to be the only other swimmer in the field under 4:40 this morning. If anyone can beat Leverenz tonight it’s looking like it will have to be Overholt.

Pickrem was a 4:40.77 with Mills touching in 4:41.05.

MEN’S 400m IM

  • World record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (USA) 2008
  • Pan Am Games record: 4:11.14 – Thiago Pereira (Brazil) 2007
  • Americas record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (USA) 2008
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season: 4:13.28

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Max Williamson (USA) 4:17.92
  2. Michael Weiss (USA) 4:17.96
  3. Luke Reilly (Canada) 4:19.44

The two Americans are looking to be in a position to finish first and second during tonight’s finals after absolutely dominating the event this morning.

Max Williamson and Michael Weiss both went head-to-head bringing everything down to the wire. It looked like a dead heat, but the scoreboard showed that Williamson had touched first just four one-hundredths of a second faster than Weiss.

Williamson was a 4:17.92, Weiss a 4:17.96.

Canadian Luke Reilly managed to edge out Pan American Games record holder Thiago Pereira in order to win the final heat of the men’s 400m IM. Chasing him down towards the end, Reilly was a 4:19.44 with Pereira fading to a 4:19.92.

WOMEN’S 100m BUTTERFLY

  • World record: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer (USA) 2012
  • Pan Am Games record: 58.59 – Claire Donahue (USA) 2011
  • Americas record: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer (USA) 2012
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season: 57.83

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Kelsi Worrell (USA) 57.23
  2. Katerine Savard (Canada) 58.34
  3. Noemie Thomas (Canada) 58.61

For anyone that has ever counted Kelsi Worrell out in the long course version of the 100m fly, she just proved them wrong. In heat number one Worrell rocketed to a new Pan American Games record of 57.23 in the 100m fly which now ranks her the third fastest swimmer in the world this season.

Not only is the time incredible and a huge improvement for Worrell, but it puts her almost out of range of her competition. Going into the meet Canadian Katerine Savard was the favourite to win by a country mile, sporting a seed time of 57.27.

Tonight, if Worrell can match her prelim time or improve upon it, it will take a Canadian record in order for Savard to take her down.

Savard spoke to Swimswam about wanting to go 56-seconds in the 100m fly either here at the Pan American Games or at the World Championships just around the corner. A sub 57 100m fly gold might be a possibility here in Toronto tonight.

Noemie Thomas of Canada missed the 200m butterfly due to illness, but it appears that she’s back in good shape and ready to race. With the 58.61 she swam this morning, she’s a definite podium threat for Canada.

2014-2015 LCM Women 100 Fly

SarahSWE
SJOSTROM
08/03
55.64*WR
2Jeanette
OTTESEN
DEN57.0408/02
3Kelsi
WORRELL
USA57.2407/16
4Emma
McKEON
AUS57.3104/03
5Ying
LU
CHN57.3608/02
View Top 26»

MEN’S 100m BUTTERFLY

  • World record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps (USA)
  • Pan Am Games record: 52.05 – Kaio de Almeida
  • Americas record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps (USA)
  • 10th fastest time in the world this season: 51.74

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Giles Smith (USA) 52.13
  2. Mauricio Fiol (Peru) 52.25
  3. Santiago Grassi (Argentina) 52.34

The men’s 100m fly was the wildcard event of the morning. Although it was predicted that Giles Smith of the United States would take the top seed, and he did, the second and third seeds are rather surprising.

Following Smith’s 52.13 was Peruvian swimmer Mauricio Fiol who has been absolutely on fire this past week. Fiol rocked a 52.25 at the touch in heat three after a tough battle with Smith.

The third seed went to Santiago Grassi of Argentina who won heat two with a time of 52.34. In heat two, Brazilian Olympian Thiago Pereira was a no-show which allowed Grassi to take advantage of the situation.

Tonight’s final will have talent from multiple different nations. Long Gutierrez from Mexico, Albert Subirats of Venezuela, Santo Condorelli of Canada, Arthur Mendes of Brazil, and Eugene Godsoe of the United States will all be present tonight as well.

WOMEN’S 4X200M FREESTYLE RELAY

  • World record: 7:42.08 – China 2009
  • Pan Am Games record: 8:01.18 – USA 2011
  • Americas record: 7:42.56 – USA 2009

Top seeds heading into finals 

  1. Team USA 8:05.52
  2. Team Canada 8:06.06
  3. Team Brazil 8:19.87

The Americans took the top seed heading to finals and have tons of improve to improve upon their time as do the Canadians

The Canadian team this morning consisted of Erika Seltrenreich-Hodgson, Alyson Ackman, Brittany MacLean, and Tabitha Baumann. 200m freestyle silver medallist Emily Overholt and 200m freestyle fourth place finisher Katerine Savard both aren’t on the relay.

Overholt might not be on the relay tonight considering she has the 400m IM final, although finals team lists have not yet been released. Savard has the 100m fly final tonight as well.

As for the Americans, they went without Allison Schmitt and Kiera Janzen this morning, two swimmers who could make a huge impact when it comest to tonight’s final. Schmitt was the individual 200m freestyle winner last night sporting a 1:56-low. With a time like that, a 1:55 split is not out of the question. A split like that would really help the Americans take the victory.

 

 

 

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bobo gigi
8 years ago

Hopefull Kelsi and Caitlin have not given everything in prelims.

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

hopefully

Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

BOBO,
watch out for today transmission!It will begin in Sportv2, but after half hour will go to Sportv(if the programming guide is right!)
I don’t know if you can see this schedule: http://sportv.globo.com/site/programacao/
you must find “Natação”(swimming) .My local time 20:00 is 19:00 in Toronto.

8 years ago

Wow!I only saw now…huge drop by Peruvian guy!His best was 53.0 if I am not mistaken…

bobo gigi
Reply to  DDias
8 years ago

Not surprising at all since his 200 fly.
Had a monster time drop in 1.55.15.

Had a 100 fly PB of 53.03 before that meet.
We can expect to see him in 51 mid in final.

8 years ago

It looks today will be USA day at PanAms.

Philip Johnson
8 years ago

Don’t count out the Olympic silver medalist.

ta
8 years ago

USA gold or silver in every event tonight. Could go to the top of the medal standing. I think Swimswam fans overreacting a bit to our performance but think day 1 just a fluke

Rafael
Reply to  ta
8 years ago

Women side: Worrel and Leverenz are favorite.. same for 4×200..

Men side: 400 IM, Pereira is the favorite.. he is the only on the field who has sub 4:10 on his name
100 fly: Will be best race of the night, Everbody can win or get locked out of medal on this race

Sprintdude9000
8 years ago

Really happy that Fiol is swimming fast – I remember being very impressed with his performances on the World Cups in either 2012 or 2013 (fairly certain he medaled at least once), glad that he’s now reemerged better than ever!

Rafael
8 years ago

Pereira did not fade at the end, he took the race very easily, he is the favorite for tonight..

thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Very suspicious improvement by Worrell. In general very suspicious times by the canadian/brazilian swimmers, Grabich and Fiol, i hope they wont compete at the world championships or at least will be slower.

Rafael
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Why such an attitude?

Gabrich, Fiol, the brazilians, canadians will be at Worlds and many of them will be fightning for medals.. individually and on relays..

emg1986
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Not really, considering that she has only seriously converted to long course this year and went 58.25 un-tapered. Also considering that she isn’t going to worlds so it isn’t entirely inconceivable that she has aimed for this to be her peak meet.

Also what happened to innocent until proven guilty, or innocent before a crime is even known to have been committed. They’ve improved, good for them!

Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Progression yards/meters

2009- 56.0/102.8
2010- 55.7/104.2
2011- 54.9/103.2
2012- 54.5/100.5
2013- 51.5/59.2
2014- 50.9/59.1
2015- 49.8/57.2

Consistent drops in yards, and after a monster swim the summer after her freshman year of HS, she’s made slightly less but still steady drops in long course.

Your right. It is suspicious that she still isn’t at her yards level. So a 56 low would make sense soon.

I’d love for every good swim to not be followed up with a cheating allegation.

swamswummer
Reply to  Hulk Swim
8 years ago

She clearly cheated in 2013 as that is the only year that violates the 2.4 second / 100 yard / year improvement rate that is acheivable by legal methods

Reply to  swamswummer
8 years ago

For some reason her NJ HS State time isn’t in swims for 2012… she was 53.7 there. So she avoids your made up rule.

Plus you know… college. Weights. Etc. Etc.

Sprintdude9000
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Very suspicious times by everyone THOMASLURZFAN! Or…maybe it’s a fast pool?

TA
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

Very suspicious post by ThomasLurzfan. In general I hope he won’t post anymore on SwimSwam or at least he will be more intelligent!@#!

pvdh
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
8 years ago

It is called training. look it up in the dictionary.

bobo gigi
Reply to  pvdh
8 years ago

Why do you all react to his/her comment?

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

It’s pure provocation. Silence is the best answer.

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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