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

2021 Atlanta Classic

• May 14-16, 2021
• McAuley Aquatic Center @ Georgia Tech
• Atlanta, GA
• Hosted by SwimAtlanta
• LCM Format (50m)
• Top 40 Finals: A, B, C, D (18&U)
• Meet Site
• Meet Packet
• Psych Sheets
• Wave I & II Olympic Trials Cuts
• FINA Olympic Qualifying Standards

The first women’s preliminaries session for the 2021 Atlanta Classic is set to kick off his afternoon with the 200 free, 100 breast, 100 fly, and 400 IM. Earlier in the day, the men had their turn putting up preliminary times. Rio Olympian Melanie Margalis leads both the 200 free (1:56.58 seed) and 100 breast (1:07.20 seed). Seeded behind Margalis in the 200 free is sprinter Olivia Smoliga (1:59.02 seed) while UGA star Zoie Hartman has the No. 2 seed in the 100 breast at 1:07.37.

Then, 18-year-old Gretchen Walsh leads the 100 fly with her swift lifetime best of 57.43 alongside UGA’s Dakota Luther (58.48 seed) and Duke alum Alyssa Marsh (59.13). Along with her No. 4 seed in the 100 breast (1:09.32), Florida’s Vanessa Pearl has the top 400 IM seed at 4:42.32, ahead of 18-year-old Summer Smith (4:45.78).

Friday AM Live Stream

Friday Prelims Heat Sheet

Women’s 200 Free — Prelims

• Wave II Cut: 2:00.24
• Wave I Cut: 2:01.69

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Melanie Margalis (St. Petersburg), 1:58.75
2. Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldog), 1:59.23
3. Cora Dupre (Alabama), 2:00.75
4. Talia Bates (Unattached), 2:00.95
5. Jillian Barcyzk (City of Lafayette), 2:01.30
6. Morgan Scott (Alabama), 2:01.61
7. Kathleen Golding (Florida), 2:01.80
8. Hayden Miller (Cypress Fairbanks), 2:02.19

Both winning their respective heats to take the middle lanes of the women’s 200 free final were IMer Melanie Margalis (1:58.75) and backstroker Olivia Smoliga (1:59.23), the only sub-2:00 swims of the session. Staying under 2:01 for the top four finals spots were Alabama’s Cora Dupre and Florida’s Talia Bates (2:00.95).

City of Lafayette’s Jillian Barcyzk took the fifth spot at 2:01.30, nearly three-tenths ahead of Alabama’s Morgan Scott. Florida’s Kathleen Golding (2:01.80) and Cypress Fairbanks 16-year-old Hayden Miller (2:02.19) rounded out the top 8 times.

UGA newcomer Maxine Parker placed ninth this morning at 2:02.31 to grab lane four of the consolation final.

Women’s 100 Breast — Prelims

• Wave II Cut: 1:09.55
• Wave I Cut: 1:10.99

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Zoie Hartman (Athens Bulldog), 1:08.67
2. Micah Sumrall (Gamecock Aquatics), 1:08.85
3. Melanie Margalis (St. Petersburg), 1:09.04
4. Vanessa Herrmann (Arkansas), 1:10.46
5. Cat Wright (Alabama), 1:10.48
6. Alicia Henry (Dynamo), 1:10.50
7. Tylor Mathieu (Unattached), 1:10.60
8. Adrianna Deboer (Unattached), 1:11.11

Nabbing the top 100 breast time this morning was Athens Bulldog Zoie Hartman, posting a 1:08.67 to rank No. 14 in the US this season. Taking second was Gamecock’s Micah Sumrall, touching in at 1:08.85, just off her US No. 10 time of 1:08.13. After swimming the top 200 free seed, Melanie Margalis was back in the water with a 1:09.04 breast swim to rank No. 16 in the nation,

Rounding out the remaining top eight times this AM session include Arkansas’ Vanessa Herrmann (1:10.46), Alabama’s Cat Wright (1:10.48), Dynamo’s Alicia Henry (1:10.50), and Florida Gators Tylor Mathieu (1:10.60) and Adrianna Deboer (1:11.11).

Women’s 100 Fly — Prelims

• Wave II Cut: 59.59
• Wave I Cut: 1:00.69

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Gretchen Walsh (Nashville), 58.70
2. Natalie Hinds (Athens Bulldog), 59.22
3. Maddy Banic (Tennessee), 59.27
4. Rhyan White (Alabama), 59.69
5. Dakota Luther (Athens Bulldog), 59.85
6. Trude Rothrock (Tennessee), 1:00.21
7. Talia Bates (Unattached), 1:00.39
8. Callie Dickinson (Athens Bulldog), 1:00.40

Easily taking the top time in this event was 18-year-old Nashville sensation Gretchen Walsh, hitting the lone sub-59 swim at 58.70. Athens’ Natalie Hinds posted a season best of 59.22 to rank 15th in the US this season and second in Atlanta. Tennessee’s Maddy Banic swam just 0.01s off her season best at 59.27, remaining No. 16 in the nation this season.

All breaking 1:00 for the No.4 and No.5 seeds this morning were Alabama’s Rhyan White (Alabama), and UGA star Dakota Luther (59.85). Tennessee’s Trude Rothrock (1:00.21), Florida’s Talia Bates (1:00.39), and Athens’ Callie Dickinson (1:00.40) rounded out the top eight times.

Women’s 400 IM — Prelims

• Wave II Cut: 4:47.72
• Wave I Cut: 4:51.79

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Summer Smith (Bluefish), 4:43.43
2. Lauren Poole (Kentucky), 4:45.09
3. Alexis Yager (Tennessee), 4:45.95
4. Kathleen Golding (Florida), 4:49.66
5. Bailey Bonnett (Kentucky), 4:51.12
6. Gillian Davey (Kentucky), 4:51.61
7. Vanessa Pearl (Florida), 4:53.17
8. Maddie Homovich (MOR), 4:53.22

Hitting a lifetime best by two seconds was 18-year-old Summer Smith, swimming 4:43.43 to rank 11th in the nation and 5th among 18&U swimmers this season. Smith now ranks No. 32 all-time in the 17-18 age group with her swim. Placing in the top three with sub-4:46 efforts were Kentucky’s Lauren Poole (4:45.09) and Tennessee’s Alexis Yager (4:45.95). Florida’s Kathleen Golding hit 4:49.66 to break 4:50 this morning and place 4th into finals.

Kentucky teammates Bailey Bonnett (4:51.12) and Gillian Davey (4:51.61) came in 5th and 6th in prelims while meet top seed Vanessa Pearl of Florida (4:53.17) and UGA member Maddie Homovich (4:53.22) rounded out the top 8 times.