Lilly King set a new TYR Pro Swim Series record in the women’s 100-meter breast, while a handful of fellow Olympians made their mark on the second night of finals action at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet at the Northside Swim Center in San Antonio on Thursday night. 

King, the world-record-holder and 2016 Olympic champion in the 100m breast, tied her own TYR Pro Swim Series meet record in her premier event, posting a 1:05.32 to edge University of Texas’ Anna Elendt (1:05.58) and fellow Indiana club teammate and Tokyo bronze medalist Annie Lazor (1:07.05). 

“That swim was really good," King said. "I’m a little bit more broken down right now than I have been in past seasons at this point, but it feels good to see that time – it is right around my in-season best so I’m pretty happy with it.”

The first full night of action kicked off with the women’s 200m free, with 2016 Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky of Gator Swim Club leading the way in 1:55.66, only four tenths off the time she went last summer in Tokyo. Paige Madden, who earned a silver medal in the 4x200m free relay in Tokyo, finished second in 1:57.12, with another Olympian, Longhorn Aquatics’ Leah Smith, in third at 1:58.55. 

Texas’ Drew Kibler, a 2020 Olympian in the 4x200m free relay and more recently a member of the University of Texas' American-record setting 4x200-yard freestyle relay team, led the way in the men’s race with a 1:47.61 in finals, comfortably in front of TAC Titans’ Michael Cotter (1:48.63) and Bar Soloveychik (1:49.07). 

“I had no idea what to expect with this event today," Kibler said. "I told Ed [Texas coach Eddie Reese] that, coming off NCAAs, I could see myself anywhere between 1:45.5 and 1:50, so I didn’t really know how it would go. It is exciting to race long course again, so I’m stoked about it.”

Michael Andrew and Nic Fink, both 2020 Olympians in breaststroke, topped the field in the men’s 100m breast final, with Andrew getting to the wall first in 59.03. Fink cruised to a 59.32 for second, with Texas’ Caspar Corbeau coming in at 59.78 as the only three swimmers to clear the 1:00 mark tonight. 

TAC Titans’ Claire Curzan, who represented the U.S. in Tokyo last summer, continued her winning ways in the women’s 100m fly with a convincing win over veteran 2016 Olympian Kelsi Dahlia. Curzan built an insurmountable lead at the halfway point and extended it on the final 50 meters to touch in 57.02, with Dahlia stopping the clock at 58.73. Texas’ Kelly Pash slipped in for third at 58.87.

“I feel pretty good about it right now," Curzan said of her 100m fly progress. "I’ve had a lot of practice runs with it and I’m excited for the future.
After qualifying first in prelims by nearly a second and a half, Texas Longhorns’ Shaine Casas scored an upset win over world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel in the men’s 100m fly. Casas touched almost a full second ahead of Dressel at the 50 before holding on to win, 51.09 to 51.79. Wolfpack’s Coleman Stewart also broke 52 with a 51.93 for third. 

Olympic bronze medalist Hali Flickinger of Sun Devil Swimming put her stamp on the women’s 400m IM final right from the start, increasing her lead over each 50 and eventually touching first by almost 13 seconds in 4:40.62. Indiana’s Ching Hwee Gan (4:53.22) and Edina’s Katie McCarthy (4:53.29) came in second and third, respectively. 

"We’ve been training really hard especially through NCAAs," Flickinger said of her training cycle. "The post-grads have really put some work in, so I’m excited that taper is coming.”

Olympic silver medalist Jay Litherland of Dynamo Swim Club showcased his familiar back-half speed to take the men’s 400m IM win in 4:19.63 after a replay-review resulted in a disqualification (underwater kick on his back at the 350 turn) for France's Leon Marchand, who touched first. Gator Swim Club’s Joaquin Gonzalez kept it close for the first 300 but faded to second in 4:21.79, with Aggie Swim Club’s Hector Ruvalcaba in third at 4:23.29. 

Competition continues through Saturday at San Antonio's Northside Swim Center. Tomorrow's session begins with prelims at 10 a.m. ET (usaswimming.org/watch) and finals at 7 p.m. ET (Olympic Channel). For more information on the meet, head to https://www.usaswimming.org/event/2022/03/30/default-calendar/tyr-pro-swim-series-san-antonio.