Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Held faced off in their first long course 100 free since Rio in the final race of the Atlanta Classic, but it was Asia Seidt who stole the show, becoming the first American to break 2:10 this year in the women’s 200 back.
Seidt, coming off an outstanding freshman year at Kentucky, recorded a time of 2:09.82 on her way to a two-second victory, moving to 12th in the world this year, ranking just behind Regan Smith (2:09.79) as the top American this year. The time was also Seidt’s best time by more than two seconds, improving on her previous top mark of 2:11.96.
The United States will have a void to fill this summer in the 200 back after Maya DiRado’s retirement, and Seidt, who finished 21st in the event at Olympic Trials, all the sudden looks like a prime contender to challenge for a spot on the World Championships team.
Kentucky swimmers ended up sweeping the top three spots in the event in Atlanta as Bridgette Alexander took second in 2:11.85, and Ali Galyer was third in 2:13.84.
In that aforementioned final of the men’s 100 free, Wolfpack’s Justin Ress actually stole the show from the two Olympic gold medalists, Dressel and Held. Ress touched in 49.48 to take down Auburn’s Zach Apple (49.70), while Dressel was third in 49.80, and Held was fifth in 50.31.
In the corresponding women’s event, Swim Atlanta’s Amanda Weir took the victory in 55.23, exactly one second ahead of Wolfpack’s Lotta Nevalainen (56.23). Just behind was Nevalainen’s teammate, Ky-Lee Perry (56.27).
Race Pace Club’s Michael Andrew held off Georgia Coastal’s Brennan Pastorek for the win in the men’s 200 IM, 2:02.25 to 2:02.76, while Wolfpack’s Andreas Vazaios finished third in 2:03.00. The top swim of the day, however, actually came from Cal’s Josh Prenot, who put up a time of 1:58.94 in prelims, just off his own 13th-ranked time of 1:58.93, before scratching the final.
Wolfpack’s Hannah Moore opened the session with a big win in the 800 free. She touched in N8:35.70, almost 13 seconds ahead of St. Petersburg’s Autumn Finke (8:48.52). Third went to Marietta Marlins’ Stephanie Peters in 8:49.31.
Yet another NC State-trained athlete finished on top in the men’s 1500 free. Anton Ipsen got the win in 15:13.33, while Gamecock’s Cody Bekemeyer finished second in 15:49.55, and Wolfpack’s Jack McIntyre took third in 15:51.33.
15-year-old Alex Walsh from Nashville Aquatic Club touched first in the women’s 200 IM in 2:14.37. Nitro’s Vanessa Pearl took second in 2:16.40, and Nation’s Capital’s Abby Harter came in third at 2:18.69.
NC State’s Hennessey Stuart was the only man under 2:00 in the men’s 200 back, winning the race in 1:59.73. Gator’s Corey Main came in second at 2:00.56, and third went to Auburn’s Petter Fredriksson (2:02.22).
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Regan Smith went 2:09.79 in 200 back at Speedo Sectionals in Indy in March.
Correct, Paul. My bad. Story corrected.