You are working on Staging1

2021 Atlanta Classic: Day 1 Men’s Prelims Live Recap

2021 Atlanta Classic

Two years and a pandemic later, the Atlanta Classic makes its 2021 return at the McAuley Aquatic Center for its three-day affair. This morning, the men’s preliminaries will kick off the first day of competition, with the women’s prelims session starting 90 minutes after the men wrap up in the AM. On the slate this morning for the men will be the 200 free, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 400 IM.

Cal alum Andrew Seliskar enters a stacked 200 free field with the fastest seed time (1:45.71) and the fastest 2020-2021 season time of 1:47.01. Then, Nic Fink and Andrew Wilson will put up their morning bids for the 100 breast championship final this evening. After Olympian Caeleb Dressel hits the 200 free (1:47.31 seed) and 100 breast (1:01.22), he will lead the 100 fly prelims with his WR time of 49.50 and season best of 51.61. Cal senior Sean Grieshop holds the No. 2 US time this season in the 400 IM at 4:16.14, just a smidge ahead of Rio Olympians Chase Kalisz (4:16.53) and Jay Litherland (4:18.06).

Friday Men’s Prelims Heat Sheet

Men’s 200 Free — Prelims

  • Wave II Cut: 1:49.65
  • Wave I Cut: 1:50.79

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Kieran Smith (Florida), 1:46.30
  2. Jake Magahey (SwimAtlanta), 1:48.15
  3. Andrew Seliskar (Cal Aquatics), 1:48.41
  4. Trenton Julian (Unattached), 1:48.68
  5. Cristian Quintero (NOVA), 1:48.78
  6. Trey Freeman (Florida), 1:49.04
  7. Caeleb Dressel (Gator), 1:49.35
  8. Luca Urlando (DART), 1:49.68

Taking his race out in a swift 51.61 (24.81/26.80) was rising Florida senior Kieran Smith, hitting the top time in the US this season and in Atlanta at 1:46.30. Smith’s time also puts him in the top 20 times in the world for the 2020-2021 season. Nabbing the second seed was breakout UGA freshman Jake Magahey, hitting the wall at 1:48.15, closing his last 100 three-tenths slower than Smith. Tonight, the duo swimming head-to-head for the first time since their 500-yard free duel at NCAAs, where Magahey ran down American record-holder Smith.

Cal training-mates Andrew Seliskar (1:48.41) and Trenton Julian (1:48.68) filed in as the No. 3 and No. 4 finals seeds. Venezuelan Cristian Quintero swam the fifth sub-1:49 AM time at 1:48.78, touching ahead of Florida’s Trey Freeman (1:49.04). Gator Swim Club’s Caeleb Dressel finished 7th overall at 1:49.35 while DART Swimming rep Luca Urlando rounded out the sub-1:50 top 8 times at 1:49.68.

Highlighting the consolation final seeds include Dynamo’s Jay Litherland (1:50.27) and Jordanian Khader Baqlah (1:50.38).

Men’s 100 Breast — Prelims

  • Wave II Cut: 1:01.97
  • Wave I Cut: 1:03.29

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Nic Fink (Athens Bulldog), 59.84
  2. Andrew Wilson (Athens Bulldog), 1:00.68
  3. Kevin Cordes (Athens Bulldog), 1:00.84
  4. Josh Prenot (Cal Aquatics), 1:01.65
  5. Derek Maas (Alabama), 1:02.16
  6. Reece Whitley (Unattached), 1:02.32
  7. Quinn Harron (Dynamo), 1:03.05
  8. Jarel Dillard (Tennessee), 1:03.14

Registering the only sub-1:00 time this morning in the 100 breast was Nic Fink, swimming a tenth off his PSS Mission Viejo time at 59.84. Behind him were Athens Bulldog training-mates Andrew Wilson (1:00.68) and Kevin Cordes (1:00.84). That’s three Athens Bulldogs in the top three of the men’s 100 breast prelims here in Atlanta.

Cal Aquatics’ Josh Prenot placed fourth overall at 1:01.65 while NCAA swimmers Derek Maas of Alabama (1:02.16) and Reece Whitley of Cal (1:02.32) placed 5th and 6th respectively. Rounding out the top 8 prelims times were Dynamo’s Quinn Harron (1:03.05) and Tennessee’s Jarel Dillard (1:03.14).

*Following the 200 free, Caeleb Dressel no showed for this event, yet should swim the 100 fly.

Men’s 100 Fly — Prelims

  • Wave II Cut: 53.37
  • Wave I Cut: 54.19

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Caeleb Dressel (Gator), 51.92
  2. Tom Shields (Cal Aquatics), 52.06
  3. Luis Martinez (Unattached), 52.14
  4. Andrew Seliskar (Cal Aquatics), 52.26
  5. Ryan Murphy (Cal Aquatics), 52.36
  6. Luca Urlando (DART), 52.62
  7. Santiago Grassi (Unattached), 53.29
  8. Christian Ferraro (BUZZ), 53.30

Cruising in with a sub-52 morning effort was back-to-back event World champion Caeleb Dressel, hitting the wall at 51.92. Moving up to fourth in the US this season was Cal Aquatics’ Tom Shields, putting up a smooth 52.06. Guatemala’s Luis Martinez stole the No. 3 finals seed at 52.14 while Cal’s Andrew Seliskar qualified for his second final at 52.26.

Backstroke WR holder Ryan Murphy flipped over and swam the 5th-fastest 100 fly time this morning at 52.36, just ahead of Luca Urlando‘s 52.62. Argentina’s Santiago Grassi (53.29) and Italy’s Christian Ferraro (53.30) rounded out the top 8 times. While Ferraro placed 6th in both the 100/200 fly at the Italian Olympic Trials, Grassi’s time is under the FINA Olympic B cut of 53.52.

Cal Bear Ryan Hoffer placed 15th this morning at 54.52 while second seed in the 200 free Jake Magahey placed 19th at 55.01.

Men’s 400 IM — Prelims

  • Wave II Cut: 4:23.24
  • Wave I Cut: 4:25.99

Top 8 Qualifiers:

  1. Chase Kalisz (Athens Bulldog), 4:16.38
  2. Jay Litherland (Dynamo), 4:21.02
  3. Ryan Lochte (Gator), 4:21.14
  4. Grant Sanders (Gator), 4:23.33
  5. Bobby Finke (Florida), 4:23.86
  6. Sean Grieshop (Unattached), 4:23.92
  7. Tyler Watson (Florida), 4:24.64
  8. Josh Parent (Bluefish), 4:26.82

Nailing a new season best was Athens’ Chase Kalisz, putting up a 4:16.38 to remain the No. 3 American this season. Filing behind him were the remaining top 3 finishers from the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials: Jay Litherland (4:21.02) and Ryan Lochte (4:21.14). Along with Lochte, Grant Sanders (4:23.33), Bobby Finke (4:23.86), and Tyler Watson (4:24.64) all will represent the Florida Gators in tonight’s 400 IM final.

Cal senior Sean Grieshop placed sixth this morning with an easy 4:23.92, well off his US No. 2 time this season of 4:16.03 from PSS Mission Viejo. Bluefish Swim Club 16-year-old Josh Parent rounded out the top 8 times at 4:26.82.

In This Story

100
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

100 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Henry fourie
3 years ago

What will the US 4×200 free final lineup be?
I was thinking Haas, Seliskar, Pieroni, Dressel. But now Kieran Smith will almost definitely be on the team, Conger is a contender too.

I don’t think they’ll beat GB tho.
Scott 1:44.4
Dean 1:44.5
Richards 1:45.7 (he’s 18)
Guy 1:46.0 (has been 1:45.1 and 1:43.8 on relays)

Their flat times this year add up to 7:00.86. They’ll almost certainly break 7 minutes.

Caleb
Reply to  Henry fourie
3 years ago

Smith, Dressel, Haas, Seliskar… Pieroni & Trenton Julian up next! (maybe Zapple)

Pvdh
Reply to  Henry fourie
3 years ago

Smith, Haas, Dressel, Seli,

Pieroni & Urlando alternates

sven
Reply to  Henry fourie
3 years ago

Going to be a great race between Russia, GB, and (I think) the US.

Rick
Reply to  sven
3 years ago

And current world champions ….. Australia

McG
3 years ago

Is 4:21 a good in season 400IM time for Lochte? I wonder if he goes faster tonight?

Mr Piano
Reply to  McG
3 years ago

He went 4:19 a couple times in 2019-2020. I think he went around 4:16 in his prime in season, but he was doing like 80k per week back then. Now he’s doing 50-60k according to Sports Illustrated.

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

He’d do a 4:21 in a brief in-season heavy training in his prime.

Notaswimmer
3 years ago

It looks like Team USA is on track to have a pitiful performance in Tokyo. No individual golds, relays maybe have an outside shot at medaling.

Swammer
Reply to  Notaswimmer
3 years ago

Lol

Coach Cwik
Reply to  Notaswimmer
3 years ago

You sound like the parent, whose child just did their best time and NOTHING was good about the swim.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Notaswimmer
3 years ago

Which one of your swimmers flopped? Out with it!

The Original Tim
3 years ago

Huh, seeing Lochte run someone down on the free leg of the 400 IM, let alone run down Litherland of all people, is not something I expected to see.

I look forward to seeing how he does in finals, if he swims it, but who knows, maybe he’s seriously putting his hat in the ring for the 400 at Trials.

Last edited 3 years ago by The Original Tim
Mr Piano
Reply to  The Original Tim
3 years ago

It must feel so nice to do that after what Litherland did to him at 2016 trials lol.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

Lochte running down Litherland in prelims of an in season meet is not really the same thing as Litherland passing him at finals at Trials.

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  The Original Tim
3 years ago

He should, he split a 30 on the last 50 of his terrible 200 free. Hope he was purposely shutting it down, and if so, what was the point of swimming it as a double?

Konner Scott
3 years ago

Signs of life from Chase?

Mr Piano
Reply to  Konner Scott
3 years ago

I don’t think he makes the team tbh. From what I’ve seen, he doesn’t seem to love the sport anymore.

Svird
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

I always thought he was way too hard on himself. Doesn’t help that he was billed as Phelps’ successor as a young swimmer back in 2012. I imagine his harsh and negative mentality over time could sour his love for the sport. But I’m just speculating, I don’t know the guy.

Deepblue
Reply to  Konner Scott
3 years ago

Could be possible that he’s the kind of guy who holds out for 3 years (since Pan Pacs honestly) and appear pissed all the time just because he wants everyone to doubt him going into trials. We know he’s capable of going 4:05/1:55, guess we’ll just have to find out in June.

The Original Tim
3 years ago

I know I’ve seen him swim fly before, but I don’t think I’d really conceptually grasped just how *good* Ryan Murphy is at the 100 fly. Not saying he’d have a chance at making the team, but a prelims 52.3 is pretty darn impressive for a backstroker.

addison
Reply to  The Original Tim
3 years ago

rt

Xman
Reply to  The Original Tim
3 years ago

Does it fit into his trials schedule?

Hopefully he can swim it more during the ISL season. I like seeing the event specialists hold their own in off events.

Aaron Peirsol did the 100 fly in 2010 (maybe 2009 too?) I think he finished second at nationals and finished top3 at pan pacs.
(At least thats what I remember from 11 years ago)

Last edited 3 years ago by Xman
icecoldtakes
3 years ago

You’re exactly right.

And that’s why swimming will never be more than semi-pro. Dressel will make his millions, and that’s fine, but actions like that hurt his peers who are not winning 5 Olympic gold medals.

Is what it is. Elite athletes and coaches have decided they only care about the fans when USA Swimming or a sponsor makes them do appearances for 12 year olds. Which is all heartwarming and nice, but it kills the pro level of the sport. ISL is never going to make it until this attitude changes.

Kitajima Fan
Reply to  icecoldtakes
3 years ago

Hate to break it to you, but the Atlanta Classic is never going to be watched by hundreds of thousands of people. The more popular meets in our sport have measures to keep people from no-showing, and that’s about all we need as a sport that barely generates revenue.

Yet here you are, complaining about a no-show of a swimmer’s off event in a non-taper meet…

Cate
Reply to  Kitajima Fan
3 years ago

Hate to break it to you, but a PROFESSIONAL sport is about the fans.

Eagleswim
Reply to  icecoldtakes
3 years ago

Dressel ain’t scratching events in ISL. lebron sits out whole portions of the season for rest but the NBA seems to be doing alright 😛

Cate
Reply to  Eagleswim
3 years ago

“Whole portions”? What are you talking about.? He sat out 1 game earlier in the season and right now he’s hurt.
https://fansided.com/2021/03/03/lebron-james-lakers-resting-kings/

Eagleswim
Reply to  Cate
3 years ago

Are you not much of an nba fan? Lebron routinely sits out chunks of the season.

Blackflag82
3 years ago

too bad there’s not a 400 breaststroke relay anymore…Athens could put together a pretty formidable team for it

addison
Reply to  Blackflag82
3 years ago

for real. those bulldog pros built different

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »