5 Races To Watch At The 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis

2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis

• Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5, 2016
• IUPUI Natatorium / Indianapolis, IN
• Prelims 9AM / Finals 6PM (U.S. Central Time)
• Meet website
• Psych Sheet

PRIZE MONEY/SCORING SYSTEM

Every individual, Olympic-distance event gives out prize money and series points to the top three finishers:

• 1st place: $1000, 5 points
• 2nd place: $600, 3 points
• 3rd place: $200, 1 points

At the end of the series, the male and female points leaders will win $10,000 each, plus a 1-year lease of a BMW (though the BMW is only available to U.S. citizens).

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS

Swimmers in bold are competing in Indianapolis. Swimmers in italics are competing at the concurrent Pro Swim Series event in Santa Clara and can also earn series points. Swimmers with an asterisk (*) are competing at the Longhorn Elite Invite in Austin and will not earn PSS points.

Men:

1. Conor Dwyer – 45
2. Nathan Adrian – 40
3. Michael Phelps* – 35
4. Ryan Lochte – 33
5. Chase Kalisz* – 26

Women:

1. Katie Ledecky – 55
2. Maya DiRado – 40
3. Missy Franklin* – 31
4. Cammile Adams – 28
5. Katinka Hosszu – 24

5 Races To Watch

Women’s 100 Breast & 200 Breast

Indiana’s Lilly King is coming off a national record-setting freshman season in short course yards, and she just blasted a lifetime-best 1:05.73 in the 100 breast last month in Charlotte. She’s clearly the fastest-rising American breaststroker at the moment, but will run up against 2012 Olympian Micah Lawrence in both breaststrokes in Indy. Also joining the field is Hilda Luthersdottir*, who set all three Icelandic breaststroking records last month at the European Championships. Auburn’s Annie Lazor has also been red-hot lately, and beat King for the 200 breast title in Charlotte.

*Luthersdottir is entered both here and at the Tennessee Aquatics June Invite.

Men’s 100 Free

Santo Condorelli has been on fire since last summer, and just clinched an Olympic berth for Canada earlier this spring. He’ll try to add to his title from Charlotte in the 100 free, taking on a tough international field. Marcelo Chierighini and Joao de Lucca are carrying on the banner of Brazil’s legendary sprint group. Junya Koga is representing Japan, and the U.S. features former-football-player-turned-sprinter Josh Schneider and Mizzou’s Michael Chadwick, who broke out last summer with a 48.8.

Women’s 400 free

Former college rivals will battle it out in the women’s distance races. Leah Smith was the NCAA champ for Virginia this past season in the 500 and 1650 yard freestyles. Georgia’s Brittany MacLean was second in both of those races while winning the 200, and just clinched a Canadian Olympic berth this spring. Indiana Hoosier alum Lindsey Vrooman was a few years ahead of that duo and battles them for Badger Swim Club in Indy. Also keep an eye on Michigan/Hong Kong swimmer Yi Birong, Vietnamese star Vien Nguyen and Georgia Bulldog Hali Flickinger.

Men’s 100 Breast & 200 Breast

The men’s breaststroke spots on the U.S. Olympic team are as wide open as any event, and almost all the top contenders will be in Indianapolis. Cody Miller has more sub-minute swims since 2014 than any American, but he’ll run up against the consistent Nic Fink. Missouri grad Sam Tierney is also competing, and even short course yard American record-holder Kevin Cordes is back, returning after a lengthy training stint in Singapore with renowned coach Sergio Lopez.

Women’s 50 Free

Bahamian Olympian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace seems to be the big favorite, but she’ll be pushed by a crowd of Americans. Wisconsin Badger alum Ivy Martin is one of the top U.S. speedsters, and comes in with the second seed. Olivia Smoliga of Athens Bulldog is coming off a career year in the NCAA for Georgia in which she won the 50 and 100 free titles in short course yards. And U.S. butterfly star Kelsi Worrell is also in the mix as a dangerous sprint presence.