TYR Pro Series San Antonio, Day Two Finals (Men’s Events): Caeleb Dressel Looks Strong En Route to Victory in 100 Freestyle
Many of the premier American athletes in the sport, and a quality group of international stars, have gathered in San Antonio this week for the latest stop of the USA Swimming TYR Pro Series. Just a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the NCAA Championships, attention has fully shifted to the fast-approaching summer and the Olympic Games in Paris.
At the Northside Swim Center, entrants will log some quality racing over the next few days. The Pro Series serves as one of the final opportunities for elite competitors to battle with one another before the headlining events of June and July. Following distance action during Wednesday night’s opening session, the Thursday evening schedule featured women’s and men’s finals in the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle.
Here’s an event-by-event recap of what unfolded in the men’s events.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Reigning Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel notched the finest performance of his comeback when he rallied in Lane Eight to win the 100 freestyle in 48.40. Dressel narrowly qualified for the final as the eighth seed and was fifth at the turn before surging down the last length to edge Ryan Held (48.48) for the victory.
Dressel took a lengthy stretch away from the sport after withdrawing midway through the 2022 World Championships, but the decorated Team USA veteran is certainly rounding into form at a good time. Dressel was out in 23.35 and came home in 25.05, and clocking a 48-mid performance at this point in the year bodes well for Dressel on the road to the Olympic Trials.
All eight swimmers in the field cracked the 49-second barrier in the final, with Matt King going 48.62 to clip Germany’s Rafael Miroslaw (48.63) for third place.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
