2024 SPEEDO ATLANTA CLASSIC DRIVEN BY JIM ELLIS CADILLAC
- Wednesday, May 15th – Saturday, May 18th 2024
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, Georgia
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- How To Watch
- Day 1 Distance Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
- Live Results on Meet Mobile: “2024 Speedo Atlanta Classic”
Saturday Prelims Heat Sheet
The final prelims session of the 2024 Atlanta Classic will feature the heats of the women’s and men’s 100 back, 200 breast, 200 IM, and 50 free. The timed finals of the 800 free will also be contested, with the fastest-seeded heats swimming with tonight’s finals.
In the women’s 100 back, last night’s 200 back champ Phoebe Bacon of Wisconsin holds the top seed over 100 fly champ, Josephine Fuller of Tennessee. Aidan Stoffle of Auburn takes the men’s 100 back top seed, leading over 200 back champ Jack Aikins of Virginia and Poland’s Kacper Stokowski of NC State. Ireland’s Mona McSharry of Tennessee holds the women’s 200 breast top seed following her 100 breast win earlier this meet. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Aleksas Savickas of Florida leads an internationally-packed men’s 200 breast.
Into the women’s 200 IM, Bacon and Fuller are scheduled to swim side-by-side in the last heat, with Florida’s Izzy Ivey also a big finals contender. Florida freestyler Kieran Smith comes in as the top men’s 200 IM prelims seed, looking to add another win to his 200 free victory last night. Erika Connolly of Tennessee holds another prelims top seed in the 50 free, but will have Catie DeLoof trailing behind her after stealing the 100 free win over Connolly in Thursday finals. Florida’s Caeleb Dressel is then set to headline the men’s 50 free, tied with training mate Alberto Mestre of Venezuela for the top seed.
Livestream:
Women’s 100 Backstroke — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 59.99
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 1:01.89
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Phoebe Bacon (WISC), 1:00.00
- Catherine Choate (FLOR), 1:01.21
- Josephine Fuller (UN), 1:01.32
- Carmen Weiler Sastre (VT), 1:01.43
- Caroline Bentz (NCAP), 1:01.65
- Lilla Bognar (TG), 1:01.70
- Micayla Cronk (FLOR), 1:02.35
- Eboni McCarty (ABSC), 1:02.40
- Cadence Vincent (BAMA), 1:02.44
- Ella Menear (BAMA), 1:02.47
Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon takes another backstroke top seed, swimming 1:00.00 for the women’s 100 back finals lead. Coming in for second was Florida’s Catherine Choate at 1:01.21, just 0.11s ahead of 100 fly champ Josephine Fuller of Tennessee (1:01.32).
Spain’s Carmen Weiler Sastre came in fourth at 1:01.43, followed by NCAP’s Caroline Bentz (1:01.65). Setting a new personal best and US Olympic Trials cut in sixth was 17-year-old Lilla Bognar of Team Greenville, eclipsing her old 1:01.90 personal best from the 2022 Mel Zajac Jr. International Meet. Florida Gator Micayla Cronk cruised into seventh in prelims behind Bognar at 1:02.35.
Men’s 100 Backstroke — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 53.71
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 55.69
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Kacper Stokowski (NCS), 53.99
- Jack Aikins (UNAT), 54.52
- Marcus Reyes-Gentry (IA), 54.62
- Tommy Hagar (BAMA), 55.04
- Grant Bochenski (UMIZ), 55.05
- Ruard van Renen (ABSC), 55.07
- Nate Stoffle (UNAT), 55.16
- Aidan Stoffle (UNAT), 55.38
- Bobby Finke (SPA), 55.39
- Yeziel Morales (MVN)/Anthony Rincon (VS), 55.48 **swim-off required
Setting a new season best was Poland’s Kacper Stokowski of NC State to take the men’s 100 back top seed at 53.99. Stokowski swam 54.03 at the February 2024 World Championships, which placed 14th in semifinals. Stokowski owns a lifetime best of 53.74 from the 2023 Polish Nationals, but will be gunning for the automatic Olympic qualifying standard of 53.71.
Last night’s 200 back champ, Virginia’s Jack Aikins, took second seed at 54.52, with Irish Aquatics’ Marcus Reyes-Gentry swimming a tenth behind for third at 54.62. In fourth was Alabama’s Tommy Hagar, leading a slew of 55-lows with his 55.04 prelims effort.
Auburn brothers Nate Stoffle (55.16) and Aidan Stoffle (55.38) finished 7th and 8th respectively in prelims. Meanwhile, Florida freestyler Bobby Finke put up a monster lifetime best of 55.39 to place 9th in prelims. His previous best was 56.94 all the way back in April 2021.
Puerto Rico’s Yeziel Morales and Veritas’ Anthony Rincon tied for 10th at 55.48, placing a potential swim-off for the last A-finals spot.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 2:23.91
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 2:31.69
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Mona McSharry (UN), 2:28.63
- Zoie Hartman (ABSC), 2:30.03
- Emelie Fast (UN), 2:30.14
- Alexis Yager (TNAQ), 2:30.25
- Emma Weyant (FLOR), 2:32.17
- Katie Christopherson (SA), 2:32.98
- Brynn Curtis (UNAT), 2:33.37
- Ava DeAngelis (GW), 2:34.55
- Grace Rainey (FLOR), 2:34.70
- Jessica Maeda (UN), 2:34.95
Ireland’s Mona McSharry leads another women’s breaststroke event into finals, hitting 2:28.63 to lead the women’s 200 breast. McSharry set her lifetime best of 2:24.82 at the 2024 World Championships, where she reached the World final, placing 5th.
Georgia’s Zoie Hartman (2:30.03) narrowly sits in second ahead of Tennessee’s Emelie Fast of Sweden (2:30.14) and Alexis Yager (2:30.25). Swimming into 5th was 400 IM champ Florida’s Emma Weyant, hitting 2:32.17.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 2:09.68
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 2:15.99
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Xavier Ruiz (SJC), 2:13.22
- Lyubomir Epitropov (TNAQ), 2:14.78
- Carles Coll Marti (VT), 2:15.21
- Aleksas Savickas (FLOR), 2:15.37
- Miguel de Lara (PRVT), 2:15.88
- Mariano Lazzerini (UPSU), 2:15.93
- Grayson Nye (TAC), 2:15.97
- Connor Haigh (TWS), 2:16.07
- Dylan Rhee (UN), 2:16.09
- Joseph Hong (VT), 2:16.18
Setting a new Puerto Rico national record to lead the men’s 200 breast here in Atlanta was Xavier Ruiz, swimming 2:13.22 to drop from his unratified national record of 2:14.53 from the 2023 Speedo Junior Nationals. Bulgaria’s Lyubomir Epitropov of Tennessee took the second seed at 2:14.78.
Filing in for the remaining top five seeds are Spain’s Carles Coll Marti of Virginia Tech (2:15.21), Lithuania’s Aleksas Savickas of Florida (2:15.37), and Mexico’s Miguel de Lara of Virginia Tech (2:15.88).
Women’s 200 IM — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 2:11.47
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 2:16.09
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Katie Ledecky (GSC), 2:12.67
- Lilla Bognar (TG), 2:14.82
- Josephine Fuller (UN), 2:16.37
- Callie Dickinson (ABSC), 2:17.24
- Kristen Romano (TNAQ), 2:17.57
- McKenna DeBever (TNAQ), 2:18.29
- Zoe Dixon (FLOR), 2:19.09
- Madi Mintenko (PPA), 2:19.55
- Stephanie Iannaccone (WCAB), 2:20.36
- Lainy Kruger (FLOR), 2:20.38
Striking a new lifetime best in the 200 IM was Gator freestyler Katie Ledecky, putting up the top prelims time of 2:12.67 to shave hundredths off her 2022 lifetime best of 2:12.74. While Ledecky will likely stick with the freestyle races at US Olympic Trials, her time this morning is a mere 1.2s off the automatic Olympic qualifying time of 2:11.47.
Taking another A-finals qualification was Team Greenville’s Lilla Bognar, touching the wall at 2:14.82 to have more than a second lead over third seed, Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller (2:16.37).
Georgia’s Callie Dickinson slid into fourth at 2:17.24, with Tennessee training mates Puerto Rico’s Kristen Romano (2:17.57) and Peru’s McKenna DeBever (2:18.29) rounding out the top six qualifiers.
Notably, second seed Izzy Ivey of Florida was disqualified after prelims.
Men’s 200 IM — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 1:57.94
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 2:03.49
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Kieran Smith (RAC), 1:59.80
- Munzer Kabbara (LBN), 2:01.52
- Connor Rodgers (GW), 2:02.74
- Patrick Groters (MVN), 2:03.57
- Mason Laur (FLOR), 2:03.65
- Daniil Pancerevas (VT), 2:03.74
- Bobby Finke (SPA), 2:04.06
- Baylor Stanton (GA), 2:04.07
- Jack Dahlgren (TRI), 2:04.29
- Gus Rothrock (UN), 2:04.70
Florida’s Kieran Smith of Ridgefield swam the only sub-2:00 time in the men’s 200 IM prelims, touching the wall at 1:59.80. Smith swam his season best of 1:58.98 from the October Budapest World Cup, and hit 1:59.52 this 2024 calendar year at the Westmont Pro Swim Series. Smith’s lifetime best sits at 1:57.23 from the 2021 US Olympic Trials.
Another Lebanon national record was re-written by Munzer Kabbara, coming in second place at 2:01.52 to eclipse his old record of 2:02.99 from the 2023 World Championships. George Washington’s Connor Rodgers came in third at 2:02.74.
Florida Gators Mason Laur (2:03.65) and Bobby Finke (2:04.06) finished 5th and 7th after this morning’s prelims.
Women’s 50 Freestyle — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 24.70
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 25.69
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Catie DeLoof (NYAC), 24.93
- Erika Connolly (TNAQ), 25.22
- Farida Osman (CAL), 25.30
- Camille Spink (UN), 25.39
- Cadence Vincent (BAMA), 25.51
- Caroline Larsen (FOXJ), 25.62
- Kailyn Winter (BAMA), 25.72
- Madelyn Moore (PVRT), 25.77
- Micayla Cronk (FLOR), 25.86
- Sarah Paisley Owen (MAAC), 25.88
Upstaging the prelims top seed to take the lead into finals was NYAC’s Catie DeLoof, breaking 25 seconds at 24.93. That is four-tenths off her season best of 24.56 from the San Antonio Pro Swim Series.
Erika Connolly of Tennesse came in second at 25.22, just 0.08s ahead of Egypt’s Farida Osman. Connolly came just 0.02s off her 25.20 season best from Tennessee’s April Invite less than a month ago. Osman’s 25.30 flirted with her 2024 year best of 25.01 from the February 2024 World Championships.
Tennessee’s Camille Spink finished in fourth at 25.39 while Florida’s Micayla Cronk earned her second A-finals qualification in 9th at 25.86.
Men’s 50 Freestyle — PRELIMS
- FINA Olympic A Standard: 21.96
- U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Time: 22.79
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Santiago Grassi (BSC), 22.29
- Alberto Mestre (UNAT)/David Curtiss (TAC)/Macguire McDuff (FLOR), 22.54
- –
- –
- Evgenii Somov (AAA), 22.57
- Caeleb Dressel (GSC)/Youssef Ramadan (VT), 22.62
- –
- Lamar Taylor (BAH), 22.74
- Jack Kirby (NOVA), 22.75
- Julian Smith (FLOR), 22.76
Argentina’s Santiago Grassi took the 50 free prelims top seed at 22.29, only needing a 0.33s drop to hit the automatic Olympic qualifying cut of 21.96. Grassi’s lifetime best is actually 22.28, setting himself up for at least a personal best if he sees a drop in tonight’s finals.
Swimming a three-way tie for second seed were Venezuela’s Alberto Mestre, NC State’s David Curtiss, and Florida’s Macguire McDuff, all touching in with an identical 22.54 prelims swim.
Russia’s Evgenii Somov came in fifth at 22.57 while Florida’s Caeleb Dressel and Egypt’s Youssef Ramadan tied for sixth seed at 22.62.
The Florida pros have all scratched finals 🫤. But most of the college kids are staying for finals
There is nothing to be gained for Katie Ledecky swimming in the final of the W 200 IM.
I think Finke has a faster PB in the 100 back than Dressel, I think Dressel’s is 55.98 from this meet a while ago
Finke needs to swim a 200 back. Looks like he was 1:59.89 in Aug 2020, have to imagine he’d be a good bit faster now
I did not know Somov had that freestyle dawg in him
Albany Aquatics! Go Armada!
Fellow east bay swimswammer I see
It’s where the pros train
Dressel going to the feet, is he trying to figure out his front end speed for the 100?
I want to see a Finke 200 back now! 55 is some pretty serious backstroke speed for a miler!
Dressel went 22.62 to the feet for 3rd in his heat. I had to rewatch to make sure it was him flipping, but it was. Pretty sure he’s still through to the final.
So he did flip to his feet! I thought I must be seeing things
The video is so bad, I had to replay at half-speed to be sure. I think Scotty Buff may have also flipped in his heat.
bro literally disappeared for like 10 seconds, I thought he drowned 😭
testing out that first 50 100 split
did he breathed every 2 or did he go no or few breath with a flip
don’t know, looks like he went no breathe to me but video too blurry
He also seems to stay underwater after he touched the wall, to replicate an underwater i’m guessing.
He scratched finals in the 50
ugh.
Can someone please explain why American swimmers always enter so much events to end up not swimming the majority of them. I just can’t wrap my head around why they don’t just scratch the event, or don’t enter the event in the first place.
this certainly isn’t just limited to American swimmers but I’m in full agreement that scratching is a problem
I’ve thought a lot about this over the last 15 years. My operating theory is something like American swim coaches are heavily influenced by coaches from other sports, and it feels more like “coaching” if you leave yourself “options” then you’re “coaching more” because you have to make “game time decisions.”
That, and because there’s no serious penalty to not do this. At least it’s great for the meet host because they collect all those extra entry fees.
On the flip side, the optionality of over entering events is farcical if more than half a second is spent to seriously thinking about it.
There are entire programs known for their swimmers no-showing Sunday sessions meet after meet, yet their swimmers are always entered in the Sunday events. There are swimmers who routinely enter a bunch of events they *never* swim at these meets, and they do this meet after meet.
If it was a one-off occurrence or was a case of something like a swimmer throwing in a plausible 5th entry on top of their core 4 events, that’d be 100% fine with me and likely fine with most of the swimming public that watches these kinds of… Read more »
Adding on to this–back in the USS days when I was an age grouper, at least in my area of the country, we had a penalty of losing your next entered event if you no-showed. There were no DFS back then and it was either scratch during the scratch window or lose your next event.
I would be more than ok with that setup coming back.
Those “game time decisions” almost always have the same outcome though, and that is to scratch the event.
Kind of disagree, I think the swimmers just want to see where they’re at. They don’t care about entry fees of course as you insinuated. But I don’t think swim coaches give a rats — about appearing to be like any other subset of coaches.
Lol Dressel no-showed again, what even is the point in entering these events
Probably loves to see people posting about it on swimswam
He entered in 6 events and will probably end up swimming 4 (heats and finals) for a total of 8 races which isn’t bad
Yeah, I call it a win that he swam the 200 final. I really expected a scratch there.
That really shouldn’t be how it is though, hardly the bare minimum
And you’re 27 with a new kid? Cut the guy some slack.