After lifetime bests already in the 200 IM and the 100 free in Austin, superstar Katie Ledecky will chase another impressive performance in the timed-final 800 free on Saturday night at the 2015 Pro Swim Series – Austin.
Overall, Saturday night will be a night of subtle storylines. Katinka Hosszu, still looking for her first win, is entered in the 200 IM, 200 fly, and 100 back A-finals. On the younger end of things, Michael Andrew is looking for a breakthrough first win on the Grand Prix/Pro Swim Series tours, and enters as the top seed in the men’s 100 breaststroke; while 14-year old Canadian Taylor Ruck has become a sensation, crushing National Age Group Records all weekend long.
2015 PRO SWIM SERIES AT AUSTIN
- Thursday, January 15 – Saturday, January 17
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, University of Texas
- Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM (Central Time)
- Psych Sheets
- Live stream
- Live results
- Saturday’s Events: 200 fly, 100 breast, 100 back, 200 IM, women’s 800 free (timed finals), men’s 1500 free (timed finals), 400 medley relays (timed finals)
Women’s 200 Fly – Finals
A pair of youngsters dueled in the front of the field early on as Mission Viejo 17-year-old Katie McLaughlin and Nation’s Capital 15-year-old Cassidy Bayer sat one and two at the 100-meter mark. A veteran field closed in, but the two teenagers kept several international medalists at bay and wound up tying for the event win at 2:09.12.
Third went to Pan Pacs gold medalist Cammile Adams at 2:09.25 and fourth was Hungarian vet Katinka Hosszu in 2:09.90.
Those four really separated from the field late after the whole group stayed bunched up for about the first 100 meters. A couple more young athletes led the second wave, as Longhorn Aquatics’ 16-year-old Victoria Edwards was 2:12.79 for fifth and Cal freshman Noemie Thomas was 2:12.99 for sixth.
Rounding out the A final were Edwards’ 15-year-old teammate Dakota Luther (2:13.32) and Jacomie Strydom of the UBC Thunderbirds (2:15.33).
Phoenixville 16-year-old Emma Seiberlich held onto the top seed in the B final, going 2:14.61 to take 9th overall.
Men’s 200 Fly – Finals
A second-straight event went to a high school senior and future California Bear as Andrew Seliskar won the 200 fly with ease against a very tough field.
Seliskar, one of the best young swimmers in the nation right now, was gone by the 100-mark, opening in 56.49 to lead by about a full second. Seliskar powered home to a 1:55.92 that tied his lifetime-best and would have ranked him in the top 15 in the world for 2014.
Second was Andrew Torres, a Denver Pioneer, who went 1:58.99. Joining him under two minutes were Mission Viejo 17-year-old Grant Shoults (1:59.56) and 2013 National Champ Tom Luchsinger (1:59.69).
SwimMAC’s Tyler Clary has been off his game a bit in what’s likely an early-season training meet for him, and went 2:00.84 for fifth. That was just ahead of Canadian Coleman Allen (2:00.93) with Ted Schubert (2:02.80) and Tom Bilden (2:03.23) rounding out the A final.
The B heat went to North Baltimore’s Frank Dyer, a Notre Dame grad, who was 2:02.76.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke- Finals
After a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke earlier in the meet, Breeja Larson ended up taking home the win in the shorter event in a very solid time of 1:07.33.
Going out very quickly was Kaylin Burchell from the University of Alabama who touched almost dead even with Larson at the 50m mark. It was Larson however who was ahead by just three one-hundredths at the touch with a split time of 31.84.
Fiona Doyle of the University of Calgary up in Canada managed to turn in third just behind the two leaders and they all surfaced together with Larson just slightly ahead.
On the last 50 Larson flew past all of her competitors to win the race by almost a full second by building her back-half speed. Burchell was able to hold on for the silver medal clocking in at 1:08.21. Doyle also was able to retain her placement from the 50-turn with a end time of 1:08.99 to grab the bronze.
Larson won the race on the last 50 where she split a 35.49 which was almost a full second faster than anyone else in the field.
The runner-up in the 200m breaststroke earlier in the meet, Maria Garcia from Cal, finished sixth in 1:09.38.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke- Finals
Today was a historical day for Michael Andrew. He started off the morning with a personal best in his 100m breaststroke which set him up perfectly for a chance to take his first Grand Prix/ Pro Swim Series title.
Out like a rocket was Glenn Snyders, an Olympian from New Zealand who trains out of the Trojan Swim Club. Snyders was very quick with a time of 28.49 to lead the field by a sizable margin. Right behind him was Mike Alexandrov.
Andrew turned in fourth, but with a beautiful pullout of the wall started to make a little bit of a move on the rest of the field.
Slowly, everyone began to catch Snyders. At the wall it was very close, but it was Andrew who managed to get his hands on the wall first for gold, solidifying his first Pro Swim Series win ever with a new personal best of 1:01.67.
Snyders grabbed the silver with a time of 1:01.70 with Alexandrov finishing third not far behind in 1:01.77.
That time for Andrew also doubled as a 15-16 national age-group record in the event.
Women’s 100 Backstroke – Finals
Natalie Coughlin is undoubtedly one of the best backstrokers in the history of the sport, however recently she’s been focusing on the sprint freestyles and shying away from the backstroke events.
Today, Coughlin entered the water in the 100m backstroke and showed that she still has plenty of talent in those events, turning first at the halfway point with a split-time of 29.41.
At the 50, Coughlin had about a 0.4 second lead over Oakville Aquatic Club’s Dominique Bouchard who turned in 29.84. Those two were the only swimmers under 30-seconds at the wall with 14-year-old Talyor Ruck from Scottsdale Aquatics third in 30.01. Ruck was closely followed by Katinka Hosszu who turned in 30.13.
Following that explosive start, the field begin creeping up on Coughlin who tried to hold on for the win. Bouchard continued to get closer and closer to Coughlin, and at the touch Bouchard was able to get by her by a very slim margin, clocking in at 1:00.68. Second was Coughlin in 1:00.70.
Hosszu managed to pass age-group star Ruck on the last 50 to take the bronze in a time of 1:01.00. Ruck was fourth in 1:01.25 followed by another Canadian swimmer, Danielle Hanus, in 1:01.92.
Men’s 100 Backstroke – Finals
Matt Grevers is one of the only veterans left in the 100m backstroke in American swimming, an event which has plenty of depth throughout all ages. Tonight, it seemed as though he would have a showdown between rising star Ryan Murphy from Cal, but Grevers had other plans in mind.
Right from the get-go Grevers took the lead. He was way ahead of the rest of the field at the 50 turning in 25.97 with Japanese backstroker and Club Wolverine swimmer Junya Koga second in 26.11.
It was clear that nobody was catching Grevers, but he kept charging. He was slightly long on his finish, but managed to grab a first place finish with a time of 53.27. Second was Ryan Murphy of Cal who split a 27.59 on the final lap to pass Koga, and take the silver in 53.82.
Koga was just behind Murphy with a 53.87.
Cal’s other backstroke star, Jacob Pebley, finished sixth overall with a time of 55.65.
Women’s 200 IM- Finals
Katinka Hosszu finally got herself a win in Austin, something that’s eluded her all competition. On the final 50 she chased down Caitlin Leverenz to claim gold, and beat her by just 41 one-hundredths of a second.
Leverenz led the way after the fly, turning in 28.50. Behind her was Hosszu a half-second back in 29.04. Hosszu closed the gap by a little bit on the backstroke, but still trailed behind Leverenz. Hosszu split a 33.61, Leverenz was a 33.88.
On the breaststroke, Leverenz extended her lead. She needed to be well ahead of Hosszu heading into the freestyle, as Hosszu is one of the best freestylers in the world. Leverenz did just that, splitting a 37.98.
With 50 to go Leverenz was 0.82 seconds ahead of Hosszu, a great cushion. It was clear right away that Hosszu was closing in on her, and eventually she passed her and dropped an incredible last 50 split of 30.25 to win the event in 2:11.43. Levernz was second in 2:11.84.
Men’s 200 IM – Finals
The men’s 200m IM final featured some fantastic swimmers. Conor Dwyer, swimming out of Trojan Swim Club, was the eventual winner over rising age-group star Andrew Seliskar and Cal’s Josh Prenot.
The three swimmers were neck-and-neck all race long. It was Dwyer, Seliskar, and Prenot going 1,2,3 at the first 50 wall. They went that way through to the half-way mark. After the breaststroke however, Prenot pulled up ahead of Seliskar with Dwyer still in the lead.
The freestyle was a true battle with all three of them trading places until finally the order was solidified at the wall. Dwyer took the win in 1:59.56. Seliskar was able to just out-touch Prenot who he chased down on the last 50 with a time of 2:00.22 to Prenot’s 2:00.24.
Tyler Clary who just swam the B-final of the 100m backstroke was sixth in 2:04.36 followed by Michael Andrew in 2:04.97.
Women’s 800 Freestyle – Finals
Katie Ledecky has been swimming well all week, just to put it lightly. She swam a time in the 400m freestyle that no swimmer in history other than herselfand Frederica Pellegrini’s 2009 performance is faster than, capped off a win in the 100m freestyle with a personal best time, and won the 200m freestyle by over two-and-a-half second.
Tonight however, was all about Ledecky and the clock.
Starting the race, Ledecky was off the blocks and in the lead. At the 100 meter mark she was under world record pace and was a full two body-lengths ahead of the rest of the field. At the 200 meter mark, Ledecky wasn’t even in the same frame as the rest of the field and remained under world record pace.
With constant 1:02’s and 1:01’s, Ledecky was under world record pace for the next 400 meters. She was just off that mark at the 700 meter mark, turning in 7:11.13. With 50 to go, Ledecky was still slightly over her own world record pace. She poured a strong kick and amazing stroke-rate into the last 50 to split a 28.95 and finish just shy of her world record time of 8:11.00.
Ledecky was a 8:11.23 at the touch, a time which stands as the second best performance in the 800m freestyle of all time.
She was out in 4:05.04, back in 4:06.19. She won the race by a ridiculous amount, with second place finisher Elizabeth Beisel, who’s by no means a slow swimmer, finished second in 8:39.76.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle – Finals
Much like in the women’s 800m freestyle, there was one very clear victor in the men’s 1500m freestyle and that was rising American distance star Connor Jaeger. Jaeger already won the 400m freestyle earlier in the meet, and took the win here tonight with a time of 15:16.71.
Day 3 was by far the best day of that meet.
Cool to see the new generation coming and winning Grand Prix races.
What ever Katie is doing right now is on point no doubt. Is anyone else nervous about her going to Stanford in the fall? She should take the year off to prepare for Rio and everyone knows it.
Anyone who thinks this doesn’t understand who Ledecky is. She swims like she does because she is all about moving forward.
Not saying she’ll go, ’cause a lot of people are telling her not to, but that would not be her.
For the 56th time, I hope she stays with Mr Gemmell until Rio.
Then she can start her college career.
Speaking of Ledecky, what is the word on the streets re: her upcoming HS champs meet? 500 free record as good as gone. 200 free American Record? I think so. What say you? Predictions???
Hmm great question. I think she can get the 500 again, I don’t think she will get the 200 yet unless maybe fully tapered, but I doubt she’d do that; she could go straight through without having to taper until Worlds, since there’s no world trials this summer.
Yeah, that’s the big question. How much rest for a HS meet. I think she won’t do a “full” taper, but will rest enough to kick some serious butt. Last chance to lower HS records. Think she might get that 200 free record, we will see..
I predict she will come with a very strong 200 free in LC this year and next year . She won in Pan Pacs in a solid fashion …
To clarify, I was referring to the 200 free SCY American record. But I agree, eventually she will be a top LC 200 freestyler. As in, gold medal contender, WR holder.. it’s just a question of when. Can she still get the 2 free record while doing the distance stuff too or will it have to wait until later on in her career when she is more focused on the “shorter” races. Kid is so good tho, I think the 2 free record will come sooner than later.
Destruction of the 500 free American record.
But no 200 free American record. Missy has put it at a very very very high level.
Wow…only one MALE took their 1500 out faster than Ledecky. That REALLY puts Ledecky’s swim in perspective!
Ledecky’s 800, to be specific
I never want to hear from any swimmer I coach anymore that they can’t go fast in-season, considering Ledecky’s times at this meet. I told my swimmers that after her swims in June in Shenandoah, but this meet drives home that point.
She’s taking the WR under 8:10 this summer with ease, and I’ll predict an 8:08.2 for Rio, along with a 3:56.6 in the 400 and a 1:54.0 in the 200. Four golds, plus a medal in the 400 free relay if she makes the US team.
Don’t forget she might put a solid hammer down to ancher the 8OO free relay as well – with a 1.55 …
Never ceased to be amazed by Ledecky ! What a great day today with Seliskar, Andrew and grevers putting up big performances. Beyer and McLaughlin tie was great.
Back for a second to Grevers and the 100 back. From the outside, I really think the 200 back work helps him. Very similar to what he did leading up to London if I am remembering things correctly.
Yeah I agree with that. I’m thinking swimming the 4IM in training meets is the same for Lochte for his 2IM.
He has had a pretty strong consistency since 2012 at least .
Wait! Conor Dwyer is with Club Trojan now?!
Yes, there is an article on SwimSwam regarding this.