2015 Arena Pro Swim Series – Mesa: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2015 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT MESA

• Wednesday, April 15 – Saturday, April 18
• Skyline Aquatic Center, Mesa, AZ
• Psych Sheets (as of 4/15/15)
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Thursday PM Heat Sheet
• Live stream
• Live results from Omega
  • Or search “2015 Arena Pro Swim Series – Mesa” on Meet Mobile
• Day 2 Prelims Recap

WOMEN’S 200 FREE

Winning the A final was Katie Ledecky in 1:56.79, the sixth fastest time in the world this year, though she already has put up the 3rd fastest in the world, a 1:56.16 from the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin. The Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu touched 2nd with a strong 1:57.51, only a few tenths off of her best time this year, while Allison Schmitt rounded out the top three with a time of 1:57.86. Schmitt took over a second and a half off of her morning time and this puts her inside the top 20 in the world this year. After not quite returning to her formidable 2012 Olympics form in recent years, Schmitt looked strong, and was neck-and-neck with Ledecky for much of the race. Future California Golden Bear Katie McLaughlin touched in fourth at 1:58.00, while Nina Rangelova (1:59.40) was fifth, the last swimmer under the two minute barrier.

Maya Dirado took the B final in 2:00.51, improving upon her prelims time of 2:02.02. Also in that B final were age group and U.S. stars Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil, though the two are better in the sprint free events. Manuel finished 2nd (2:00.91) and Weitzeil  7th in that final (2:04.80).

MEN’S 200 FREE

Conor Dwyer has been the fastest American this year in world rankings, posting a 1:47.76 at the Austin Pro Swim Series stop for 21st in the world, and fended off Ryan Lochte for the win in 1:48.29. Lochte couldn’t hold on in the end, finishing in 1:49.28, while his SwimMac teammate Tyler Clary put together a nice back half to grab third in 1:49.85. Michael Klueh of Club Wolverine touched in 4th (1:50.73) to just edge out Dion Dreesens (1:50.76).

Frank Dyer of NBAC took the B final in a close finish (1:51.15), just beating out Christian Scherubl (1:51.37) and age group-er Grant Shoults (1:51.99).

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

Katie Meili was on fire this morning with the best time (1:07.16) and only gained a tenth en route to a big win over a strong field. Both her prelims and finals swims were within the top 10 in the world. Her time of 1:07.26 topped Jamaican record-holder Alia Atkinson (1:08.01) and American stalwart Breeja Larson (1:08.60). SwimMac’s Micah Lawrence finished up in fourth (1:08.93), and these four ladies were the only swimmers to dip below the 1:10 barrier.

American record-holder Jessica Hardy won the B final in 1:10.87, getting to the wall just before Andee Cottrell of Louisville (1:10.94). The two were the only swimmers under 1:11.00.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

Zach Hayden took this out FAST in 28.43, well ahead of the entire field, but the 18-year old Carlos Claverie of Venezuela and Louisville pulled out the win in 1:02.42. He touched out Syrian Olympian Azad Al-Barazi by just two hundredths, while Mike Alexandrov of NYAC finished third in 1:02.59. Hayden fell to 4th (1:02.76).

Touching first in the B final was Maksim Shcherbakov with a time of 1:02.81, nearly a second over the next-best competitor. 2nd place was a 1:03.77 from Marcus Titus, and Julian Fletcher (1:03.86) finished 3rd. Uvis Kalnins (1:03.96) was the last swimmer in the final to break 1:04.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY

With a new personal best, Kelsi Worrell put up a 58.24 to win the A final. Worrell catapults herself to the 14th fastest time in the world after charging through the 2nd 50 with a very strong back half. 2nd place went to Claire Donahue (59.19) and McLaughlin (59.32) grabbed third place. Stanford grad Felicia Lee touched in 4th (59.95), and SwimSwam’s own Hannah Saiz grabbed 5th in 1:00.34.

Allison Schmitt, in her 2nd swim of the night, blasted a 1:00.70 to take the B final, only about a half second off of her lifetime best of 1:00.16 from way back in 2011.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY

It’s Michael Phelps‘ first finals session back since his suspension, and took the event with a 52.38, winning by a good margin. That time puts him just behind Tim Phillips in the world rankings at 21st. Ryan Lochte grabbed 2nd (53.11) touching out Tom Shields (53.18). Phillips finished in fourth place (53.54) ahead of Matthew Josa (53.67) and Alex Coci (53.79). All competitors dipped below 54.5, as Eugene Godsoe (54.08) and Marcus Schlesinger (54.33) rounded out the stacked final.

Putting down a very strong time of 53.62 was Luis Martinez to win the B final. 2nd went to Carl Weigley (54.45) and third to Zheng Wen Quah (54.49).

WOMEN’S 400 IM

Ledecky might have been in this A final, but it was all Katinka Hosszu and Caitlin Leverenz. The two were close during the fly, but Hosszu charged on the 2nd 50 of the backstroke. Leverenz, a strong breaststroker, couldn’t pull even with the Iron Lady, who took the win in 4:36.77 with her second-fastest time of the year, also in the top 10 in the world. Coming in at 4:40.29 was Leverenz in her first race in awhile, while 18-year old Vien Nguyen grabbed third (4:42.60). Fourth place was 200 free B final winner Dirado (4:43.72), while Ledecky was 5th in 4:45.41, though she had the fastest 100 free split of the field (1:00.87).

Elizabeth Beisel, still recovering from a groin injury, put on a clinic in the B final, cruising to a big win with a final time of 4:46.75. She dropped over six seconds from prelims. Placing 2nd was rising Canadian youngster Taylor Ruck (4:52.28) with a 4.3 second drop from prelims.

MEN’S 400 IM

Tyler Clary grabbed the win with a 4:19.59 to win the A final, though Conor Dwyer nearly ran him down with a wild final 50. Dwyer finished in 4:20.25, while 16-year-old Sean Grieshop took third (4:23.16). The top three swimmers lopped off over five seconds each from their morning swims, but none of them cracked the top 25 in the world.

17-year old Mark Jurek of Arizona Gold came through with the B final win in 4:29.76. Touching 2nd behind him was Marco Blazevski (4:30.56) and Simon Frank (4:30.73).