2021 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis (#4)
- May 12 – 15, 2021
- IU Natatorium, Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims: 9 am/Finals 6 pm EST
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet
The fourth and final meet of the 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series is set to take place next week in Indianapolis, Indiana from May 12 – 15. The meet will be one of the final high-level racing opportunities for many US national teamers who will soon be making their bids for a spot on the 2021 Olympic team.
The event follows previous meets in Richmond/San Antonio (split site meet), San Antonio, and Mission Viejo.
The field in Indianapolis will welcome in a similarly-powered field as the first three meets, though there are a few other meets, including the Atlanta Classic, that will divide some focus – as we’ve seen throughout this year’s Pro Swim season.
Among the big absences will be the Stanford women’s post-grad group that includes Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel. Manuel missed the last Pro Swim series meet with a non-COVID illness, and was expected to race in Indianapolis, but her coach Greg Meehan tells SwimSwam that the group has instead pivoted to a meet in Austin the following week. Meehan says the decision was on the basis of Austin offering an “easier environment,” including not needing to arrive early three days early to undergo COVID testing.
Manuel, specifically, has raced at only 3 official meets since March 2020, when the global coronavirus pandemic took hold.
There is still plenty of fire-power for the big show in Indy, however. Early on in the meet, for example, the men’s 100 freestyle will offer yet another look at where the nation’s top sprinters stand a few weeks out from Omaha. The field includes 3 sub-48 entrants in the form of Ryan Held (47.39), Zach Apple (47.69), and Blake Pieroni (47.87). They’ll be joined by the likes of Dean Farris (48.07), Nathan Adrian (48.17), Jack Conger (48.47), and many more. In the 50 freestyle, we will see many of the same faces as in the 100 with additions including Michael Andrew (21.62) and Michael Chadwick (21.95) among the top seeds in the event.
Manuel’s absence leaves Mallory Comerford as the top seed. Comerford will be looking to pick up her first win of the 2021 PSS as Abbey Weitzeil, Simone Manuel, and Catie DeLoof took one gold each at the first three stops. Comerford’s season-best so far is a 55.21, giving her lots of room for improvement towards her PB.
In the men’s 100 breaststroke, we’ll get a look at an exciting matchup as Cody Miller and Michael Andrew go head-to-head. The duo holds the only sub-1:00 entry times as Andrew heads in with a 59.14 and Miller a 59.24, compared to Josh Matheny‘s 1:00.17 for third. So far at the 2021 Pro Swim Series, only one man has cracked the 1-minute barrier as Nic Fink posted a 59.74 to win the event in Mission Viejo. Cody Miller, however, has been a 59.65 earlier in the season to give him the second-fastest time among American men for 2020-2021 thus far, behind only Andrew Wilson‘s leading 59.58.
On the women’s side of the event, world record holder Lilly King will be looking to improve upon her 1:05.32 which she swam in Mission Viejo. That swim for King remains the fastest in the world this season but is still more than a second off her own PB and WR in the event which stands at a 1:04.13 from bac in 2017. One of the biggest battles at US Trials will likely be the race for second place in the women’s 100 breast behind King. So far this season 3 women have been in the 1:06 range in the form of Lydia Jacoby (1:06.38), Annie Lazor (1:06.86), and Molly Hannis (1:06.93) while Emily Escobedo nears the barrier with a 1:07.11. Of those 4, Lazor and Escobedo will be present in Indianapolis, along with Bethany Galat (1:07.13) and Miranda Tucker (1:07.33).
Another big name entered in Indianapolis is Regan Smith who is set to contest her signature 100 and 200 backstrokes in which she holds both world records (57.57/2:03.35). Smith is also entered in the butterfly double as second seed behind Kelsi Dahlia in the 100 and Hali Flickinger in the 200. The 100 fly, in particular, will be interesting as veteran Dahlie will look to fend off the likes of Smith, as well as budding NCAA all-star Kate Douglass who recently took silver at the 2021 NCAA Championships in the short course yards version of the event.
As Regan Smith leads the way in the women’s backstroke events, Shaine Casas will go in as top seed in the men’s 100 and 200 back with a 52.72 in the 100 and a 1:55.79 in the 200. Casas will use the event to prep for Omaha where he has a shot at qualifying for his first-ever Olympic squad. Casas is currently the 4th fastest American man this season with a 54.32 from PSS San Antonia, behind Ryan Murphy‘s 53.11, Justin Ress‘s 53.30, Daniel Carr‘s 53.73. In the 200, Casas has been a 1:58.04 which is the second-fastest nationwide this season behind Murphy’s 1:56.06.
With too many names to list, the field in Indianapolis also includes top seeds in the form of national teamers Erica Sullivan, Zane Grothe, Zach Harting, Leah Smith, Allison Schmitt, Jack Conger, Erika Brown, Kathleen Baker.
Men’s 100 Free gonna be an interesting one!!
Anyone know if Luca Urlando will be swimming in Indy? He seemed to be the only chance for a U.S. medal in the men’s 2fly in Tokyo, based on his 1:53.84 in 2019 (before his shoulder dislocation and before the Pandemic struck).
No, he’s racing at the Atlanta Classic the same weekend. https://staging.swimswam.com/2021-atlanta-classic-dressel-g-walsh-uga-stars-highlight-stacked-psychs/
When is the olympic trials in the Us?
June 13-20
OK, are we going to see a rash of scratches on the last day? Being a pro means you show up. Should be some penalty for athletes who bail on last day
Also being a pro means you get paid for placing top 3 which they are not doing at this meet.
And here I thought being a professional meant you got paid for being a high level athlete, turns out you just need to sacrifice a day of training because some rando wants you to swim the sunday finals session instead of flying home early
Curious to see what Mallory Comerford does at this meet. She needs to drop serious time if women Want any chance whatsoever to beat the aussies
Don’t think she’ll make the relay even. She’s been off like Dahlia now
Hswimmer, Sometimes its better not to post what you are thinking… What events will you be swimming at trials or have you swum at this level? Two more swimmers just added to my list of ones I am pulling for!
yOu cAn’T CoMmEnt cUz yOu ArEN’t An oLyMpIaN
Hahah right. It’s a swim site I’m sure there are non swimmers who comment on here like, wtf?
Agreed. Not well written on my part. Just thought the comment about those two girls was a bit out of bounds. Just because it’s a swim site and they are swimmers doesn’t make it right to come in here and anonymously wreck someone…
So saying someone won’t make the relay is “wreck”ing them? They’re pro athletes not children.
Damn, didn’t think an opinion on a pro athlete was wrecking them. I’m sure they know they’re on the outside looking in as of now.
How many times does it need to be said that you don’t need to compete at a high level in order to comment on athlete performances or be knowledgeable about the sport? And if they were a high level athlete swimming at that level would their comment all of a sudden be ok with you?
Unlike Mallory Comerford, Kelsi Dahlia swam in April at the 2021 TYR Pro Swim – Mission Viejo.
Mallory Comerford did not swim at the 2021 TYR Pro Swim – Mission Viejo in April. A number of swimmers were still in the doldrums in March.
A bit off-topic but the start list for the Sydney Open is up too. It’s the last racing opportunity for Aussies before trials.
https://nsw.swimming.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/documents/Sydney%20Open%20Uni%20Nationals%20Start%20List.pdf
Beat those Aussies! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Destinations for Torri Huske, Gretchen Walsh, Charlotte Hook, Claire Curzan?
Gretchen Walsh is signed up in Atlanta. Not sure on the other three.
Where is the Atlanta psych?
See my comment above–I gave the link.
Hook is entered in Indy (2 fly, 2/4 IM), Curzan had talked about going to a local meet in Cary, NC. Not sure about Torri but she did just swim in the 18&U Cup
Huske going to NCAP hosted meet that weekend. Local
How did you know it since the psych sheet wasn’t published in NCAP page?
My daughter is her teammate. They are going to the NCAP meet.
Thanks.
I wish Regan would do the 200 or 400 IM too
The Riptide Rocket is better in the women’s 200 FR than the women’s 200 IM or the women’s 400 IM.
To be fair, she could beat most dudes in the 200 back.