Friday, April 9, 2021
Ledecky Ties U.S. Open Record, Dressel Wins Double at TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo Day Two
The TYR Pro Swim Series steamrolled into Friday morning, with athletes putting down stellar performances as they continue to improve ahead of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming in June.
Katie Ledecky started the morning off with a bang, going 1:54.40 in the 200-meter freestyle to tie Allison Schmitt’s 2012 U.S. Open Record for fastest time ever swum on American soil. It was Ledecky’s second-fastest 200m freestyle of her career, only behind her 1:53.73 at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has now won the 200m freestyle in 19 of her last 20 TYR Pro Swim Series competitions.
"I was just happy with being faster than last night," Ledecky said. "That was the main goal, so I'm glad I got to check that box and pass that test."
Dressel claimed the men’s event, going 1:47.57 to touch first. The time was just over two-tenths behind his personal best in the event.
“It was a great field,” Dressel said after his swim. “I was excited to swim against this super-stacked field, it was a good representative of how Trials is going to be. I was happy to get my hand on the wall first, but this (meet) is mainly just about racing.”
Dressel narrowly out touched Andrew Seliskar, who finished in 1:47.69.
Lilly King shined once again in her signature event, the 100m breaststroke, touching first in 1:05.70. Her time was just slower from yesterday evening’s prelim swim, where she posted a 1:05.32, good for the third-fastest swim she has posted since 2018.
“This swim definitely hurt a little bit more than last night,” King said. “I just wanted to go out and come back fast—that’s all you can try to do.”
The men’s event went to Nic Fink, who was the only male swimmer to break the 1:00-mark in the event, going 59.74 for first place. Fink has now finished top-three in the event in each of his last five TYR Pro Swim Series races.
"Obviously the 'Tokyo Twist' (format, with finals in the morning) is something that you are not really used to doing or experiencing, so to see a time like that and be so close to my best is a positive thing,” Fink said. “I was definitely spinning my wheels a little bit at the beginning, but I think that was because I was so ready to race."
Kelsi Dahlia claimed the title in the women’s 100m butterfly, touching in 58.11 She out touched Beryl Gastaldello and U.S. National Teamer Katie McLaughlin, who finished second and third (respectively) with sub-:58 times.
Dressel captured the men’s event from lane one, earning his second win of the day. His 51.61 gives him five-consecutive 100m butterfly wins in TYR Pro Swim Series competitions.
“I'm coming home well and am holding everything together, but I should have been a little faster,” Dressel said. “Either way, it was a fast field and I'm happy to get my hand on the wall first."
In the women’s 400m Individual Medley, Melanie Margalis touched first in commanding fashion, going 4:35.18 to finish nearly two-and-a-half seconds ahead of the field.
"I just wanted to keep pushing the front half and see if I could bring it home in the second half,” Margalis said. “I really wanted to just get my hand on the wall first. Going into Omaha, that's the most important thing for me mentally is to just keep touching first and use that to head into the summer."
The men’s event featured U.S. National Team member Sean Grieshop earning his first TYR Pro Swim Series win since 2016.
"My coach told me to build into the last 35 meters of each 50,” Grieshop said. “I definitely tried to keep that in mind as I was going through it and kind of work the last 250 meters of the swim."
The TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo continues tonight with prelims beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Finals continue tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. ET with action being broadcasted on Olympic Channel. The upcoming prelims and finals sessions will feature the 200m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle.
Katie Ledecky started the morning off with a bang, going 1:54.40 in the 200-meter freestyle to tie Allison Schmitt’s 2012 U.S. Open Record for fastest time ever swum on American soil. It was Ledecky’s second-fastest 200m freestyle of her career, only behind her 1:53.73 at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She has now won the 200m freestyle in 19 of her last 20 TYR Pro Swim Series competitions.
"I was just happy with being faster than last night," Ledecky said. "That was the main goal, so I'm glad I got to check that box and pass that test."
Dressel claimed the men’s event, going 1:47.57 to touch first. The time was just over two-tenths behind his personal best in the event.
“It was a great field,” Dressel said after his swim. “I was excited to swim against this super-stacked field, it was a good representative of how Trials is going to be. I was happy to get my hand on the wall first, but this (meet) is mainly just about racing.”
Dressel narrowly out touched Andrew Seliskar, who finished in 1:47.69.
Lilly King shined once again in her signature event, the 100m breaststroke, touching first in 1:05.70. Her time was just slower from yesterday evening’s prelim swim, where she posted a 1:05.32, good for the third-fastest swim she has posted since 2018.
“This swim definitely hurt a little bit more than last night,” King said. “I just wanted to go out and come back fast—that’s all you can try to do.”
The men’s event went to Nic Fink, who was the only male swimmer to break the 1:00-mark in the event, going 59.74 for first place. Fink has now finished top-three in the event in each of his last five TYR Pro Swim Series races.
"Obviously the 'Tokyo Twist' (format, with finals in the morning) is something that you are not really used to doing or experiencing, so to see a time like that and be so close to my best is a positive thing,” Fink said. “I was definitely spinning my wheels a little bit at the beginning, but I think that was because I was so ready to race."
Kelsi Dahlia claimed the title in the women’s 100m butterfly, touching in 58.11 She out touched Beryl Gastaldello and U.S. National Teamer Katie McLaughlin, who finished second and third (respectively) with sub-:58 times.
Dressel captured the men’s event from lane one, earning his second win of the day. His 51.61 gives him five-consecutive 100m butterfly wins in TYR Pro Swim Series competitions.
“I'm coming home well and am holding everything together, but I should have been a little faster,” Dressel said. “Either way, it was a fast field and I'm happy to get my hand on the wall first."
In the women’s 400m Individual Medley, Melanie Margalis touched first in commanding fashion, going 4:35.18 to finish nearly two-and-a-half seconds ahead of the field.
"I just wanted to keep pushing the front half and see if I could bring it home in the second half,” Margalis said. “I really wanted to just get my hand on the wall first. Going into Omaha, that's the most important thing for me mentally is to just keep touching first and use that to head into the summer."
The men’s event featured U.S. National Team member Sean Grieshop earning his first TYR Pro Swim Series win since 2016.
"My coach told me to build into the last 35 meters of each 50,” Grieshop said. “I definitely tried to keep that in mind as I was going through it and kind of work the last 250 meters of the swim."
The TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo continues tonight with prelims beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Finals continue tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. ET with action being broadcasted on Olympic Channel. The upcoming prelims and finals sessions will feature the 200m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle.