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
On the slate for the last finals session of the Altanta Classic are the women’s and men’s 200 IM, 200 back, and 100 free. Starting off in the 200 IMs will be Olympians and tonight’s top seeds Melanie Margalis and Chase Kalisz. Flipping over to the 200 back will be women’s top seed Rhyan White and men’s top seed Clark Beach, featuring 100 back champion Ryan Murphy. Then, Natalie Hinds and Cristian Quintero will highlight the final events: the women’s and men’s 100 free.
Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Lochte both opted out of tonight’s finals due to travel. During last night’s time trials, Dressel hit 48.67 in the 100 free before going 48.00 this morning, now No. 1 in the US. Lochte, on the other hand, swam 2:02.29 in the 200 IM last night before registering 2:01.28 this AM.
WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS
- Meet Record: 2:10.54 – Ella Eastin (2016)
- Wave II cut: 2:15.26
- Wave I cut: 2:17.39
Top 3:
- Meghan Small (Tennessee), 2:13.91
- Alexis Yager (Tennessee), 2:15.29
- Kathleen Golding (Florida), 2:15.48
Winning the women’s 200 IM with the only Wave II cut time was Tennessee’s Meghan Small, touching the wall at 2:13.91. At PSS Mission Viejo, Small swam her US No. 9 season best of 2:13.25. Training-mate Alexis Yager touched out Florida’s Kathleen Golding for second place by 0.19s, 2:15.29 to 2:15.48.
Separated by a tenth for 4th and 5th place were UGA’s Zoie Hartman (2:15.68) and Alabama’s Cat Wright (2:15.78). Auburn’s Hannah Ownbey hit the wall 0.08s behind Wright for 6th place at 2:15.86.
MEN’S 200 IM — FINALS
- Meet Record: 1:58.94, Josh Prenot (CAL), 2017
- Wave II Cut: 2:03.02
- Wave I Cut: 2:04.09
Top 3:
- Chase Kalisz (Athens Bulldog), 1:57.52
- Andrew Seliskar (Cal Aquatics), 1:58.06
- Trenton Julian (Unattached), 1:59.43
During the first half of the race, Andrew Seliskar held a slight lead heading into breaststroke, Chase Kalisz‘s best stroke. At the 150-mark, Kalisz had caught Seliskar with 33.43 breast split. Into the freestyle, Kalisz was fighting off Seliskar hard, taking the win at 1:57.52. Seliskar settled for second palce at 1:58.06. Kalisz now moves up to No. 2 in the US behind Michael Andrew‘s 1:56.84.
Cal’s Trenton Julian was less than four-tenths ahead of Florida’s Kieran Smith, both breaking two minutes for third and fourth place.
WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS
- Meet Record: 2:09.82 – Asia Seidt (2017)
- Wave II cut: 2:12.94
- Wave I cut: 2:14.69
Top 3:
- Rhyan White (Alabama), 2:07.07
- Lisa Bratton (Aggie), 2:09.69
- Sophie Sorenson (Kentucky), 2:11.01
Hitting a lifetime best in the 200 back to remain No. 3 this season and No. 9 all-time in US history was Rhyan White, splitting a consistent 29.46/32.18/32.84/32.59 for 2:07.07. Swimming less than a tenth off her US No. 6 season best for second place in Atlanta was Lisa Bratton, registering a sub-2:10 effort of 2:09.69.
Placing third through seventh under the Wave II cut were Kentucky’s Sophie Sorenson (2:11.01), Bluefish 18-year-old Summer Smith (2:11.26), Kentucky’s Caitlin Brooks (2:11.65) and Parker Herren (2:12.17), and Alabama’s Morgan Liberto (2:12.75).
Smith’s time moved her up to No. 40 on the all-time 17-18 age group rankings.
MEN’S 200 BACK — FINALS
- Meet Record: 1:55.94, Ryan Murphy (CAL), 2016
- Wave II Cut: 2:00.81
- Wave I Cut: 2:02.99
Top 3:
- Ryan Murphy (Cal Aquatics), 1:56.14
- Bryce Mefford (Unattached), 1:58.16
- Daniel Carr (Unattached), 1:59.62
Dropping 5.77 seconds from his smooth morning swim was Ryan Murphy, splitting 27.20/28.99/29.55/30.40 at 1:56.14. Murphy was just a hair of his top American time this season of 1:56.04 from PSS San Antonio. Cal teammate Bryce Mefford took second at 1:58.16, ranking third in the US behind Shaine Casas (1:58.04).
Cal’s Daniel Carr placed third with a sub-2:00 effort of 1:59.62, swimming ahead of top-6 finishers Dynamo’s Ian Grum (2:00.25), SwimAtlanta’s Keegan Walsh (2:00.38), and Florida’s Clark Beach (2:00.43).
WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS
- Meet Record: 54.11 – Simone Manuel (2016)
- Wave II cut: 55.56
- Wave I cut: 56.29
Top 3:
- Natalie Hinds (Athens Bulldog), 54.29
- Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldog), 54.36
- Anika Apostalon (USC), 54.84
Tying her US No. 7 season best of 54.29 to touch out Athens training-mate Olivia Smoliga (54.36) by 0.07s was Natalie Hinds, wrapping up a valiant meet with a 100 fly win and 50 free runner-up finish. Smoliga’s season best moved her up to No. 10 in the US rankings this season. USC’s Anika Apostalon placed third with a sub-55 effort of 54.84.
Places 4th-7th all finished within five one-hundredths of each other, led by 18-year-old Gretchen Walsh at 55.09. Filing in separated by 0.01s each were Alabama’s Cora Dupre (55.12), Luxembourg’s Julie Meynen (55.13), and Athens’ Maxine Parker (55.14).
MEN’S 100 FREE — FINALS
- Meet Record: 47.86, Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 2019
- Wave II Cut: 49.74
- Wave I Cut: 50.49
Top 3:
- Cristian Quintero (NOVA), 49.38
- Khader Baqlah (Gator), 49.57
- Andres Dupont Cabrera (Bolles), 49.92
Topping the men’s 100 free was Venezuelan Cristian Quintero, holding off Jordanian Khader Baqlah at the touch 49.38 to 49.57. Bolles School 17-year-old Andres Dupont Cabrera, a 2021 Mexican Olympian as of this morning, shaved 0.07s off his morning at 49.92. Touching in for fourth place with a near-identical swim from prelims was Cal’s Ryan Hoffer, swimming 50.27.
SwimAtlanta’s Jack Aikins placed fifth at 50.40 while Florida’s Adam Chaney took sixth by one one-hundredth at 50.41.
Afternoon Distance Recap
Women’s 800 Free — Timed Finals
- Wave II Cut: 8:44.01
- Wave I Cut: 8:48.09
Top 3:
- Abigail McCulloh (SwimAtlanta), 8:45.37
- Tylor Mathieu (Unattached), 8:45.95
- Hayden Miller (Cypress Fairbanks), 8:47.91
Both hitting the Wave I cut in the women’s 800 free were SwimAtlanta’s Abigail McCulloh (8:45.37) and Florida’s Tylor Mathieu (8:45.95), separated by a half second. Placing third was 16-year-old Hayden Miller at 8:47.91.
Men’s 800 Free — Timed Finals
- Wave II Cut: 8:08.95
- Wave I Cut: 8:12.99
Top 3:
- Tommy-Lee Camblong (Athens Bulldog), 7:58.66
- Jake Magahey (SwimAtlanta), 7:58.99
- Andrew Abruzzo (Plymouth), 8:05.31
In the men’s 800 free, which is an Olympic event for the first time this year, Athens’ Tommy-Lee Camblong held off SwimAtlanta’s Jake Magahey by 0.33s for the event win, 7:58.66 to 7:58.99. Placing third was Plymouth’s Andrew Abruzzo (8:05.31) while Kentucky’s Adam Rosipal placed fourth at 8:12.45.
During one heat of this event, Georgia Tech’s Clark Wakeland swam a 400 free split time of 3:56.89, improving from his 12th-place finals finish of 3:57.38 and hitting the Wave I cut of 3:57.29.
Women’s 1500 Free — Timed Finals
- Wave II Cut: 16:44.60
- Wave I Cut: 16:49.19
Top 3:
- Olivia Anderson (Unattached), 16:41.39
- Kristen Stege (Tennessee), 16:49.40
- Emily Knorr (MSA Swim), 17:13.74
UGA’s Olivia Anderson took the top time in the women’s 1500 free at 16:41.39, eight seconds ahead of Tennessee’s Kristen Stege (16:49.40). MSA Swim 18-year-old Emily Knorr rounded out the top 3 times at 17:13.74.
Men’s 1500 Free — Timed Finals
- Wave II Cut: 15:35.69
- Wave I Cut: 15:44.89
Top 3:
- Bobby Finke (Florida), 15:09.91
- Brennan Gravley (Florida), 15:25.02
- Tyler Watson (Florida), 15:26.26
Nabbing the top time here in Atlanta in the men’s 1500 free was Florida’s Bobby Finke, hitting a sub-15:10 effort of 15:09.91. Finke owns the top American time this season at 15:09.14 from the 2020 U.S. Open. Two more Florida Gators, Brennan Gravley (15:25.02) and Tyler Watson (15:26.26), rounded out the top three sub-15:30 times.
Crazy how consistent Finke is
I think both sides of this AUS vs. USA are both saying, we have a fun summer of swimming ahead of us.
Have American woman have ever had 4 sub 54 before trials/championship??? I’m talking about in season performance
1. Tori Huske 53.46 titans primer 4/9/21
2. Claire curzan 53.54 titan spring 5/16/21
3. Abby weitzeil 53.66 mission Viejo 4/24/21
4.linnea mack 53.78 TYR pro swim Indy 5/13/21.
And we still have Simone manual next weekend in Texas to see well she’s capable of..
On another note the Aussies only have three sub 54 second swimmers at the moment this year
Hinds also 54.2 I think she’ll be 53 at trials also.
As Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend!
https://staging.swimswam.com/ranking/2020-2021-lcm-women-100-free/
I count five:
C1
McKeon
Wilson
C2
O’Callaghan
What are C2 and o’Callaghan best time this year? They are updated in the world rankings for this year under USA swimming website 😢 my bad. Was going off that
McKeon – 52.29 dated 05/14/21 (not updated by the way)
Campbell, Cate – 52.43
Wilson – 53.40
Campbell, Bronte – 53.62
O’Callaghan – 53.78
https://staging.swimswam.com/ranking/2020-2021-lcm-women-100-free/
Yes, in 2016 (Vollmer, Ledecky, Manuel, Weitzeil) and 2017 (Comerford, Manuel, Neal, Dahlia) – for meets from January 1 of that year up to before the national meet
At the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the lineup for the final of the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay was Comerford, Worrell, Ledecky, Manuel. At the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the lineup for the final of the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay was Comerford, Weitzeil, Dahlia, Manuel.
I’m not sold on Linnea Mack. Mack’s time posted in the final of the women’s 100 meter freestyle was 54.00 at the 2021 TYR PSS – Indianapolis, IN.
Still 2 solid swims, guessing un rested or just starting to rest also. She could be 53 mid at trials also Douglass.
Linnea Mack does not fit my profile. Team USA needs swimmers younger than Manuel and Weitzeil for the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay. Youth must be served!
The USA needs 52s not 53s for the free relay.
The Aussies have the 52s. Cate Campbell has split as low as 51.00. McKeon is looking like a low 52 lead off leg.
Claire curzan will be mid to low 52 at the Olympics, since at the moment Comerford is not in form, i think coaches will lead off with curzan and she will outsplit mckeon (she posted faster times in the 50 free and 100 fly than mckeon both in the same session) then you have Huske, who went 53.46 in April and wietziel who always splits mid 52s in big meets and Manuel who split 51.9 on the medley relay in gwanju
If you say so.
Lolz. McKeon is a medal favorite so shouldn’t be a problem.
O’Callaghan 53.78 2021-04-15
C Campbell 52.43 2021-04-15
B Campbell 53.62 2021-04-15
McKeon 52.29 2021-05-14
Wilson 53.40 2021-04-15
Harris 53.87 2021-04-15
This is one women’s relay that I will concede to the Aussies.
Rhyan White is swimming at a world class level.
She swam a faster 100 and similar 200 time to Regan Smith this weekend.
Hard to tell at this point if the 100 or 200 is her better chance to make top 2 at Olympic Trials. Probably the 200.
Stege missing the cut by 2 tenths 🙁
She just dropped 22 seconds this past Sunday and obtained the Wave II cut.
What time did Claire Curzan post in the women’s 100 meter freestyle?
hasn’t swam yet
2020 Toyota US Open Championship
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Huske – 54.04
Walsh – 54.37
Curzan – 54.93
Comerford – 55.21
Douglass – 55.24
2021 TYR PSS – Indianapolis, IN
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Douglass – 54.30
Comerford – 55.37
2021 Atlanta Classic
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Walsh – 55.09
53.55!!!!!
Wow! She just gave the American women some life in the 4×100 free!!! Cant wait to see what Manuel does next weekend
Ehh don’t worry. If the Americans are remotely competitive, we can count on the Aussies and the Campbell sisters to choke it away anyways
I hate to break the news, the Campbell sisters do show up for the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay. However, after that event it’s all downhill for C1 and C2.
They show up when they don’t have competition sure. The Americans have been distant for a while. Now they are closing in. The Aussies will feel the heat and will wilt like a sunflower in the desert.
Those who love and understand the sport have enormous respect for Jenny Thompson. She was one of the biggest names for over a decade but in four Olympics never won individual gold. Do you consider her to be a ‘choker’ or do you only reserve that term for non-Americans? You seem to have made it your life’s mission to denigrate others, particularly Australians. I try and be measured in my comments but I’ll make an exception in your case. You’re an absolute tosser.
Australia Swimming
2012 Summer Olympics
Women’s Individual Events
0G, 2S, 2B
Australia Swimming
2016 Summer Olympics
Women’s Individual Events
0G, 1S, 1B
A gold medal drought currently exists on the women’s side.
Oh I’m gonna be tosser through Tokyo. Better get used to it. Imagine the aussies trying to trash talk the American swimming team with such diminutive achievements in comparison. I’m gonna reply with trash talk that signifies the level of dominance.
Sorry but quite a few of the Americans here cross over from banter to straight up toxic you included.
So much stress & distress in the USA for 5 years . The re lies the great hope of US swimmers winning thus national justification for 550,000 dead or something . It is a cry for help.
US guys can have ALL the medals , well just swim for fun .
Let’s remind our guest of the greatest upset in women’s swimming at the Summer Olympic Games. In lanes 4 & 5 on home soil no less, what was suppose to be a coronation turned out to be a media debacle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqcvSPLJQE
And what would you call 18yo Chalmers beating Adrian in Rio? Another failed coronation?
As of today, it looks like Curzan, Huske, Manuel, Weitzeil in alphabetical order. Simone Manuel is the prototypical taper swimmer.
Katie Ledecky breathes a sigh of relief. Sorry boss (Greg Meehan), I’m not swimming the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials.
Interesting, obviously that’s a great time for her age. But if you consider her 100fly time and her 50free time, you’d think she’d be faster at this (use Penny Oleksiak as a benchmark).
Anyone knows what penny oleksiak best time was before her Olympic trials in 2016??? Curzan will break the WJR in the 100 in Tokyo
You also realize that Penny Oleksiak has not won an individual medal since the 2016 Summer Olympics?
2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships
2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships
True, but I was simply making a comparison between curzan’s times this year and Oleksiak’s times in 2016. Curran is faster in both the 100fly and 50free, but much slower in the 100free. I wonder if it has anything to do with her breathing mechanics.
Remind you oleskiak best time prior to Rio was when she went 53.31 (not much faster than curzan time tonight) and Penny’s time was done at her olympic trials. I have a good feeling that curzan gonna go faster than 53.31 at trials 😉😉😉
Remarkable!
From 54.93 (14 Nov 2020) to 54.40 (09 Apr 2021) to 53.55 (16 May 2021).
https://www.swimcloud.com/swimmer/1136244/
One would have to wonder what time can she put up in he 200 free!!! Her performance in the other events are very similar if not faster than oleskiak! And penny split a 154 on the relay in Rio!! The only thing that sucks is that the 200 free semi is done during he same session as the 100 back final.. I would love to see her put up a 156 in the prelims to put her name into the conversation
My, aren’t you greedy?
She will not run for 200 m
Phenomenal.. In ot she will break Wjr.
Is dressel entered for finals?
“Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Lochte both opted out of tonight’s finals due to travel.”