2021 Pro Swim Series – San Antonio (March): Day 4 Finals Live Recap – SwimSwam

2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO (MARCH)

SATURDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

The last session of the 2021 Pro Swim Series in San Antonio will feature the finals of the men’s and women’s 100 back, 200 breast, 50 free, 200 IM, and the fastest-seeded heats of the 800 free. If you’re counting, that’s 10 different events and 18 races to watch tonight.

Among the races to watch, the evening will start with the women’s 100 back, featuring another battle between backstroke stars Regan Smith, Olivia Smoliga, and Kathleen Baker. On the men’s side, Ryan Murphy leads Wolfpack Elite duo Coleman Stewart and Kacper Stokowski of Poland. Following will be the 200 breast finals, led by Annie Lazor for the women and Kevin Cordes for the men. Keep an eye on Nic Fink, who has a stellar closing speed.

In the women’s 50 free, Polish native Kasia Wasick leads Olympians Abbey Weitzeil and Simone Manuel. For the men, Olympian Nathan Adrian holds the top seed over Italy’s Santo Condorelli and Worlds teamer Zach Apple. Into the IMs, Madisyn Cox leads over backstroker Baker for the women while Michael Andrew leads a stacked men’s field.

Topping off the night will be the 800 free timed finals, featuring Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith for the women and Jordan Wilimovsky, Chris Wieser, and Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash for the men.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

1. Olivia Smoliga (Athens Bulldog), 59.49
2. Regan Smith (Riptide), 59.50
3. Kathleen Baker (Team Elite), 59.57

The top 3 American women in the 100 back this Olympic cycle had a three-way battle during the finishing meters of tonight’s race. After Regan Smith went out into the lead, Kathleen Baker slowly began to gain on her in the second 50. Then, Olivia Smoliga switched gears and caught up to Smith and Baker, with the three women swimming neck-and-neck. At the finish, Smoliga touched out Smith by one one-hundredth at 59.49. Baker took a narrow third place at 59.57.Looking at this season’s world rankings, Smoliga (5th), Smith (6th), and Baker (9th) all crack the top-10 times.

Picking up 4th was Lisa Bratton (1:01.21), ahead of flyer Hali Flickinger (1:01.57) and 14-year-old Levenia Sim (1:01.88). Winning the B-final tonight was Tevyn Waddell of Minnesota, touching in at 1:02.58.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
• American Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peisol (2009)
• Jr. World Record: 52.53 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 52.40 – David Plummer (2016)

1. Ryan Murphy (Cal Aquatics), 53.56
2. Coleman Stewart (Wolfpack Elite), 54.48
3. Kacper Stokowski (NC State), 55.30

Easily winning his signature event was Ryan Murphy, clocking in the top time of 53.56. That is actually one one-hundredth off his season best of 53.55 from the January Pro Swim Series in the same pool, which ranks 8th in the world this season. Justin Ress, who scratched his top seed, holds the top time in the nation at 53.37 also from the January Pro Swim Series.

Placing second was Coleman Stewart, touching in at 54.48. Stewart ranks 4th in the US and 22nd in the World with his season best of 54.37 also from January. NC State teammate Kacper Stokowski settled for third at 55.30. Winning the B-final was another Wolfpack Elite member, Alex Gliese, touching in at 56.20.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 2:19.11 – Rikke Moellr Pedersen
• American Record: 2:19.59 – Rebecca Soni
• U.S. Open Record: 2:20.30 – Rebecca Soni
• Jr. World Record: 2:19.54 – Viktoria Gunes
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:20.77 – Annie Lazor

1. Annie Lazor (Mission Viejo), 2:23.91
2. Emily Escobedo (Condors), 2:24.45
3. Micah Sumrall (Gamecock), 2:27.81

Winning a tight race was Annie Lazor, clocking in 2:23.91 to runner-up Emily Escobedo‘s 2:24.45. Escobedo still remains the fastest US swimmer this season at 2:23.46 from January, which ranks 7th in the world. Lazor’s sub-2:24 effort, however, moves her up to 2nd in the nation and 9th in the world this season.

Taking third in the final was Micah Sumrall at 2:27.81, touching ahead of Molly Hannis (2:28.60), the 4th sub-2:30 swim of the event. Winning the B-final was 16-year-old Abigail Hersecu at 2:32.70.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 2:06.12 – Anton Chupkov
• American Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot
• U.S. Open Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot
• Jr. World Record: 2:09.39 – Qin Haiyang (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.95 – Andrew Wilson

1. Nic Fink (Athens Bulldog), 2:11.92
2. Will Licon (Longhorn), 2:12.40
3. Josh Prenot (Cal Aquatics), 2:12.96

It was tight into the last wall, yet Nic Fink pulled off an impressive closing finish to win the 200 breast at 2:11.92. Taking second place was Will Licon at 2:12.40, just ahead of Josh Prenot (2:12.96). Placing fourth was prelims leader Kevin Cordes at 2:12.63.

Fink and Licon currently rank 4th and 5th respectively in the nation at 2:11.28 from January while Prenot now moves up to 6th in the nation. Stanford’s Daniel Roy holds the top time in the nation at 2:08.89.

Winning the B-final was Connor Morikawa at 2:18.04.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 23.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
• American Record: 23.97 – Simone Manuel (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 24.08 – Pernille Blume (2019)
• Jr. World Record: 24.33 – Rikako Ikee (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 24.17 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)

1. Simone Manuel (Alto Swim Club), 24.70
2. Abbey Weitzeil (Cal Aquatics), 25.00
3. Kasia Wasick (Unattached), 25.12

Coming out on top again this weekend was Simone Manuel, swimming the only sub-25 time of the event at 24.70. That now moves Manuel up to 2nd in the nation behind teenager Gretchen Walsh (24.65) as well as 12th in the world this season. Placing second was Abbey Weitzeil at 25.00, just 0.03s off her US #4 time of 24.97 from January. Taking third place was Poland’s Kasia Wasick, clocking in at 25.12, which is the 4th-fastest time in Europe for 2021.

Winning the B-final was 100 back winner Olivia Smoliga, clocking in at 25.61.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (2009)
• American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (2009)
• Jr. World Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 21.51 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)

1. Santo Condorelli (Dolphins), 22.49
2. Nathan Adrian (Cal Aquatics), 22.56
3. Bowe Becker (Sandpipers of Nevada), 22.57

Surprising with a 50 free win was Italy’s Santo Condorelli, taking the top time at 22.49. Looking at the 2021 European rankings, Condorelli currently ranks 6th. Taking a tight second place finish was veteran Nathan Adrian, clocking in at 22.56. Adrian’s season best of 21.98 ranks second in the nation behind 18-year-old David Curtiss (21.87). Taking third by one one-hundredth was Bowe Becker at 22.57, which is 6th in the nation this season.

Finishing in fourth was NYAC’s Ryan Held at 22.64, who touched out Wolfpack’s Justin Ress (22.65) by one one-hundredth. Ress now ties with Matt Brownstead for 7th in the nation while Held’s season best of 22.35 sits at 3rd.

Winning the B-final was Santiago Grassi at 22.96, just 0.02s ahead of Brad Tandy (22.98).

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:08.32 – Kathleen Baker (2018)
• Jr. World Record: 2:09.98 – Rikako Ikee (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 2:08.66 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)

1. Madisyn Cox (Longhorn), 2:10.84
2. Kathleen Baker (Team Elite), 2:11.96
3. Melanie Margalis (Saint Petersburg), 2:12.68

Handily winning her only final of the night was Longhorn’s Madisyn Cox, clocking in a sub-2:11 effort of 2:10.84. In for second was Kathleen Baker at 2:11.96, who is coming off a third-place finish in the 100 back. Baker currently holds the top time in the nation at 2:10.30, followed by Cox’s 2:10.49, both from January.

Settling for third was Melanie Margalis at 2:12.68, which is 4th in the US behind teen Torri Huske (2:11.18). Taking fourth was Canadian Bailey Andison at 2:13.43. Both Margalis and Andison have cracked the top-25 times in the world this season.

Winning the B-final was Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson at 2:15.31, which would have placed 7th in the A-final.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
• American Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.56 – Ryan Lochte (2009)
• Jr. World Record: 1:57.06 – Qin Haiyang (2017)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 1:56.32 – Michael Phelps (2012)

1. Michael Andrew (Race Pace), 1:58.05
2. Abrahm DeVine (Team Elite), 1:59.65
3. Andrew Seliskar (Cal Aquatics), 2:00.59

Michael Andrew was out fast in comparison to the rest of the field, opening the first 100 fly/back in a 54.75. Andrew continued to stay ahead with a solid 33.29 breast effort, building a lead no one could catch. Andrew took the top time in the event at 1:58.05, which now takes over as the top time in the nation this season. Andrew’s time also moves up to 8th in the world this 2020-2021 season.

Taking over Andrew Seliskar for second place was Abrahm DeVine, breaking 2 minutes at 1:59.65 to rank 3rd in the nation this season. Sitting in second in the nation is Florida’s Kieran Smith (1:59.38) from January. Seliskar settled for third at 2:00.59, which ranks 6th in the nation.

Winning the B-final was Dynamo’s Raunak Khosla at 2:03.06.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

1. Katie Ledecky (Nation’s Capital), 8:13.64
2. Leah Smith (Unattached), 8:25.67
3. Haley Anderson (Mission Viejo), 8:29.15

Topping her signature event in the only sub-8:20 swim of the event was Katie Ledecky, clocking in a nation-leading time of 8:13.64. Coming in second place with the 2nd-fastest time in the county was Leah Smith, punching in 8:25.67. Settling for third place was Haley Anderson, clocking the 4th-fastest time in the nation at 8:29.15, just behind teen Bella Sims‘ season best of 8:27.01. Sims took sixth tonight at 8:31.48, just behind 4th and 5th finishers Erica Sullivan (8:30.12) and Ashley Twichell (8:30.90).

Ledecky’s time shaved three seconds off her season best of 8:16.90, once again re-affirming her top time in the world this season. Smith’s season best time also moves up to 5th in the world, just ahead of Sims. Anderson’s time also moves from 24th to 12th in the world. Moving up as well includes Sullivan (16th) and Twichell (19th).

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Record: 7:32.12 – Lin Zhang (2009)
• American Record: 7:43.60 – Michael McBroom (2013)
• U.S. Open Record: 7:44.57 – Zane Grothe (2018)
• Jr. World Record: 7:45.67 – Mack Horton (2013)
• Pro Swim Series Record: 7:49.96 – Michael McBroom (2014)

1. Marwan El Kamash (Indiana Swim Club), 7:58.33
2. Jordan Wilimovsky (KSwim), 8:00.71
3. Will Gallant (Mission Viejo), 8:04.93

Egyptian native Marwan El Kamash took the 800 free title to close the meet out in San Antonio at 7:58.33, the only sub-8:00 time of the event. El Kamash’s season best rests at 7:52.19, which won the 2020 U.S. Open, ranking 6th in the world this season. Taking second in the event was Jordan Wilimovsky at 8:00.71, affirming his 4th position in the US rankings this season.

Finishing in third was 19-year-old Will Gallant at 8:04.93, finishing six seconds ahead of Chris Wieser (8:11.13).