2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Previews Index
- TV Schedule
- Pick ‘Em Contest
- Omega Results
- Live Stream
- Friday Finals Heat Sheet
Ok, in the grand scheme of things, “crisis” might be a little strong. But we weren’t expecting either Caeleb Dressel or Jack Conger to still need to nail down their spots on the Pac Pacs roster on the third day of the meet, and the USA’s Pan Pacs roster was going to look quite a bit different than expected if neither man qualified.
But fears were assuaged this evening as Dressel blasted a 50.50 to take 1st, and Conger finished a stroke behind him in 51.11. That definitely locks down a spot for Dressel, and almost certainly assures Conger of a spot on the Pac Pacs roster as well.
Dressel’s time also moves him ahead of Chad LeClos’s 50.65 to become the faster swimmer in the world this year, and rates as the 10th-fastest swim of all time.
Both swimmer had looked a little off all week, possibly the result of both trying to swim through this meet, with an eye on Tokyo. On Wednesday, Dressel shockingly finished 6th in the 100 free, possibly earning him a spot on the 2019 World Champs roster, but not putting him on the Pac Pacs roster, where only the top four in the 100 free earn invites. The same night, Conger, finished tied for 3rd in the 200 fly after winning the event last year. Again, he might’ve eked out a roster berth with that swim, but it was in no way guaranteed.
Yesterday, Dressel finished 2nd in the 50 fly, while he was faster than he was here last year, that’s an event that won’t be competed at Pan Pacs and couldn’t get him a roster spot. Meanwhile, Conger picked up 6th in the 200 free with a 1:47.45 was slower than his time of 1:46.96 earlier in the year, which was the fastest among US men heading into this meet. Like Dressel in the 100, that might earned him a spot on the World Champs roster, but wasn’t enough to punch his ticket to Pan Pacs.
Dressel would’ve still had a very realistic shot of making the team on Sunday, where’s he entered in the 50 free. But the win tonight takes the pressure off halfway through the meet, and also reopens the possibility of Dressel swimming the 100 breast tomorrow and/or the 200 IM Sunday, two events in which he’s had short course success.
While personally satisfying, getting Dressel and Conger on the Pan Pacs roster has larger implications. Dressel needs to be able to swim the 100 free at Pan Pacs in order to be able to defend his title as next year’s Worlds, as the US roster will be selected on the basis of combined results from this week and Pan Pacs. Having Conger on the roster will also allow the Team USA coaches to have him as an option on the 4×200 relay, especially if he’s looking strong that week and some of the other potential 4×200 swimmers don’t seem quite as on.
Check back later tonight for all of our updated projected rosters
While feeling relief both Dressel & Conger made it finally, it is possible there is an underlying issue here about sub-par performances from numerous men’s side “big guns” – whose great idea was it to hold nationals just two weeks before Pan Pacs?
Probably the same folks who think it’s a good idea to use a meet a year in advance to determine the worlds roster…
I’m not disagreeing with your concern about trials so close to Pan Pacs. But here is probably how the decision-making process went;
1) Pan Pacs is #3 priority meet for USA Swimming, after Olympics and WC, and ahead of Pan Ams, WUG.
2) a full season of long course prep for not only this meet, but for the upcoming years, is probably what the coaches want, since they are also coaching their sub-nationals swimmers to their big meets (Futues, Sectionals, Senior Zones, Juniors, LSC meets, etc). This is a developmental year, and USA-S also wants priority on all these meets.
3) With all the performance camps and travel trips most of the qualifiers have been to over… Read more »
50.5 at an off meet for Dressel….watch out world record – your days are numbered!
The Dressel show has begun
The progression of How Conger secures a spot –
2016: 200 free
2017: 200 fly
2018: 100 fly
What will 2019 bring? Can he finally nail all 3 at Pan Pacs? Will it be an entirely different event?
Both looked good tonight, as they knew they had to give it their all.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, conger needs to drop the 200 fly. It interferes with his ability to sprint, and messes with his 200 freestyle. Not to mention there’s guys that are nearly as fast as him and then Urlando coming up the pipeline.
I hope the reason he had an off meet is because he tried to swim through nationals like Dressel did.
Will be interesting to see if he can throw down big times in those three events (and maybe 100 free) once he’s “fully tapered” in a week.
Would also love to see him swim a backstroke event at a try pro series or another smaller meet just to see what he can do
Praise be.
Can the US enter A and B relays at PanPacs? If so, would you pick the a relay of the top 4 at trials? Or one of other swimmers- say Dressel, Conger, and fastest other 2 not in trials top 4? If Dressel is back on top of his game at PanPac,s, a USB relay could win.
The coaches can put whomever they want on the relays. If dressel is swimming hot, he’ll get a spot.
Shields 😢
probably time to call it a career or maybe just focus on the world cup circuit
He was much better than expected at this meet. He still has it in him!
He’s getting older and there are guys younger than him who have been faster than he ever has been
He’s been faster then conger ever has in the 100
Really? I thought Conger’s best 100 was 51.00 and Shields’s was 51.03…
No he hasn’t. His PB is 51.03 while Congers is 51.00
He’s has his time to shine, time to give the young guns a shot.
Held 😢
Number 6 fastest in the 50 back this year.
Shields is a smart, articulate person who understands strategy. He might make a great announcer for TV at some point in the future.
Nothing would make me happier than Shields taking Rowdy’s spot.
Dressel Back!!