2018 PRO SWIM SERIES – AUSTIN
- Thursday, January 11 – Sunday, January 14, 2018
- Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center
- Austin, TX
- Prelims 9 AM (Th-Sat) / Finals 6 PM (Th), 5:40 (Fri-Sat) / Timed Finals 8 AM (Sun) – U.S. Central Time
- Links, Schedule & Points/Money Info
- Meet site
- Live Stream
- Meet info
- Psych Sheets
- Thursday Finals Heat Sheet
- Live Results
3-time NCAA sprint champion Margo Geer is the latest beneficiary of the “Coley Stickels” effect. The 25-year old swam a 53.76 on Friday morning to qualify 1st for the final of the women’s 100 free at the Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Austin. That time is a new lifetime best for Geer, and puts her 6th in the world in the 2017-2018 long course season. Her previous best time was a 53.95 done in July of 2015.
2017-2018 LCM WOMEN 100 FREE
CAMPBELL
52.03
| 2 | Bronte CAMPBELL | AUS | 52.27 | 04/09 |
| 3 | Simone MANUEL | USA | 52.54 | 07/25 |
| 4 | Sarah SJOESTROEM | SWE | 52.67 | 08/07 |
| 5 | Taylor RUCK | CAN | 52.72 | 08/10 |
| 5 | Pernille BLUME | DEN | 52.72 | 06/30 |
After swimming on 4 relays at the 2015 World Championships (including a best split of 53.12 on a rolling start – 2nd-best among Americans), Geer didn’t final at the 2016 Olympic Trials, hampered by a nagging shoulder injury. She then took some time away from swimming after the Olympic Trials, and while she did race at the 2017 U.S. Open, she skipped the World Championship Trials in June.
Since her last long course race, Geer made the switch from Tucson Ford Aquatics, the age group and post-graduate group affiliated with her university team at the University of Arizona, to joining Indiana University’s new sprint coach Coley Stickels in Bloomington. Early returns were positive, as she swam 21.72 in the 50 free and 47.50 in the 100 free. The breakthrough came on Friday morning, though, where she swam the new personal best in just prelims.
Geer is the latest product of Stickels’ sprint methodologies. In 2012, he coached Keaton Blovad to be the youngest swimmer at the Olympic Trials. He then coached Abbey Weitzeil to a new American Record before she went off to Cal.
Geer is the latest breakout of the on-fire Indiana post-graduate group that is the hottest in the country right now. She, along with most of the rest of the group, are representing Mission Viejo now, though they continue to train at Indiana. Amanda Kendall won the 100 fly on Thursday evening also out of that group, while the distance swimmers Ashley Neidigh and Zane Grothe will begin their big races with the 800 free on Friday afternoon.
With Simone Manuel and Mallory Comerford trading American Records in the 100 free last summer, and Geer appearing to be starting her 2nd act, the Americans in a few short years have gone from struggling to the best in the world. 2019 against a full-strength Australian squad will be the best test – the Americans won gold in Budapest this summer, but Australia was without superstar Cate Campbell.
FWIW:
Based on top times last 2 years (flat starts):
AUS
52.06 C Campbell ’16
52.58 B Campbell ’16
52.80 E Mckeon ’17
53.40 S Jack ’17
= 3:30.84
USA
52.27 S Manuel ’17
52.59 M Comerford ’17
53.28 A Weitzeil ’16
53.59 L Neal ’17
= 3:31.73
Wasn’t it Grace Carlson who was the young standout?
Wow. There goes the idea that women peak early.
Geer and Kendall are both looking so good at this meet. #Coley2020
To get on 4x100free relay wouldn’t be easy this year. Even the sixth member of relay should be under 53.5
Manuel, Comerford, Weitzeil, Neal, Worrell, Vollmer, Geer, Ledecky. It is already eight and i may missed some newcomers.
if Margo Geer manages to do so then it will be a great example of perseverance for many others in this tough sport. And secondly, the American team will be safe against Australians.
Weitzeil was 55 last year. Worrell, Vollmer, and Ledecky will not likely be sub 53.5 (pretty sure none of them have ever been under 53.5) Even Neal will have a tough time. Simone and Mallory are locks.
Weitzeil will be fast again soon. No doubt she is a lock for at least the prelims relay for the next 3 years, and is still 3rd fastest, and has won both sprints at trials. And after having a rough year still found a way onto the team last summer in the 50.
Weitzeil’s recent race showed that she is much better now than last year.
Ledecky had 52.6 split. That means that she was able to swim under 53.5 in individual race.
Neal’s personal best is 53.59 and she isn’t working for Meehan in SCY any more.
Vollmer -53.30
Worrall – 53.87
Geer will be probably 53.5 tonight.
My point was that time above 53.5 may happen to be too slow to get on relay. Unless some swimmers from above list don’t care much about that this year.
And to please multiple Franklin’s fans we have to add to this list Missy Franklin’s 53.3 personal best. She is still officially active and with her recent move who knows…what to expect. She may have to look at Margo and Dana in this regard in search for new inspiration.
Margo is a fantastic person and swimmer. As the superintendent of her high school district, I couldn’t be more proud.
This makes me so happy. She is an absolute gem!
Great article. Go Margo, go!! (Rankings have the wrong time, but no need to change until she goes even faster tonight!)