2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT SANTA CLARA
- Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5, 2016
- George F. Haines International Aquatic Center / Santa Clara, CA
- Prelims 9AM / Finals 5PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet Website
- Live Stream
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Live Results also on Meet Mobile (‘2016 Arena Pro Swim Series’)
#1 MITCH LARKIN AND RYAN MURPHY TRADE BLOWS IN BACKSTROKE EVENTS
This weekend in Santa Clara, Team USA’s Ryan Murphy and Australia’s Mitch Larkin gave us a preview of a potential rivalry in the backstroke events in Rio. On Saturday, Murphy blasted to a 52.77 to overtake Larkin in the 100 back by over half a second. In the 200 back tonight, Larkin fired back with a 1:55.38 to beat out Murphy, who was 2nd in 1:56.10. If all goes well for Murphy in Omaha, we could see a rematch between these 2 in Rio, with the potential for them to push each other to World Records.
#2 JESSICA ASHWOOD BREAKS AUSTRALIAN 800 FREE RECORD
Australia’s Jessica Ashwood blew the field away by over 30 seconds in the women’s 800 free, setting a new Australian Record in the process. Ashwood’s 8:18.14 clipped the previous record of 8:18.41, which she set at the 2015 World Championships.
#3 MANUEL POSTS SUB-54 IN WOMEN’S 100 FREE
Stanford’s Simone Manuel swam under 54 seconds in the 100 free for the first time this season, posting a 53.75 to take the top seed after prelims. That time puts her in a tie with Katie Ledecky as the 2nd fastest American this season, sitting behind Dana Vollmer‘s 53.59 from the Arena Pro Swim at Charlotte. Vollmer also swam this event today, turning in a time of 54.17.
In finals, Manuel was a few tenths shy of her prelims performance, placing 3rd in 54.11 behind Australia’s Emma McKeon (53.30) and Brittany Elmslie (53.77).
#4 EMILY SEEBOHM DOMINATES BACKSTROKE EVENTS
Australia’s Emily Seebohm turned in a pair of very strong performances in the women’s 100 and 200 backstrokes this weekend. First, she won the women’s 100 back on Saturday with a new meet and pool record of 58.97. Seebohm will be looking to capture gold in Rio after taking the silver behind Missy Franklin in that event at the 2012 Olympics. She followed up her 100 back victory with a 2:08.57 in the 200 back tonight, completing her sweep of the backstroke events.
#5 SUN YANG SCRATCHES OUT OF 1500 FREE
After winning the 200 free with a world-leading 1:44.82 and blazing to a 3:43.55 in the 400 free prelims, China’s Sun Yang scratched out of the 1500 free on the final day of the meet. Yang also pulled out of the 400 free final on Saturday.
Sun Yang pulled out? Oh what a wonder. Is he afraid of the doping controls?
Same could be said about anyone else who scratches. Not naming any names…
Looks like Condorelli is the former Weitzeil’s training partner. He changes coach 2 months before Rio.
Why? What happened?
#UpvoteNotDownvote
#1. Larkin looks unbeatable in the 200 back. Vulnerable in the 100 back.
#2. Ashwood will medal in Rio in both 400 free and 800 free. Her big finish will make the difference to grab silvers.
#3. Not happy at all with Simone’s race in final. But I’m still waiting for trials before talking about the US women’s sprint. I hope to be pleasantly surprised in 3 weeks with at least a girl under 53. Simone? I’d like seeing her go out very fast. Try something. Stop being conservative! She has the endurance to come back fast so don’t be afraid in the first 50. Abbey? I don’t know why but I’ve good vibes about Abbey. I feel… Read more »
Vulnerable may not be the word, but Larkin very much in the mix with 2 Americans & Lacourt, the competition much bigger then in 200.
Missy is peak form is unbeatable in 200, but is she near peak form, 3 weeks time will tell, otherwise Cbohm right in this.
I meant beatable in the 100 back. No margin in that event. He’s much more a 200 back swimmer. But we know he can keep his composure until the end and count on his finish to grab the win. If I was Murphy (considering he qualifies at trials), I wouldn’t swim the semis in Rio at full speed to not qualify for olympic final in the middle lanes. It’s a dangerous game but I would try to be in lanes 1, 2, 7 or 8 to swim the most relaxed possible. That’s my theory. I’m probably alone on Earth to think about that but I know what’s going to happen in the last 25 if Murphy is one and one… Read more »
I agree with your theory messr. Gigi!
Murphy needs to relax a bit and swim slower in the semis! He must get lane 1 or 8 in the final, as far away from Larkin as possible to win gold. It will be amazing.
Not if he wins GOLD, Larkin all the way for me!!!! Hope he gets lane 4 & is hunted down by Larkin.
Do you know how hard that is to do? The 100 back is going to be a really close race, with so many people capable of going under 53 barrier. The 6th/7th/8th spots in the finals are going to be separated by hundredths of a second. There is no way Murphy or anyone else will be able to control that or indeed want to risk it.
speaking of lane strategy…Leah Smith can get a draft off Ledecky and body surf her wake to a silver medal in the 400. Katie just move over a little please. Murphy I dont see the lane stategy as an option…its backstroke sprint so may the fastest swimmer on that day win. You are getting inside his head with the lane talk and that is not what he needs to worry about.
The only way you Smith or anyone can draft off Ledecky if on a jet boat. Ledecky will be 2-3 seconds ahead & way ahead of anyone being able to draft. Smith is together with 4-5 other swimmers competing for 2nd place.
Spot on ROBBOS
Few thoughts:
1. Larkin and Murphy: right now, Larkin is the huge favorite in the 200m back. In the 100m back, the race will be very tight between Larkin and 2 Americans maybe Larcout??? ???? If Murphy qualifies the 100m back, that will be the best chance for him to get gold medal and beat Larkin but in the 200m back, everything is different ( a silver/bronze will be successful for Murphy)
2. US women sprinter: if no one goes 53 low in Omaha, that will be very tough to win the medley replay.
3. Sun Yang: i think he will do 200/400m free in Rio and drop 1500m free. Maye he is afraid of Paltrinieri :)))))))))))… Read more »
Larking is not going to win the 100 back. ‘ll give him 4-1… Murphy 3-2… Plummer 3-1… Grevers 5-1. Field 50-1.
Agree with all 3 points MICHAELTRAN. I’m sure after a taper and rest for Omaha the US women will be in a much better position.
swimwords.org
Few thoughts:
1. Larkin and Murphy: right now, Larkin is the huge favorite in the 200m back. In the 100m back, the race will be very tight between Larkin and 2 Americans maybe Larcout??? 🙂 If Murphy qualifies the 100m back, that will be the best chance for him to get gold medal and beat Larkin but in the 200m back, everything is different ( a silver/bronze will be successful for Murphy)
2. US women sprinter: if no one does not go 53 low in Omaha, that will be very tough to win the medley replay.
3. Sun Yang: i think he will do 200/400m free in Rio and drop 1500m free. Maye he is afraid of… Read more »
This is a very bad situation when our two fastest 100 free swimmers are a distance swimmer and a fly specialist, and especially looking even worse when our greatest ever sprinters are in their peak.
That’s an understandable concern at this point, but I think the situation could change drastically in about 3 weeks 😉
I hope you are right, Lauren!
I like that Manuel took no prisoner in the prelims, it’s good preparation for 3 rounds of hard racing in Omaha and especially Rio where 53.75 will only get you to semis.
Please, Please ladies- give us a 52!
1. I would predict the same result in rio for Murphy/Larkin. A split winner in the two events.
2. I hate that the aussie second string still crush our top girls in the 100.
3. Sun Yang is a certified nut job.
It’s actually thrid string.
Why is Sun a nut job? Just because he scratched two finals? Does that make Nathan Adrian half of a nut job then?
To me his strategy is brilliant, straight out of Sun Tzu’s Art of War: never show your opponents all you got. With his performance in 200m, and 400m, I think his 1500m will be stellar. But we may never find out before Rio.
My thoughts exactly. Hes got it in the bag.