2018 TYR PRO SWIM SERIES – SANTA CLARA
- Santa Clara, CA
- June 7-10, 2018
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2017 World Champion Caeleb Dressel swam his first races on the 2018 Pro Swim Series tonight in Santa Clara, posting an impressive 52.20 to win the men’s 100 fly.
In analyzing the splits of all nine A-finalists, there is a large discrepancy between the way Dressel split the race and the rest of the field did. Check out the numbers below:
| Swimmer | 1st 50 | 2nd 50 | Final Time | Spread |
| Caeleb Dressel | 24.94 | 27.26 | 52.20 | 2.32 |
| Andrew Seliskar | 24.83 | 27.98 | 52.81 | 3.15 |
| Tripp Cooper | 25.10 | 27.92 | 53.02 | 2.82 |
| Luis Martinez | 25.04 | 28.01 | 53.05 | 2.97 |
| Jack Conger | 25.03 | 28.09 | 53.12 | 3.06 |
| Justin Lynch | 24.72 | 28.57 | 53.29 | 3.85 |
| Long Gutierrez | 25.35 | 28.70 | 54.05 | 3.35 |
| Pace Clark | 25.65 | 28.47 | 54.12 | 2.82 |
| Giles Smith | 25.04 | 29.17 | 54.21 | 4.13 |
Dressel’s spread of 2.32 was much lower than everyone else’s, and over eight tenths below average (3.16). Including Dressel, only four of the nine finalists had a spread below 3 seconds, while one (Giles Smith) was above 4.
If we go back and look at the results of the 2017 U.S. World Trials, we find similar results, though the spread was much higher for Dressel:
| Swimmer | First 50 | Second 50 | Final Time | Spread |
| Caeleb Dressel | 23.87 | 27.00 | 50.87 | 3.13 |
| Tim Phillips | 23.70 | 27.60 | 51.30 | 3.90 |
| Jack Conger | 23.87 | 27.46 | 51.33 | 3.59 |
| Tom Shields | 24.42 | 27.13 | 51.55 | 2.71 |
| Justin Lynch | 24.29 | 27.91 | 52.20 | 3.62 |
| Zach Harting | 24.95 | 27.57 | 52.52 | 2.62 |
| Andrew Liang | 24.65 | 28.22 | 52.87 | 3.57 |
| Matthew Josa | 24.02 | 28.86 | 52.88 | 4.84 |
He wasn’t below 3, and was well above both Zach Harting and Tom Shields, but his 3.13 was still well below average (3.5). This isn’t a huge surprise given he would’ve had some rest prior to this meet compared to Santa Clara, and with rest comes easy speed.
If we look at the results of the 2017 World Championships, where Dressel swam the 2nd fastest time in history in 49.86, he falls into the middle of the pack with a spread of 3.24, just a bit below average (3.31).
| Swimmer | First 50 | Second 50 | Final Time | Spread |
| Caeleb Dressel | 23.31 | 26.55 | 49.86 | 3.24 |
| Kristof Milak | 23.85 | 26.77 | 50.62 | 2.92 |
| Joseph Schooling | 23.74 | 27.09 | 50.83 | 3.35 |
| James Guy | 23.64 | 27.19 | 50.83 | 3.55 |
| Laszlo Cseh | 24.01 | 26.91 | 50.92 | 2.90 |
| Li Zhuhao | 23.76 | 27.20 | 50.96 | 3.44 |
| Grant Irvine | 23.92 | 27.08 | 51.00 | 3.16 |
| Mehdy Metella | 23.62 | 27.54 | 51.16 | 3.92 |
Along with the fact he was fully rested here and thus had a ton of easy speed, the swimmers who had a lower spread also do the 200, with Kristof Milak and Laszlo Cseh two of the fastest ever having been 1:52. This was also the case with the field from World Trials, as both Shields and Harting swim the 200 as well.
We’ve known this ever since NCAAs two years ago when he broke out the no-breath last 25 to beat Schooling for the first time.
This has to be terrifying for everyone else – the most speed and also curretnly the best finisher in events 200 m and less
Idk about 200s, maybe he is but I wouldn’t count out Yang or Haas in the freestyles or Hagino in the 200IM. All have great closing ability.
I dunno, did you see Seli’s 200 yesterday?
You’re welcome!
In case anybody is curious, his split difference last year at this meet was 2.82
48 coming soon
Someday. 48 is definitely possible for Caeleb in 2020.
If I had to guess I would say the reason for this is that at Florida they do so much aerobic training during the season and he will get the speed with his taper, that’s why his split spread was greater at nationals and worlds, he was tapered.
Great observations..Where can I get some of that easy speed?
Steve junglebrock