2019 Clovis Pro Swim Series: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2019 CLOVIS PRO SWIM SERIES

• June 12-15, 2019
• Clovis, CA
• Meet Information
• Psych Sheet
• Live stream
• Live results

Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates off all this morning’s action from Clovis.

Women’s 200 Fly – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Cammile Adams, 2012 – 2:06.76
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:14.59

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Lauren Case (Texas) – 2:13.16
2. Remedy Rule (Texas) – 2:14.24
3. Emily Overholt (HPC Vancouver) – 2:14.34
4. Kelsi Dahlia (Cardinal) – 2:15.55
5. Tara Halsted (DART) – 2:16.99
6. Bailey Nero (Unattached) – 2:17.92
7. Vien Nguyen (Unattached) – 2:18.91
8. Megan Dalke (HPC Vancouver) – 2:19.35

Texas Longhorn Lauren Case is the top qualifier in what was a fairly sleepy morning of 200 butterflys. There were only 15 entrants, so no one really had to do anything earth-shattering to make finals. Case did hit a season-best with her swim of 2:13.16 – that’s much better than the 2:14.44 she put up back in January and her 2:15.9 from last month, so it’s worth watching how much more she has in the tank tonight.

Her Longhorn teammate Remedy Rule is the #2 qualifier in 2:14.24. Rule should be able to move up and challenge Case tonight, as Rule has been 2:12.0 (in May) and 2:12.5 (in January) already this year.

Canada’s Emily Overholt is into another A final, going 2:14.34 this morning. That’s three seconds faster than her seed time. Meanwhile Kelsi Dahlia is fourth in 2:15.55. She went 2:12.3 back in Knoxville (in January) and then cut all the way to 2:09.0 in Richmond in April, so she’s probably the favorite tonight, even from lane 6.

Men’s 200 Fly – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Li Zhuhao, 2017 – 1:55.29
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:01.19

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Luca Urlando (DART) – 2:00.32
2. Hector Cruz (Mexico) – 2:01.47
3. Angel Martinez (Mexico) – 2:02.36
4. Justin Wright (Tucson Ford) – 2:02.78
5. Ben Miller (Tigard Tualatin) – 2:03.16
6. Jarod Arroyo (Pitchfork) – 2:03.76
7. Ascanio Pinto (NSE) – 2:05.54
8. Nicolas Duke (Chena) – 2:06.48

17-year-old Luca Urlando continues to be a rising star in the sport, taking the top spot in the 200 fly by almost a full second. The California high school senior went 2:00.32, and even that looked easy. Urlando has been dropping time all spring in this race, and went 1:54.35 just a few weeks ago in Canada, so he’s got a real shot to be significantly faster tonight – perhaps even challenging Li Zhuhao’s Pro Swim Series record.

Mexico’s duo of Hcctor Cruz and Angel Martinez are second and third in 2:01.47 and 2:02.36, respectively. Behind them is American national champ Justin Wright, who was 2:02.36. He’s already been under two minutes twice this season, so watch for a great race between he and Urlando and the two Mexican flyers tonight.

Women’s 50 Free – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Sarah Sjostrom, 2016 – 24.17
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 25.99

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Catie DeLoof (Unattached) – 25.13
2. Mallory Comerford (Louisville) – 25.46
3. Kelsi Dahlia (Cardinal) – 25.63
4. Julie Meynen (Luxembourg) – 25.67
5. Anelise Diener (Texas) – 25.74
6. Ali DeLoof (Team Elite) – 25.95
7. Marina Spadoni (Pitchfork) – 25.97
8. Linnea Mack (Osprey) – 26.04

Catie DeLoof had perhaps the swim of the morning so far, going 25.13 to blow out her personal best by two tenths. The youngest DeLoof was 25.31 last summer at Nationals. Her older sisters Ali and Gabby have also had great success after their college careers wrapped up, so we might be on the cusp of seeing a similar long course explosion from the now-graduated senior Catie.

Her season-best to this point was 25.54 from the Grand Challenge just last month. She also cut her short course 50 free from 22.1 to 21.8 this season.

Louisville’s Mallory Comerford was second in 25.46 – that’s about a half-second off her best time. Comerford was 24.89 as recently as Brazilian nationals in April. Her Louisville teammate Kelsi Dahlia came off the 200 fly to go 25.63 for third. She’s a potential winner in both events, but may have to scratch one for tonight’s final, as that will be a pretty tight turnaround this evening.

Men’s 50 Free – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Nathan Adrian, 2015 – 21.56
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 23.19

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Bradley Tandy (Phoenix) – 22.37
2. Gabe Castano (Mexico) – 22.61
3. Michael Chadwick (Team Elite) – 22.66
4. Cristian Quintero (Trojan) – 22.82
5. Peter Holoda (Phoenix) – 22.90
6. Tate Jackson (Unattached) – 22.97
7. Jack Alexy (Somerset Hills Y) – 23.00
8. Devon Nowicki (Michigan Lakeshore) – 23.49

South Africa’s Bradley Tandy has one of the world’s best starts, and he rode that to the top qualifying spot for the men. His 22.37 was three tenths faster than the field, and he’ll look to match is 21.9 season-best from South African Nationals in April.

Mexico’s Gabe Castano was second to Tandy in that heat, which produced five of the eight eventual A finalists. Castano sits second in 22.61. Venezuela’s Cristian Quintero, Hungary’s Peter Holoda and American 16-year-old Jack Alexy all made the championship final out of that heat. Alexy moves up to #12 all-time in USA Swimming’s 15-16 age group ranks.

Team Elite’s Michael Chadwick is the third qualifier at 22.66. He was 21.9 in Richmond in April, so look for him to challenge Tandy for the win tonight.

Women’s 100 Back – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Olivia Smoliga, 2019 – 58.73
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:02.69

Update: meet announcers indicated a change to these results from what was originally announced and posted. We’ve updated below.

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Ali DeLoof (Team Elite) – 1:01.31
2. Isabelle Stadden (Aquajets) – 1:01.35
3. Catie DeLoof (Unattached) – 1:01.77
4. Natalie Mannion (Commonwealth) – 1:02.42
5. Louise Hansson (Trojan) – 1:02.53
6. Olivia Ellard (UBC Thunderbirds) – 1:03.89
7. Athena Kovacs (Mexico) – 1:04.74
8. Katey Lewicki (Elevation) – 1:04.81

Team Elite’s Ali DeLoof gave the DeLoof family a second-straight top qualifier on the women’s side. She was 1:01.31 and narrowly edged Minnesota’s Aquajets club 16-year-old Isabelle Stadden (1:01.35). The eldest DeLoof has been 1:00 a number of times this year, but hasn’t been under a minute since May of 2018. She won the 50 back last night and was only three tenths off her lifetime-best, so a 1:00-to-59 is probably in the cards for tonight.

The younger DeLoof, Catie, is third, with both DeLoofs coming off of the 50 free. Catie DeLoof was 1:01.77, just a tenth off her lifetime-best from last summer’s Nationals. She could be in line for a great night tonight if she can hit a lifetime-best here along with the 50 free.

Last night’s 100 fly winner Louise Hansson of Sweden and Trojan Swim Club is fifth in 1:02.53. She’s a tick behind 15-year-old Natalie Mannion.

Men’s 100 Back – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: David Plummer, 2016 – 52.40
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 56.59

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Justin Ress (Wolfpack Elite) – 54.44
2. Markus Thormeyer (HPC Vancouver) – 54.99
3. Matt Grevers (Tucson Ford) – 55.15
4. Dylan Carter (Unattached) – 55.53
5. Chris Staka (Aptos Cabrillos) – 56.39
6. Andy Song (Mexico) – 56.90
7. Kristofer Rogic (Roadrunner) – 56.93
8. Luca Urlando (DART) – 57.35

NC State grad Justin Ress is the top 100 back qualifier, hoping to add to his 50 back title from last night. He was 54.44 this morning. Ress has had a quiet spring in long course, swimming only the FINA Champions Series meet in Hungary. His long course season at this point only includes three 50 backs, though his 24.6 in Hungary was a great swim. He had a nice short course season in the 100 back though (dropping from 46.6 to 45.3), so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go after his 53.2 long course best later this summer.

Ress’s time also ties Giles Smith‘s 100 fly for the top prelims swim of the meet so far by FINA points.

Canada’s standout Markus Thormeyer was second in 54.99, a ways off his seed, but winning his heat easily. American Matt Grevers is third in 55.15, with Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter close behind.

Women’s 200 Breast – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Annie Lazor, 2019 – 2:20.77
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:33.29

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Sydney Pickrem (Unattached) – 2:28.46
2. Melissa Rodriguez (Mexico) – 2:31.31
3. Esther Gonzalez (Mexico) – 2:31.60
4. Breeja Larson (NYAC) – 2:32.65
5. Mackenzie Duarte (Unattached) – 2:35.59
6. Abigail Herscu (Livermore Aqua Cowboys) – 2:36.34
7. Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (HPC Vancouver) – 2:37.68
8. Hillary Metcalfe (Langley Olympian) – 2:37.80

Canada’s Sydney Pickrem is having a great meet so far. The 100 breast champ from last night roared to a 2:28.46 for the top 200 breast prelims time by a huge margin. The rest of the field is almost three seconds back of Pickrem.

Mexico’s duo of Melissa Rodriguez and Esther Gonzalez are second and third with a pair of 2:31s. Rodriguez was second in the 100 breast last night and pushed Pickrem down the stretch, so keep an eye on her tonight.

Breeja Larson of New York Athletic Club is fourth in 2:32.65 before a big dropoff to the rest of the heat.

Men’s 200 Breast – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Andrew Wilson, 2018 – 2:08.95
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:17.89

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. AJ Pouch (Team Rebel) – 2:12.36
2. Daniel Roy (Alto Swim) – 2:12.64
3. Brandon Fischer (Livermore Aqua Cowboys) – 2:13.07
4. Miguel de Lara Ojeda (Mexico) – 2:15.46
5. Mauro Castillo Luna (Mexico) – 2:18.17
6. Youssef El-Kamash (Phoenix) – 2:18.76
7. Devon Nowicki (Michigan Lakeshore) – 2:20.55
8. Zachary Tan (Phoenix) – 2:21.61

Team Rebel Aquatics 18-year-old AJ Pouch won the opening heat of the men’s 200 breast, and his time held up over the final two heats as the morning’s best. Pouch was 2:12.36, just off his career-best of 2:11.80. Pouch put up that time at Junior Pan Pacs last summer, so watch for him to challenge for another 2:11 tonight.

Pouch also takes over as our top prelims swim so far, scoring 876 FINA points and putting himself in line for a $1500 bonus.

Stanford freshman Daniel Roy dominated the final heat and came in second overall at 2:12.64. Roy has been as fast as 2:09 in his career; in fact, he did so on last year’s Pro Swim Series.

Last night’s breakout 100 breast champ Brandon Fischer is third in 2:13.07, also winning his heat easily. That was a lifetime-best by about a tenth of a second, besting his 2:13.19 from last summer’s Nationals. Fischer dropped well over a second off his career-best 100 breast yesterday, so watch for him to challenge Pouch and Roy in tonight’s final.

Women’s 50 Fly – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Farida Osman, 2019 – 25.65

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kendyl Stewart (Team Elite) – 26.73
2. Louise Hansson (Trojan) – 26.83
3. Kelsi Dahlia (Cardinal) – 27.06
4. Haley Black (HPC Vancouver) – 27.46
5. Alia Atkinson (South Florida) – 27.62
6. Mallory Comerford (Louisville) – 27.63
7. Linnea Mack (Osprey) – 27.67
8. Lauren Case (Texas) – 27.74

Kendyl Stewart is the top qualifier for the women’s 50 fly, but it’s a tight battle behind her. Last night’s 100 fly champ Louise Hansson will be a major threat, going 26.83 this morning to Stewart’s 26.73. Meanwhile Kelsi Dahlia is third in 27.06.

Dahlia swam three events this morning: 200 fly, 50 free and 50 fly. That’ll be a brutal triple tonight if she sticks with all three, but it also might be the right time of the season to treat tonight’s session like a training exercise. Either way, any of those top three could reach the wall first tonight.

Canada’s Haley Black is third, and Jamaican breaststroker Alia Atkinson showed her versatility with the fifth qualifying spot.

Men’s 50 Fly – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Matt Targett, 2012 – 23.11

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Giles Smith (Phoenix) – 23.95
2. Peter Holoda (Phoenix) – 24.23
3. Ryan Coetzee (Tennessee) – 24.54
4. Jorge Iga (Mexico) – 24.81
5. Lukas Miller (Elevation) – 25.04
6. Justin Wright (Tucson) – 25.10
7. Josiah Binnema (HPC Vancouver) – 25.27
8. Daniel Ramirez (Mexico) – 25.32

Giles Smith was once again fast in the morning. His 23.95 leads all qualifiers by three tenths. He lost the 100 fly last night to Luca Urlando, but Urlando is not in the 50 fly this weekend.

Hungary’s Peter Holoda, who trains with Smith at the Phoenix Swim Club, is second in 24.23. Tennessee’s Ryan Coetzee, a South African national, is third in 24.54.

Women’s 400 Free – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Katie Ledecky, 2018 – 3:57.94
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 4:16.89

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Erica Sullivan (Sandpipers) – 4:12.95
2. Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 4:17.35
3. Claire Tuggle (Clovis) – 4:18.40
4. Remedy Rule (Texas) – 4:19.63
5. Mackenzie Padington (HPC Victoria) – 4:21.14
6. Natalie Mannion (Commonwealth) – 4:24.95
7. Ayumi Macias (Mexico) – 4:25.34
8. Allison Bernier (Charger) – 4:28.24

18-year-old Erica Sullivan leads a young field of 400 freestylers. She was 4:12.95 this morning, well ahead of the rest of the field. Sullivan is an open water star who deferred her enrollment at USC for two years to focus on the 2020 Olympics. Her lifetime-best in the 400 is 4:09.43 set back in 2017. She was second in the 800 free on night 1 and was only eight tenths off her lifetime-best from 2018 Pan Pacs, so keep an eye on her to challenge that 4:09 career-best tonight. She could also move up from #36 all-time in USA Swimming’s 17-18 ranks, where she currently sits.

Texas’s Evie Pfeifer is second in 4:17.35. Her teammate Remedy Rule is fourth in 4:19.63. Between the two is 14-year-old Claire Tuggle, the age group standout who is currently #4 all-time in USA Swimming 13-14 history in this race. If she can challenge her 4:10.11 career-best (set last summer) in tonight’s final, she could be moving past Katie Ledecky (4:09.30) in the all-time 13-14 ranks.

Other youngsters in the mix: 15-year-old Natalie Mannion of Commonwealth, who makes her second A final of the day, and 16-year-old Allison Bernier of Charger Aquatics, who snuck into 8th.

Canada’s Mackenzie Padington is fifth in 4:21.14.

Men’s 400 Free – Prelims

• Pro Swim Series record: Sun Yang, 2016 – 3:43.55
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 3:57.29

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Trey Freeman (Baylor) – 3:49.22
2. Chris Wieser (DART) – 3:57.71
3. Alexander Pratt (HPC Vancouver) – 3:57.73
4. Akaram Mahmoud (Egypt) – 3:58.40
5. Connor Daniels (DART) – 4:01.42
6. Jeremy Bagshaw (HPC Victoria) – 4:01.65
7. Sawyer Grimes (Sandpipers) – 4:02.30
8. Parker Reynolds (Santa Maria) – 4:02.86

Florida freshman Trey Freeman had another blowout swim, leading 400 free qualifiers by more than 8 seconds. Representing Baylor Swim Club, Freeman came within two tenths of his personal-best with a 3:49.22 this morning, crushing his heat. Freeman was 3:49.02 at Nationals last summer, and has another crack at a personal-best tonight. He cut a few tenths at night after a dominating 200 free performance last night, too, so he should keep fans engaged through the end of tonight’s finals session.

Freeman also retakes the top prelims swim of the meet so far with 884 FINA points. That title has passed around a lot on the men’s side, but Freeman is now in line for the $1500 bonus.

Arizona alum and DART swimmer Chris Wieser was second in that heat and second overall. He was 3:57.71, one of just four men to break four minutes this morning. 19-year-old Canadian Alexander Pratt was third in that heat in 3:57.73, and Akaram Mahmoud of Egypt won the other circle-seeded heat in 3:58.40.

TOP PRELIMS SWIMS (FINA POINTS)

The man and woman with the top prelims swim (based on FINA points) across the entire meet will earn a $1500 bonus. We’ll do our best to keep tabs on the top swims so far, updating this section when a top time has gone down:

• Women: Leah Smith, 200 free: 1:58.10 (875 FINA points)
• Men: Trey Freeman, 400 free: 3:49.22 (884 FINA points)