USA Swimming News

Friday, March 6, 2020

King, Flickinger and Ledecky Turn in World Top Times in Des Moines


Lilly King Breaststroke White Indiana Cap


Olympians and U.S. National Team members Hali Flickinger, Lilly King and Katie Ledecky turned in the fastest times in the world this year in their respective events Thursday at the TYR Pro Swim Series at Des Moines.

Ledecky’s won the women’s 400m free in 3:59.66. It was her second win of the meet after taking the 1500m free on Wednesday. Fellow Olympian and National Team member Leah Smith finished second with the fourth-fastest time in the world this year in 4:06.81. Another Olympian and National Team member, Melanie Margalis was third in 4:09.00.

“It’s a really good field here in Iowa in every event, so it’s good to get some good race prep here and I’m excited to move forward with training after this,” Ledecky said.

King won the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:05.74, outdistancing the rest of the field by close to a second. Olympian Molly Hannis was second in 1:06.43, followed by National Teamer Annie Lazor in 1:06.54.

“I was really nervous [before the swim] because I haven’t been racing that much recently, but I tried to hold back a little bit that first 50 and have some easy speed and then turn the gas on the last 50, and that’s what happened,” King said. “I’m feeling good. It’s crazy to think that Trials and the Olympics are coming up already again. It seems like it’s been such a long time and it also seems like it’s flown by. I think that [100m breaststroke performance] was pretty good, I think especially for how heavy I’ve been training recently. I haven’t swam a meet since ISL finals, so I was pretty pleased with it.”

Flickinger’s time of 2:06.11 in the women’s 200m butterfly was not only the fastest time in the world this year, but also a TYR Pro Swim Series record. National Teamer Regan Smith was second in 2:06.39, the second-fastest time in the world this year. Remedy Rule was third in 2:09.58.

“We’re working on different things with Bob [Bowman],” Flickinger said. “I’m trying to learn how to swim my own race and not let other people effect the way I swim. I’m really happy that I was able to control that race the way that I needed to.”

Here’s a look at the medalists in each of Thursday night’s events:

Women’s 100m Freestyle – FINAL

1. Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong), 53.30

2. Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas/Alto Swim Club), 53.55

3. Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich./Sun Devil Swimming), 53.80

Men’s 100m Freestyle – FINAL

1. Zach Apple (Trenton, Ohio/Mission Viejo Nadadores), 48.59

2. Tate Jackson (Austin, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), 48.72

3. Dean Farris (Atlanta, Ga./Harvard Swimming), 48.97

Women’s 100m Breaststroke – FINAL

1. Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club), 1:05.74*

2. Molly Hannis (Santa Rosa, Calif./Tennessee Aquatics), 1:06.43

3. Annie Lazor (Beverly Hills, Mich./Mission Viejo Nadadores), 1:06.54

Men’s 100m Breaststroke – FINAL

1. Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./Race Pace Club), 59.14

2. Kevin Cordes (Naperville, Ill./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:00.45

3. Nic Fink (Morristown, N.J./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:00.52

Women’s 200m Butterfly – FINAL

1. Hali Flickinger (Spring Grove, Pa./Sun Devil Swimming), 2:06.11*

2. Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Riptide Swim Team), 2:06.39

3. Remedy Rule (Crozet, Va./Longhorn Aquatics), 2:09.58

Men’s 200m Butterfly – FINAL

1. Gunnar Bentz (Atlanta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 1:56.20

2. Chase Kalisz (Bel Air, Md./Athens Bulldog Swim Club), 1:57.82

3. Jay Litherland (Alpharetta, Ga./Dynamo Swim Club), 1:58.02

Women’s 400m Freestyle – FINAL

1. Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Alto Swim Club), 3:59.66

2. Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa. Tucson/Ford Dealers Aquatics), 4:06.81

3. Melanie Margalis (Clearwater, Fla./St. Petersburg Aquatics), 4:09.00

Men’s 400m Freestyle – FINAL

1. Marwan El Kamash (Egypt), 3:48.62

2. Zane Grothe (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City Henderson Swim Team), 3:50.89

3. Nick Norman (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./California Aquatics), 3:52.80

The third day of the TYR Pro Swim Series at Des Moines begins tomorrow with prelims starting at 9:30 a.m. CT and finals beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT.


Connect With Our Community