2017 Charlotte UltraSwim

Katie Meili Rocks 1:05.95 100m Breast At UltraSwim, World No. 3

Katie Meili Rocks 1:05.95 100m Breast At UltraSwim, World No. 3

Full recap from day two finals at the 2017 Charlotte UltraSwim. Katie Meili, Molly Hannis, Leah Smith, Ryosuke Irie, and Justin Ress all posted world ranked times in the 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, and 400 freestyle.

Jun 3, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
Katie Meili Rocks 1:05.95 100m Breast At UltraSwim, World No. 3

2017 Charlotte UltraSwim

​Charlotte, North Carolina
​June 1-4, 2017
Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center​
LIVE RESULTS -- Available via Meet Mobile (iPhone/Android)

How To Watch
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​STREAMING: Available only on FloSwimming.

World Top 10 Times Galore


Day two finals at the 2017 Charlotte UltraSwim heated up thanks to some world-ranked times from ​Ryosuke Irie, Justin Ress, Molly Hannis, Katie Meili, ​and ​Leah Smith.

Men's 100m Backstroke
​To kick things off, ​Ryosuke Irie ​and ​Justin Ress​​​ battled to the finish in the men's 100m backstroke, posting the 3rd and 6th fastest times in the world this year with a 53.25 and 53.49, respectively. Times like that are standard for the Japanese veteran Irie, but Ress continues to get better and better. A year ago he was a lone wolf outside of the conversation completely, but now he is in the thick of things with the pack and will make a ​serious ​challenge in four weeks at Nationals.​

Women's 50m Breaststroke
In the women's 50m breaststroke Olympians ​Molly Hannis​ and ​Katie Meili​ posted blazing fast swims with a 30.33 and 30.45, respectively. Those times are the 4th and 5th fastest times in the world this year.​ While not (yet) recognized as Olympic events, the 50m stroke events are always contested at the World Championships. So if either one of these ladies can make it onto the team in the 100, they will have the opportunity to swim the 50 as well.

Women's 100m Breaststroke
Arguably the most impressive race of the night came ​Katie Meili again in the 100m breaststroke. Meili dropped a swift 1:05.95, the third fastest time in the world this year and faster than the 1:06.20 ​Lilly King​ swam last month at the arena Pro Swim Series in Atlanta.​ Hannis scratched the final so Meili did not have a ton of competition as ​Melanie Margalis​ touched second almost three seconds behind in 1:08.87. To put that swim in perspective, it is faster than the 1:06.07 she swam at Olympic Trials to make the team and just a few tenths off the 1:05.69 she swam to earn a bronze medal in Rio.

Women's 400m Freestyle
In the women's 400m freestyle, ​2016 Olympian ​Leah Smith​ dropped a sizzling 4:05.62 -- the fourth fastest time in the world this year. 4:05 is a great setup swim for Smith as we get closer to Nationals in less than four weeks. Prior to tonight, Smith's fastest time of the season was a 4:07.31 from the arena Pro Swim Series at Mesa. Look for her to make a push at breaking the four-minute barrier this summer, which would give her serious confidence going toe-to-toe with ​Katie Ledecky.
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