2019 PRO SWIM SERIES – DES MOINES
- March 6th-9th, 2019
- Wellmark YMCA, Des Moines, Iowa
- LCM (50m), Prelims-Finals
- Live Results
- Psych Sheets
- TV/Webcast Info
- Event Schedule
Many US Olympians/National team members grace the top of the prelims results heading into tonight’s finals along with many other big international names.
In the 100 free, Canadian Kayla Sanchez and German Marius Kusch take the top seeds over their nearest American counter-parts Olivia Smoliga and Blake Pieroni. However, look out for a quick time from Caeleb Dressel in the B-finals, who cruised to 15th in prelims with a 50.49.
In the 100 breast, veteran Micah Sumrall is joined by Annie Lazor, Bethany Galat, and Melanie Margalis in a powerful top 4. Cody Miller also returns on the men’s breast with Brit James Wilby, Michael Andrew, Brazilian Felipe Lima, Andrew Wilson, and Nick Fink closely behind. Lurking in the men’s B-finals are powerhouses Will Licon and Kevin Cordes.
Michael Andrew also looks to snag a title in the 50 back against Olympians Jacob Pebley, Ryan Held, and Japanese Ryosuke Irie. Kathleen Baker is joined with Sanchez and Smoliga for the women’s sprint back event.
Flip onto the 200 fly, Hali Flickinger and German Alex Kunert look strong on the top spots. In the 400 free, Zane Grothe leads the way for the men while Chinese Bingjie Li leads for the women against fellow Chinese Jianjiahe Wang and Leah Smith.
WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS
- World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom
- American Record: 52.27 – Simone Manuel
- U.S. Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel
- Jr World Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak
- PSS Record: 53.12 – Sarah Sjostrom
- Trial Cut: 56.29
- Margo Geer (Mission Viejo)- 54.59
- Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldogs)- 55.05
- Natalie Hinds (Athens Bulldogs)- 55.26
Coming off strong after the first 50, Margo Geer kept the momentum moving and went from 4th in prelims to 1st in finals. At Knoxville, Geer finished in 2nd to Simone Manuel, however was 54.05.
Taking second place after winning the B-final in Knoxville was Olivia Smoliga. Bulldogs teammate Natalie Hinds finished right behind Smoliga for third.
Winning the B-final was Allison Schmitt with a 55.37.
MEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS
- World Record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo Filho
- American Record: 47.17 – Caeleb Dressel
- U.S. Open Record: 47.58 – Jason Lezak
- Jr World Record: 47.58 – Kyle Chalmers
- PSS Record: 48.00 – Nathan Adrian
- Trial Cut: 50.49
- Blake Pieroni (UN)- 48.91
- Breno Correia (Brazil)- 48.99
- Marcelo Chierigini (Brazil)/Marius Kusch (UN-Queens)- 49.19
Catching the field off of the finish was Blake Pieroni, moving up to #4 in the world this year. Closely behind for second with the 6th fastest time in the world was Breno Correia. Tying for 3rd and cracking the top 10 in the world was Marcelo Chierigini and Marius Kusch.
Suiting up for the 2nd-fastest time in the world from the B-finals was Caeleb Dressel, whose time of 48.71 also marked an in-season lifetime personal best.
WOMEN’S 100 BREAST –FINALS
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King
- American Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King
- U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy
- Jr World Record: 1:05.39 – Ruta Meilutyte
- PSS Record: 1:05.57 – Rebecca Soni
- Trial Cut: 1:10.99
- Annie Lazor (Mission Viejo)- 1:06.66
- Bethany Galat (UN-Aggie)- 1:07.13
- Melanie Margalis (Saint Petersburg)- 1:07.20
Holding off the field for her second PSS win in the 100 breast was Annie Lazor, improving her top time in the world by two-tenths. Also taking top 5 spots in the wordl was Bethany Galat and Melanie Margalis, who are #2 and #4 in the world.
Winning the B-final was backstroke world record holder Kathleen Baker (1:08.50), which ranks #13 in the world.
MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINALS
- World Record: 57.10- Adam Peaty
- American Record: 58.64 – Kevin Cordes
- U.S. Open Record: 58.74 – Kevin Cordes
- World Jr Record: 59.01 – Nicolo Martinenghi
- PSS Record: 58.86 – Adam Peaty
- Trial Cut: 1:03.29
- Michael Andrew (Race Pace)- 59.70
- James Wilby (Great Britain)- 59.91
- Cody Miller (Sandpipers NV)- 1:00.22
Taking on an experienced field as the only teen, Michael Andrew came out on top with the #4 time in the world. Also breaking a minute for #6 in the world was James Wilby. Returning to his first major competition and moving into #7 in the world was Cody Miller. Sneaking into the top 10 in the world as well was fourth place-finisher Felipe Lima.
Winning the B-final in a 1:01.11 was Texas Longhorn Will Licon.
WOMEN’S 50 BACK – FINALS
- World Record: 26.98 – Liu Xiang
- American Record: 27.43 – Olivia Smoliga
- U.S. Open Record: 27.43 – Olivia Smoliga
- World Jr Record: 27.49 – Minna Atherton
- PSS Record: 27.43 – Olivia Smoliga
- Kathleen Baker (Team Elite)- 27.76
- Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldogs)- 28.25
- Ali DeLoof (Team Elite)- 28.51
Coming off the 100 breast,Kathleen Baker snagged the title and the top time in the world. After winning the Knoxville 50 back, Olivia Smoliga took her second silver of the night, with her Knoxville time (27.85) now #2 in the world. Ali DeLoof took third place with a 28.51.
Winning the B-final with a 29.20 was Canadian Hanna Anderson.
MEN’S 50 BACK – FINALS
- World Record: 24.00 – Kliment Kolesnikov
- American Record: 24.24 7/27/2018 Ryan Murphy
- U.S. Open Record: 24.24 7/27/2018 Ryan Murphy
- World Jr Record: 24.00 – Kliment Kolesnikov
- PSS Record: 24.68 – Michael Andrew
- Michael Andrew (Race Pace)- 24.94
- Grigory Tarasevich (Cardinal)- 25.16
- Jacob Pebley (Team Elite)- 25.30
Winning an event double and another 50 back PSS title this year was Michael Andrew, the only swimmer under 25 seconds. Moving up to #5 in the world was Grigory Tarasevich. Taking third in a #8 time was Jacob Pebley.
Taking the B-final was Corey Main (26.16) of Gator Swim Club.
WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Zige Liu
- American Record: 2:04.14 – Mary Descanza
- U.S. Open Record: 2:05.87 – Hali Flickinger
- World Jr Record: 2:06.29 – Suzuka Hasegawa
- PSS Record: 2:06.76 – Cammile Adams
- Trials Cut: 2:14.59
- Hali Flickinger (Athens Bulldogs)- 2:07.10
- Megan Kingsley (Athens Bulldogs)- 2:10.91
- Charlotte Atkinson (Great Britain)- 2:11.34
Retaining her Knoxville title and improving her top time in the world was Hali Flickinger, dominating the field by over 3 seconds. Improving her own Knoxville time to #7 in the world was Megan Kingsley, another Athens Bulldog swimmer. Charlotte Atkinson and Emily Large (2:11.64) represented Great Britain as they finished 3rd and 4th respectively.
Fellow Brit Amy Bell won the B-final with a 2:15.20.
MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS
- World Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
- American Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
- U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
- World Jr Record: 1:53.79 – Kristof Milak
- PSS Record: 1:55.29 – Li Zhuhao
- Trials Cut: 2:01.19
- Alex Kunert (UN-Queens)- 1:57.80
- Mack Darragh (Hpc-Ontario)- 1:58.64
- Luiz Melo (Pinheiros)- 1:58.98
Toppling the Americans was Alex Kunert, who swept the field away with a 1:57.80. Improving from his Knoxville 3rd place-finish was Mack Darragh. Luiz Melo took third place over Americans Gunnar Bentz (1:59.80) and Justin Wright (1:59.87).
Jan Switowski of Gator Swim Club won the B-final with a 2:00.64, dropping 3 seconds from prelims, which would have placed 6th in the A-final.
WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS
- World Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky
- American Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky
- U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky
- World Jr Record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
- PSS Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky
- Trials Cut: 4:16.89
- Bingjie Li (China)- 4:03.29
- Jianjiahe Wang (China)- 4:05.28
- Leah Smith (Tuscon Ford)- 4:08.41
The duo of Chinese teens, Bingjie Li and Jianjiahe Wang, dominated the field. Li is now #2 in the world behind Katie Ledecky while Wang is #3 behind Li. Retaining the top 10 positions in the world ranks were Leah Smith, Melanie Margalis (4:10.50), and Hali Flickinger (4:11.38).
Another teen, 17-year-old Yara Hierath, won the B-final by a narrow finish with a 4:16.72.
MEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS
- World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biederman
- American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen
- U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen
- World Jr Record: 3:44.60 – Mack Horton
- PSS Record: 3:43.55 – Sun Yang
- Trials Cut: 3:57.29
- Zane Grothe (Boulder City)- 3:49.29
- Anton Ipsen (Wolfpack Elite)- 3:49.83
- Mitch D’Arrigo (Gator Swim Club)- 3:53.46
Zane Grothe held off Knoxville champion Anton Ipsen for the win. Both Grothe and Ipsen now have the #2 and #3 times in the world this year, knocking off 4 seconds from their Knoxville times. Mitch D’Arrigo took third place a few seconds behind.
In the B-final, David Heron won with a 3:56.55.
*Gawking side-eye emoji* for Kathleen Baker’s 1:08 100 breast!! Marsh has a masterplan.
She was a 59.3 in short course before she graduated high school. I don’t see why it should be such a surprise for her to go 1:08.
I’d like to point out on the USA swimming YouTube channel they have released all of the finals except the men’s and women’s B 100 free final. But I can’t figure out why they wouldn’t want to upload the men’s B final? 🧐
They did
Search for it with “Men’s 100m free B final 2019” and it should come up. I don’t know why it’s not showing on their latest uploads.
Oh yea, Caeleb is completely washed up. You guys really underestimate just how much a suit makes you faster.
It compresses your muscles, lifts your legs up, repels water, and gives a mental advantage. I doubt anybody in the world could break 48 in briefs right now, or even EVER
Agreed. I would love to see what Pieroni would go in a brief.
Btw my first sentence was supposed to be sarcastic, but I suck
Caeleb is by no means washed up. But he does need to swim smarter in his prelim races. He’s missing out on $1,500 dollars tonight. 🐊😢
Trust me when I say he’ll be eating fine off of his Speedo deal
Popov went 48.21 in a brief way back in 1994 off a flat block. With track starts, modern training methods and developments in underwaters, I think a full tapered Dressel or Chalmers could do it.
You do know Popov is the best 100 Free swimmer ever? When someone beats 48.2 in a brief and no cap let me know.
Agree Popov is the sprinting GOAT, no one else has come close to doing the double double in recent times (PVDH I think closest) and if he were swimming now, he’d be sub 47 comfortably.
But, I think the developments in areas such as lifting (compare Dressel to Popov, probably carrying an extra stone of muscle), underwaters (which weren’t really a thing in sprint freestyle until Klim, and they have developed a lot since he first showed they could be as quick as swimming), starts (track blocks allow that super explosive start Dressel has), and stroke technique (more straight arm is now favoured, Popov’s technique would now be considered a mid distance type stroke) combined, mean a slightly less… Read more »
Yeah, but about 25 guys could break 50 in a brief, which your boy didn’t.
At their peak, when they were tapered… I doubt those guys were sub 50 in season
Best race for Li Bingjie in 18 months
anyone know if dressel is still swimming the 100 breast D finals?
Ya he won the d final in 1:02.43. Low key kinda quick.
To be fair floating the 100 breast prelims was a decent move, gets him way more rest than trying to do a double.
Faster than Cordes
Yeah. Pretty much what you’d expect from 50.0 SCY.
I doubt it. He might not be able to beat the women if he wears a brief.
Zane Grothe : 3.49.29 !! He looked very smooth and solid ! His stroke seems to have changed & gotten better .
He’s always had a solid stroke, let’s not do this
not that i remember ( WC + Pan pacs )
Well, I did not expect that response from Li Bingjie. China has two middle distance stars here.
Sometimes i got a feeling that it was set up before meet: who gets what. It could be the situation as described by “Honest Observer” this morning that a swimmer cannot do much in 400 day after intense 1500 race or Wang just let Li go for the win at the end of the race.
At the World Cup Wang Jianjiahe had all chances to beat overall Hosszu and Sjostrom winning about $300,000, but she didn’t compete at Asian cluster. Somebody may decided that $60,000 will be enough for the young girl and Li Bingjie raced instead of her.
In China anything could happen.
I don’t think Wang “let” Bingjie beat her. There is no love lost between these two. Bingjie thought she had a clear path to Ledecky after Worlds and then Jianjiahe came along and crashed the party. I think Jianjiahe was tired from the 1500, and Bingjie got angry that she lost one of her records and swam with a vengeance to remind Wang Jianjiahe who the alpha dog is.
agree, given the fact they have the same coach.
Dressel is missing $1,500 tonight. I’m just saying. Maybe Blake will get dinner tonight. Lol