Friday, May 14, 2021
100m Breaststroke U.S. Open Record Falls at TYR Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis
Michael Andrew lowered the U.S. Open record in the men’s 100m breast, while Lilly King picked up her first win of the meet during the second night of finals at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.
After setting a TYR Pro Swim Series record of 58.82 in prelims of the men’s 100m breast this morning, Andrew demolished the field and the U.S. Open record tonight en route to a final time of 58.67. That time cleared the previous U.S. Open record of 58.74, set by Kevin Cordes at the 2017 U.S. nationals and also just missed Cordes’ American record of 58.64 from the 2017 world championships. After making a few mistakes in finals, Andrew is confident he has even more left in the tank.
“I think if I had swum this evening as clean as I did this morning I could have gone 58.3,” he said. “There were a ton of mistakes – I was short on my turn, and my foot broke the surface on the breakout to come home. I’m a little bummed I didn’t get the American record, that’s what I was going for, but I’m happy with it.”
Meanwhile, defending Olympic champion and world record-holder Lilly King, a native Hoosier, put on a clinic in the women’s 100m breast, outdistancing the competition by more than two seconds with a 1:05.47. Emily Escobedo clocked a 1:07.66 to take second, just in front of Miranda Tucker (1:07.71).
“I love coming to meets here, it feels like home,” King said. “I definitely feel a great sense of pride swimming here. I honestly wasn’t thinking a whole lot [during the race], I just wanted to go out, not look to either side of me and finish hard.”
In what could be a foreshadowing of a great matchup next month at Olympic Trials, Hali Flickinger topped Regan Smith for the win in the women’s 200m fly, 2:06.70 to 2:07.59. Smith nearly led for the entire race after touching first at all three turns, but Flickinger out-split her by more than a second on the final 50 to take the win.
“I’m really happy with it,” said Flickinger. “I’ve been working really hard and have been learning and listening to Bob [Bowman]. I think I hit the split I was aiming for; I’m happy I was able to execute how I wanted to.”
The men’s 100m free featured a great battle between Olympic gold medalists Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held and Blake Pieroni. After turning in fourth place at the halfway point, Pieroni surged home to take the win over Adrian, 48.76 to 48.91. Held wound up third in 49.21.
Emma Nordin put herself in the conversation to make the Olympic team next month in the women’s 400m free, as she stopped the clock in 4:04.60 to edge out Rio bronze medalist Leah Smith, who posted a 4:04.83.
“I’ve felt great,” Nordin said. “I feel comfortable with my training and I know what I came here to do. I’m pretty excited about things, I’m focused on what I’m doing right now and having a good time.”
In other finals, Linnea Mack picked up the win in the women’s 100m free, as her 54.00 was good enough to top Kate Douglass (54.30) and Catie DeLoof (54.36). Zheng Quah topped the men’s 200m fly with a 1:56.94. Marwan El Kamash closed out the night with a 3:48.17 to win the men’s 400m free.
After setting a TYR Pro Swim Series record of 58.82 in prelims of the men’s 100m breast this morning, Andrew demolished the field and the U.S. Open record tonight en route to a final time of 58.67. That time cleared the previous U.S. Open record of 58.74, set by Kevin Cordes at the 2017 U.S. nationals and also just missed Cordes’ American record of 58.64 from the 2017 world championships. After making a few mistakes in finals, Andrew is confident he has even more left in the tank.
“I think if I had swum this evening as clean as I did this morning I could have gone 58.3,” he said. “There were a ton of mistakes – I was short on my turn, and my foot broke the surface on the breakout to come home. I’m a little bummed I didn’t get the American record, that’s what I was going for, but I’m happy with it.”
Meanwhile, defending Olympic champion and world record-holder Lilly King, a native Hoosier, put on a clinic in the women’s 100m breast, outdistancing the competition by more than two seconds with a 1:05.47. Emily Escobedo clocked a 1:07.66 to take second, just in front of Miranda Tucker (1:07.71).
“I love coming to meets here, it feels like home,” King said. “I definitely feel a great sense of pride swimming here. I honestly wasn’t thinking a whole lot [during the race], I just wanted to go out, not look to either side of me and finish hard.”
In what could be a foreshadowing of a great matchup next month at Olympic Trials, Hali Flickinger topped Regan Smith for the win in the women’s 200m fly, 2:06.70 to 2:07.59. Smith nearly led for the entire race after touching first at all three turns, but Flickinger out-split her by more than a second on the final 50 to take the win.
“I’m really happy with it,” said Flickinger. “I’ve been working really hard and have been learning and listening to Bob [Bowman]. I think I hit the split I was aiming for; I’m happy I was able to execute how I wanted to.”
The men’s 100m free featured a great battle between Olympic gold medalists Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held and Blake Pieroni. After turning in fourth place at the halfway point, Pieroni surged home to take the win over Adrian, 48.76 to 48.91. Held wound up third in 49.21.
Emma Nordin put herself in the conversation to make the Olympic team next month in the women’s 400m free, as she stopped the clock in 4:04.60 to edge out Rio bronze medalist Leah Smith, who posted a 4:04.83.
“I’ve felt great,” Nordin said. “I feel comfortable with my training and I know what I came here to do. I’m pretty excited about things, I’m focused on what I’m doing right now and having a good time.”
In other finals, Linnea Mack picked up the win in the women’s 100m free, as her 54.00 was good enough to top Kate Douglass (54.30) and Catie DeLoof (54.36). Zheng Quah topped the men’s 200m fly with a 1:56.94. Marwan El Kamash closed out the night with a 3:48.17 to win the men’s 400m free.