2020 Pro Swim Series – Knoxville: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – KNOXVILLE

• Thursday, January 16 – Sunday, January 19, 2020
• Knoxville, TN – Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center – University of Tennessee
• Long course meters (LCM) format
• Thursday distance session: 4 PM (U.S. Eastern Time)
• Fri-Sun.: 9:30 AM Prelims / 6:30 PM Finals
• Meet site
• Live Stream
  • All Prelims, B finals, Thursday & Sunday finals
  • Friday & Saturday A Finals
• Psych Sheets
• Live results

The 2020 Pro Swim Series Knoxville continues this morning with day 3 prelims. Swimmers are set to compete in the 200 fly, 50 free, 100 back, 200 breast, and 400 free. After setting a new NAG Record in the 100 fly last night, Regan Smith is set to race in the 100 back, an event in which she’s the World Record holder. Smith will also compete in the 200 fly. American Record holder and World Champion Simone Manuel will swim the 50 free.

Andrew Seliskar, who’s slated to swim the 200 fly, is one to look out for on the men’s side. Last night, Seliskar had the fastest swim of anyone in the 100 fly, but he put up that time in the B final. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held will compete in the 50 free, while Worlds medalist Zane Grothe takes on the 400 free.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY

• PSS Record: Cammile Adams, 2012, 2:06.76
• Trials Cut: 2:14.59

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hali Flickinger (SUN)- 2:08.54
2. Regan Smith (RIPT)- 2:11.13
3. Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN)- 2:11.17
4. Megan Kingsley (ABSC)- 2:11.64
5. Leah Gingrich (HURR)- 2:11.96
6. Asia Seidt (KYA)- 2:12.28
7. Mabel Zavaros (OAK)- 2:12.46
8. Kelsi Dahlia (CARD)- 2:14.99

Worlds silver medalist Hali Flickinger was body lengths ahead of the field this morning, clocking in at 2:08.54 to win the final heat ahead of Helena Rosendahl Bach (2:11.17) and Kelsi Dahlia (2:14.99). Dahlia, an Olympic medalist for Team USA who took 3rd in last night’s 100 fly, touched 3rd in the heat to finish 8th overall.

After setting the 17-18 NAG Record in last night’s 100 fly final, Regan Smith cruised to a 2:11.13 to qualify 2nd for the final behind Flickinger. She’s been within a few tenths of the NAG mark in this event, but will have to break 2:07 tonight to get it.

MEN’S 200 FLY

• PSS Record: Luca Urlando, 2019, 1:53.84
• Trials Cut: 2:01.19

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Zach Harting (CARD)- 2:00.63
2. Mason Wilby (KYA)- 2:00.75
3. Carson Foster (RAYS)- 2:00.86
4. Mack Darragh (CAN)- 2:00.95
5. Jarod Arroyo (FORK)- 2:01.77
6. Andrew Seliskar (CAL)- 2:02.01
7. Cris Gore (SMST)- 2:02.23
8. Dare Rose (SCAR)- 2:02.56

Pan Pacs medalist Zach Harting (2:00.63) leads the way here by a tenth as he dominated the final heat. Andrew Seliskar touched 3rd in that heat, but qualified 6th for the final. Last night, Seliskar posted the fastest time of the night in the 100 fly, but he did so from the B heat. This will be his first championship final of the meet.

Mason Wilby and Carson Foster battled out of heat 4, separated by just a hundredth at the halfway point. Wilby broke away on the 3rd 50 and held off Foster’s final charge to win the heat 2:00.75 to 2:00.86. Mack Darragh came from behind to nearly catch them with a 2:00.95.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

• PSS Record: Sarah Sjostrom, 2016, 24.17
• Trials Cut: 25.99

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Simone Manuel (ALTO)- 24.85
2. Erika Brown (TENN)- 24.92
3. Margo Geer (MVN)- 25.03
4. Marie Wattel (LU)- 25.28
5. Julie Jensen (DEN)- 25.35
6. Mallory Comerford (CARD)- 25.48
7. Gretchen Walsh (NAC)- 25.55
8. Natalie Hinds (ABSC)- 25.62

The women’s 50 free final will be loaded with stars. World Champion Simone Manuel led the way in 24.85, touching a couple of tenths ahead of NCAA champion Margo Geer (25.03) in heat 6. SEC Champion Erika Brown, a former NCAA Record holder in this race, was the only other woman to break 25 this morning, posting a 24.92 to win her heat ahead of Worlds medalist Mallory Comerford (25.48).

Kelsi Dahlia, in a quick turnaround from the 200 fly, narrowly missed the top 8 with a 25.70 for 9th.

MEN’S 50 FREE

• PSS Record: Nathan Adrian, 2015, 21.56
• Trials Cut: 23.19

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Nyls Korstanje (NCS)- 22.15
2. David Curtiss (HACY)- 22.61
3. Ali Khalafalla (MVN)- 22.72
4. Ryan Held (NYAC)- 22.75
5. Yuri Kisil (CAN)- 22.78
6. Zach Apple (MVN)- 22.80
7. Jacob Molacek (WOLF)- 22.83
8. Adam Chaney (RAYS)- 22.93

Nyls Korstanje put up a lifetime best 22.15 to lead the field this morning out of heat 5. That time makes him the 6th fastest Dutchman in history. Junior standout David Curtiss touched with a 22.61 to win heat 6, while Olympic champion Ryan Held qualified 4th as he won heat 4 in 22.75. World Champion Zach Apple qualified 6th in 22.80.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK

• PSS Record: Olivia Smoliga, 2019, 58.73
• Trials Cut: 1:02.69

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (RIPT)- 59.00
2. Lisa Bratton (AGS)- 1:00.22
3. Phoebe Bacon (NCAP)- 1:00.25
4. Jade Hannah (CAN)- 1:00.41
5. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT)- 1:00.45
6. Alex Walsh (NAC)- 1:01.07
7. Kayla Sanchez (CAN)- 1:01.09
8. Taylor Ruck (CAN)- 1:01.54

There was a lot of young talent at the top here as 7 of the 8 finalists in the 100 back are teenagers. World Record holder Regan Smith led the way in 59.00 in the final heat. Smith was within a couple of tenths of the Pro Swim Series Record.

Phoebe Bacon and Lisa Bratton battled stroke-for-stroke in heat 4, with Bratton coming through on the back half to clip Bacon 1:00.22 to 1:00.25. Isabelle Stadden (1:00.45) picked up the heat 5 win,using her back half speed to pull away from Alex Walsh (1:01.07).

MEN’S 100 BACK

• PSS Record: David Plummer, 2016, 52.40
• Trials Cut: 56.59

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Justin Ress (WOLF)- 54.53
2. Javier Acevedo (AJAX)- 55.79
3. Joey Reilman (TNAQ)- 56.01
4. Matthew Garcia (TENN)- 56.19
5. Sam Stewart (UN)- 56.31
6. (T-6) Dean Farris (HARV)- 56.39
7. (T-6) Andy Song (CAL)- 56.39
8. (T-6) Matt Josa (CAL)- 56.39

National Teamer Justin Ress dominated heat 6, finishing 2 seconds ahead of anyone else in 54.53. In heat 5, Javier Acevedo used his back-half speed to beat Joey Reilman (56.01) to the wall in 55.79. The final will also feature NCAA Champion Dean Farris (56.39), who tied for 6th with Andy Song and All-American Matt Josa.

YMCA Hub Fins’ Sam Stewart went a lifetime best out of heat 2 to qualify 5th for the final. His 56.31 was his first time under 57 and his first best time in the event since 2015.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST

• PSS Record: Annie Lazor, 2019, 2:20.77
• Trials Cut: 2:33.29

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. (T-1) Annie Lazor (MVN)- 2:28.45
2. (T-1) Madisyn Cox (TXLA)- 2:28.45
3. Melanie Margalis (SPA)- 2:29.57
4. Bethany Galat (AGS)- 2:29.67
5. Emily Escobedo (COND)- 2:30.16
6. Kierra Smith (CAN)- 2:30.17
7. Tess Cieplucha (TENN)- 2:30.84
8. Jocelyn Ulyett (LU)- 2:31.35

There was a tie for the top seed, with Annie Lazor and Madisyn Cox winning their respective heats. Lazor, a short course World Champion and Pan Ams Champion in this event, won the 100 breast last night. Cox, a Worlds medalist in the 200 IM, won the 400 IM last night. Both hit the wall in 2:28.45 this morning.

Olympic medalist Melanie Margalis (2:29.57) and Worlds medalist Bethany Galat (2:29.67) will also be in the mix tonight.

MEN’S 200 BREAST

• PSS Record: Andrew Wilson, 2018, 2:08.95
• Trials Cut: 2:17.89

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Will Licon (TXLA)- 2:13.71
2. Nic Fink (ABSC)- 2:15.59
3. Anton McKee (PRVT)- 2:15.61
4. Carlos Claverie (CARD)- 2:16.23
5. Jonathan Rutter (UN)- 2:16.53
6. James Dergousoff (CHEN)- 2:16.55
7. Nick Zito (UN)- 2:17.77
8. Nils Wich-Glasen (UN)- 2:18.14

Pan Ams champion Will Licon qualified for his first final of the meet, leading the way in 2:13.71 ahead of Anton McKee (2:15.61). Nic Fink, who has competed at Worlds for Team USA and won the 100 breast last night, will challenge them for a breaststroke sweep after qualifying 2nd in 2:15.59.

Pro Swim Series Record holder and Worlds medalist Andrew Wilson was 15th in 2:22.12. NCAA champion Ian Finnerty was a no show as he’s currently battling an illness per teammate Cody Miller’s podcast.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE

• PSS Record: Katie Ledecky, 2018, 3:57.94
• Trials Cut: 4:16.89

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Emma Weyant (SYS)- 4:12.02
2. Erica Sullivan (SAND)- 4:13.35
3. Allison Schmitt (SUN)- 4:13.89
4. Helena Rosendahl Bach (DEN)- 4:14.59
5. Rachel Stege (FOX)- 4:14.60
6. Amanda Nunan (TENN)- 4:14.61
7. Geena Freriks (KYA)- 4:14.79
8. Mariah Denigan (LAK)- 4:14.81

Junior standout Emma Weyant set the pace in heat 6, touching in 4:12.02 to take top seed ahead of Allison Schmitt. Schmitt, who won the 200 free last night with her 2nd fastest swim since Rio, touched in 4:13.89 for 3rd seed. 800 free champion Erica Sullivan cruised to a 4:13.35 win in her heat to qualify 2nd.

MEN’S 400 FREE

• PSS Record: Sun Yang, 2016, 3:43.55
• Trials Cut: 3:57.29

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Zane Grothe (BCH)- 3:55.29
2. Carson Foster (RAYS)- 3:55.76
3. Jake Magahey (SA)- 3:56.71
4. Jeremy Bagshaw (CAN)- 3:56.86
5. Kieran Smith (GSC)- 3:56.98
6. David Heron (MVN)- 3:57.03
7. Jake Mitchell (CSC)- 3:57.19
8. Marcelo Acosta (CARD)- 3:57.59

Worlds medalist Zane Grothe led his heat to take top seed in a smooth 3:55.29. Kieran Smith, last night’s 400 IM champion, won the penultimate heat in 3:56.98. Junior star Carson Foster, who won last night’s 200 free over Grothe, put up a lifetime best this morning. His 3:55.76 to win heat 4 took over 2 seconds off his former best from 2018.