2019 CLOVIS PRO SWIM SERIES
- June 12-15, 2019
- Clovis, CA
- Meet Information
- Psych Sheet
- Live stream
- Live results
After last night’s 800 frees, we get our first prelims session of the 2019 Clovis Pro Swim Series this morning, with five women’s and five men’s events slated for competition.
Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates off all this morning’s action from Clovis.
Women’s 200 Free – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Katie Ledecky, 2016 – 1:54.43
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 2:01.69
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Leah Smith (Tucson Ford) – 1:58.10
- Mallory Comerford (Louisville) – 1:58.65
- Catie DeLoof (Team Elite) – 2:00.09
- Emily Overholt (HPC Vancouver) – 2:00.15
- Claire Tuggle (Clovis Swim Club) – 2:01.41
- Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 2:01.50
- Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (HPC Vancouver) – 2:01.56
- Remedy Rule (Texas) – 2:01.73
Leah Smith and Mallory Comerford were far-and-away the top qualifiers here this morning, going 1:58s and setting up what could be a good showdown tonight. Smith was 1:58.10, not far off her season-best of 1:57.5 from the Richmond Pro Swim Series. (Smith was 1:58.15 in prelims of that meet). One heat earlier, Comerford went 1:58.65, a tenth better than she was in prelims at Bloomington and about six tenths behind her season-best from Brazil’s national championships.
Team Elite’s Catie DeLoof is third, just on the other side of two minutes, and Canada’s Emily Overholt is only hundredths back. 14-year-old Claire Tuggle adds youth to the A final field. She was 2:01.41. Tuggle is currently #2 all-time in the 13-14 age group with her lifetime-best of 1:58.58 from last summer. If she can push that time tonight, she could challenge Smith and Comerford, along with Sippy Woodhead’s National Age Group record of 1:58.53.
Men’s 200 Free – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Sun Yang, 2016 – 1:44.82
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:50.79
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Trey Freeman (Baylor) – 1:48.00
- Markus Thormeyer (HPC Vancouver) – 1:49.33
- Townley Haas (NOVA of Virginia) – 1:49.83
- Dylan Carter (Team Elite) – 1:50.01
- Cristian Quintero (Trojan) – 1:50.06
- Luca Urlando (DART) – 1:50.23
- Jorge Iga (Mexico) – 1:50.96
- Jeremy Bagshaw (HPC Vancouver) – 1:51.75
Baylor Swim Club alum and University of Florida freshman Trey Freeman swam away with the top spot in the men’s 200 free this morning, going 1:48.00. He was the only man under 1:49 and one of just three under 1:50. Freeman had previously swum only one long course meet this spring since wrapping up his rookie NCAA campaign. At the Atlanta Classic, he went 1:50.30 in prelims and 1:48.58 in finals, so his morning swim is already a season-best for the 19-year-old.
Canada’s Markus Thormeyer won his heat with a 1:49.33 to take the second spot. The final heat featured a great battle between Townley Haas and Dylan Carter. The American standout Haas went 1:49.83 to win that race, with Trinidad & Tobago’s Carter going 1:50.01 for fourth overall. Keep an eye on 17-year-old Luca Urlando tonight. He’s been on a tear, and went 1:47 once in February and twice in May. He’s already #6 all-time in the 17-18 age group after setting the 15-16 NAG in February. He could pass Haas (1:47.55 in the 17-18 age group) tonight with a time drop.
Women’s 100 Breast – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Rebecca Soni, 2011 – 1:05.57
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:10.99
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Alia Atkinson (South Florida Aquatic) – 1:09.14
- Melissa Rodriguez (Mexico) – 1:09.23
- Breeja Larson (NYAC) – 1:09.24
- Sydney Pickrem (Unattached) – 1:09.61
- Danielle Hermann (Clovis) – 1:10.90
- Olivia Anderson (Texas) – 1:11.15
- Ali Harrison (Buenaventura) – 1:11.59
- Esther Gonzalez (Mexico) – 1:11.87
Jamaican World Champs medalist Alia Atkinson led a tightly-bunched field of women’s breaststrokers this morning, going 1:09.14. She’s got three women behind her within about half a second: Mexico’s Melissa Rodriguez won the opening heat in 1:09.23; Breeja Larson had the fastest opening split and went 1:09.24 and Canada’s Sydney Pickrem was 1:09.61.
That should be a fun race tonight, though Atkinson is likely to return to her 1:08-pace, a time she hit once each in March and April.
Men’s 100 Breast – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Adam Peaty, 2017 – 58.86
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:03.29
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Brandon Fischer (Livermore) – 1:01.06
- Miguel de lara Ojeda (Mexico) – 1:01.46
- Devon Nowicki (Michigan Lakeshore) – 1:02.06
- Daniel Roy (Alto Swim Club) – 1:02.10
- AJ Pouch (Team Rebel) – 1:02.12
- Youssef el-Kamash (Phoenix Swim Club) – 1:02.23
- Richard Funk (HPC Vancouver) – 1:02.67
- Mauro Castillo Luna (Mexico) – 1:02.99
30-year-old Brandon Fischer of the Livermore Aqua Cowboys took the top spot this morning, going a new lifetime-best 1:01.06 to best the field. Fischer’s former best time was a 1:01.20 set at last summer’s National Championships. Fischer was a Wyoming Cowboy through 2012, and took some time off after that before returning to make Olympic Trials semifinals in the 200 breast in 2016. He took his second faux-retirement after that, but is back in competition and only continuing to get faster, even after his 30th birthday.
Mexico’s Miguel de lara Ojeda is the only other man under 1:02, going 1:01.46 this morning. Michigan Lakeshore’s Devon Nowicki, a breakout star from last summer, went 1:02.06 for third, and Stanford freshman Daniel Roy is fourth.
Women’s 50 Back – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Olivia Smoliga, 2018 – 27.43
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Ali DeLoof (Team Elite) – 28.11
- Amy Bilquist (Scottsdale) – 28.41
- Isabelle Stadden (Aquajets) – 28.43
- Natalie Mannion (Commonwealth) – 29.66
- Abby Kapeller (Aquajets) – 29.90
- Yulduz Kuchkarova (Unattached) – 29.91
- Katey Lewicki (Elevation) – 29.92
- Olivia Ellard (UBC Thunderbirds) – 30.07
Team Elite’s Ali DeLoof is the top qualifier in the women’s 50 back. She and Cal grad Amy Bilquist are the top two, with future Cal swimmer Isabelle Stadden the only other 28 in the field.
Stadden’s Minnesota club teammate Abby Kapeller is the other Aquajet in the final, going 29.90. In between the two is 15-year-old Natalie Mannion, who went 29.66. That appears to be her first time ever under 30 seconds, besting her 30.28 from last summer.
Men’s 50 Back – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Michael Andrew, 2019 – 24.66
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Justin Ress (Wolfpack Elite) – 25.14
- Matt Grevers (Tucson Ford) – 25.44
- Chris Staka (Aptos Cabrillo) – 25.51
- Kristofer Rogic (Roadrunner) – 26.05
- Jack Alexy (Somerset Hills Y) – 26.30
- Markus Thormeyer (HPC Vancouver) – 26.31
- Harrison Lierz (Elevation) – 26.50
- Andy Song (Mexico) – 26.52
Wolfpack Elite’s Justin Ress is the top seed into the men’s 50 back after going 25.14 this morning. Ress has previously been as good as 24.3 in his career, though he was one of the bigger names to miss the World Championships team this summer. Matt Grevers is on that World Champs team in the 100 back, and he’ll show down with Ress in the 50 tonight. Grevers, still going strong at 34 years old, was 25.44 this morning.
Alabama-to-Texas transfer Chris Staka is third in 25.51, with the rest of the field a half-second back.
Women’s 100 Fly – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Sarah Sjostrom, 2016 – 56.38
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 1:00.69
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Louise Hansson (Trojan) – 58.22
- Kendyl Stewart (Team Elite) – 58.56
- Kelsi Dahlia (Cardinal) – 58.61
- Mallory Comerford (Louisville) – 59.55
- Lauren Case (Texas) – 1:00.03
- Autumn D’Arcy (Roadrunner) – 1:00.45
- Haley Black (HPC Vancouver) – 1:00.99
- Bailey Nero (Unattached) – 1:01.50
Trojan Swim Club’s Louise Hansson led this morning’s heats, although we have three 58s in close quarters heading into tonight. Hansson, a Swedish national, was 58.22, with Team Elite’s Kendyl Stewart 58.56 for second and Cardinal Aquatics’ Kelsi Dahlia 58.61 for third. Dahlia has been 57 a number of times this spring, including on the first three stops of the Pro Swim Series, but Hansson was also 57-low at Canadian Trials in April and 58-low last month at the Grand Challenge. Stewart went 57.5 at the Israel Cup in April, so we should see all three going faster tonight than they were this morning.
Dahlia’s Louisville training partner Mallory Comerford came off the 200 free to take third here in 59.55, the last swimmer under a minute.
Men’s 100 Fly – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Jack Conger, 2018 – 51.00
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 54.19
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Giles Smith (Phoenix Swim Club) – 52.31
- Luca Urlando (DART) – 52.71
- Ryan Coetzee (Tennessee) – 54.22
- Josiah Binnema (HPC Vancouver) – 54.44
- Justin Wright (Tucscon Ford) – 54.67
- Loren Gillilan (Roadrunner) – 54.72
- Lukas Miller (Elevation) – 54.78
- Mateo Gonzalez (Mexico) – 55.30
Phoenix Swim Club’s Giles Smith roared to the top swim the morning, blowing out his prelims heat with a 52.31. That’s actually a season-best for Smith, who has been 52 a number of times, but topped out this season at 52.4 in Knoxville.
He’ll get a challenge tonight from 17-year-old Luca Urlando, who came off the 200 free to pace his heat in 52.71. Urlando was 52.0 at the Mel Zajac meet a few weeks back, and could become just the second American 17-18 to break 52 tonight with a time drop. He’d join Michael Phelps.
Tennessee’s Ryan Coetzee, a South African national, finished third, back at 54.22. He leads a tight bunch of 54s, including Canada’s Josiah Binnema and American 200 fly standout Justin Wright.
Women’s 400 IM – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Katinka Hosszu, 2015 – 4:31.07
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 4:51.79
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 4:46.86
- Sydney Pickrem (Unattached) – 4:48.05
- Emily Overholt (HPC Vancouver) – 4:48.16
- Vien Nguyen (Unattached) – 4:52.42
- Tara Halsted (DART) – 4:52.97
- Monika Gonzalez (Mexico) – 4:53.08
- Megan Dalke (HPC Vancouver) – 4:58.99
- Taylor McCoy (Cougar) – 5:00.36
Texas’s Evie Pfeifer used a big final leg to surge to this morning’s top 400 IM swim – she was 4:46.86. That’s close to what she went in a local meet in April (4:46.67), and she’ll get a chance to go faster tonight in the final.
Pfeifer’s heat had the three best times of the morning. Canadians Sydney Pickrem and Emily Overholt dueled, with Pickrem getting the touch at 4:48.05. Overholt was 4:48.16. It’s a bit of a dropoff from there to the other circle-seeded heat winner, Vietnam’s Vien Nguyen, who went 4:52.42 and won her heat over DART’s Tara Halsted.
Men’s 400 IM – Prelims
- Pro Swim Series record: Chase Kalisz, 2018 – 4:08.92
- 2020 U.S. Olympic Trial cut: 4:25.99
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Jarod Arroyo (Pitchfork) – 4:24.74
- Erick Gordillo (Guatemala) – 4:27.04
- Brodie Young (UBC Thunderbirds) – 4:30.27
- Ricardo Vargas (Mexico) – 4:31.60
- Sawyer Grimes (Sandpipers) – 4:34.07
- Hector Cruz (Mexico) – 4:35.79
- Harrison Lierz (Elevation) – 4:38.36
- Jonathan Affeld (Alto Swim Club) – 4:40.76
Pitchfork’s Jarod Arroyo won the opening circle-seeded heat in 4:24.74 – that’s close to his season-best 4:22.38 from the Puerto Rico International, and he was only 4:27 in prelims of that meet, so keep a good eye on him tonight. He’s the top qualifier, staying ahead of heat 2 winner Erick Gordillo. Gordillo is the national record-holder from Guatemala, and was just about a second off his seed time this morning in 4:27.04.
Canada’s Brodie Young is third, followed by Mexico’s national record-holder Ricardo Vargas.
Also worth keeping an eye on tonight: SwimSwam’s esteemed photographer Jack Spitser will compete in the B final tonight: he was 9th in 4:42.43.
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: Giles Smith, 100 fly: 52.31 (863 FINA points)
Wow, A final is not being livestream?! Was it technical or on purpose?
Correction: Jack Spitser will swim in the A final (Sawyer Grimes scratched)
Nice touch having the top fina point swims
Freeman has looked great this spring… Kieran Smith, too. Wonder what the Gator training group is up to.
probably well working on middle distances like the 200/400 free
Some teams aren’t meant to hold a national meet, this is a prime example with the lack of attendance from both spectators and athletes. Inadequate shading is really a bummer for the 20-30 people in the stands.
Clovis has wonderful facilities, but the temps climbed a lot this week (100 degree afternoons) and the idea of watching a swim meet outdoors in that heat is not very attractive to casual fans. I don’t blame Clovis, they always put on a first class show. Just something USA Swimming should have figured on – Clovis would have been a better option for an April/early May stop.
What else can Clovis provide for the snobs of USA swimming? Get a clue. Nothing is free..
Excellent point, but clearly USA Swimming doesn’t care.
cloudy with a high of 71 down here in orange county. Wish you guys were here
How about the water temp?
I think they have chilling system. They have held several August nationals
Ocean water is less than 68 but the pool water in Irvine where nationals were held last year should be great
Hope the dearth of spectators keeps up through Saturday, so I can get a good spot :^)
Are they allowing spectators to bring their own canopies into the grandstand area?
Another problem with this meet is it runs Wednesday through Saturday, where traditionally such meets ran Thursday through Sunday. Most spectators have to work during the week, so this schedule could be reducing ticket sales by about 40%.
I guess a lot of people said Fres-NO !
Considering his previous 200 free, Luca Urlando showed all his strength in the 100 fly heats. After Giles Smith’s great 52.31, his 52.71 seemed , as usual, nearly effortless. In the fly Urlando sails upon the surface, in every period of the year.
In the men’s 200 free heats, very impressive both Freeman and Thormeyer.
Freeman 1.48.00 without kicking in the last 50m, Thormeyer 1.49.33 looking easy from start to finish.
Urlando finished strong his heat after a slow first half. Probably in a different phase of training and less brilliant than at Mel Zajac.
But tonight we’ll see.