2014 US National Championships: Day 3 Finals Preview

INFO YOU NEED TO FOLLOW DAY 3 OF THE 2014 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Friday Finals Heat Sheet
• Friday Finals Timeline
• More Links, Storylines, and Selection Procedures
• Scratches:
  • Conor Dwyer scratched from the B-final of the men’s 400 IM, bumping up Will Licon into the B-final, and Connor Signorin into the first alternate position.
  • Eugene Godsoe scratched the B-final of the men’s 100 butterfly, bumping Carl Weigley into the B-final and Connor Knight into the first alternate position.
  • Maddy Schaefer scratched from the A-Final of the women’s 50 backstroke, bumping Sarah Denninghoff into the A-final and Sam Wicks into the B-final. Catherine Mulquin will be the new first alternate.
  • Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley both scratched from the A-Final of the men’s 50 backstroke. That bumps James Wells and Kyle Darmody into finals. Luke Papendick and Connor Oslin will be in the B-final of the 50 backstroke, and Sean Lehane will be the new first alternate.

WOMEN’S 400 IM

• Average Age of A-final: 21 Years, 6 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: Becca Mann, 16
• Oldest A-finalist: Kate Mills, 25

Elizabeth Beisel was five seconds away from Katie Hoff’s American Record time of 4:31.12 this morning. She has looked great all season, even posting a top 10 time in the world mid-season. There is no other 21 year old swimmer that is experienced as Beisel. Many forget how young she is because she has been around for so long. She was 14 when she made her first World Championship team back in 2007.

I would not be surprised if Beisel is pushing the American record pace tonight in the finals of the women’s 400 IM. She is not yet on the team, and a win in this event would secure her ticket to the Gold Coast.

MEN’S 400 IM

• Average Age of A-final: 20 Years, 1 Month
• Youngest A-finalist: Andrew Seliskar, 17
• Oldest A-finalist: Tyler Clary, 25

Tyler Clary will be hard to beat in the front half of this 400 IM, but will he be able to push far enough ahead of Chase Kalisz‘s stellar breaststroke. This is a trend we wlll see a lof of tonight: front half vs. back half. Watch for the same thing tonight in the final of the men’s 100 butterfly.

Side note: Although we talked up Andrew Seliskar this morning, I have to say I am slightly disappointed with some of the times from last year’s junior national team. There were several young swimmers that were incredible at junior nationals and the JR World Championships, but many of their times this year have been flat, for lack of a better word. Not all of last year’s junior stars have been “flat” this year, but it has been the theme of the week for many swimmers. I would love to see Seliskar challenge Kalisz and Clary tonight, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen after watching him this morning.

WOMEN’S 100 Butterfly

• Average Age of A-final: 20 Years, 7 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: Katie McLaughlin, 17
• Oldest A-finalist: Claire Donahue, 25

Claire Donahue had the fastest time this mornig, but with roster spots on the line, this could be anyones race. Felicia Lee has been swimming well this weekend, along with Kendyl Stewart. Stewart won the 50 butterfly last night, but that only sets her up for World Championships, not Pan Pacs. Kelsi Worrell is someone to keep your eye on tonight. She has been very competitive over the last two years in short course yards, and is on the verge of making a name for herself in the long course pool.

MEN’S 100 Butterfly

• Average Age of A-final: 23 Years, 1 Month
• Youngest A-finalist: 2 Swimmers, 19
• Oldest A-finalist: Ryan Lochte, 30

This will be a dual between front half speed and Michael Phelps‘ final 50. My prediction: Shields will win, Phelps takes second, and Lochte finishes third. I expect Tim Phillips, Lochte, and Shields to be the first three at the wall, and then Phelps will have to run them down on the final 50. Shields was in the middle of the pack this morning, but on day 1, he was two different swimmers between prelims and finals of the 200 butterfly. I expect the same monster to come out tonight during this race.

This heat is full of young sprint talent. Condorelli, Smith, Josa, and Phillips all have a ton of speed in the front half. But again, I believe experience and endurance will make the Pan Pacs team tonight rather than front half speed.

WOMEN’S 50 Breaststroke

• Average Age of A-final: 22 Years, 5 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: Bethany Galat, 18
• Oldest A-finalist: Jessica Hardy, 27

Jessica Hardy broke her meet record this morning in prelims, which makes you wonder, will she be able to get down to her American record time tonight of 29.80. The sprint events are so hard to predict, it could be anyones race tonight.

I would like to point out last years 100 breaststroke junior national champion, Bethany Galat. She has had a great year, earning an appearance in the A-final of the 50 breaststroke tonight. She has been consistent from last year to this year, which has to be exciting for the Texas A&M fans.

MEN’S 50 Breaststroke

• Average Age of A-final: 24 Years, 3 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: Kevin Cordes, 20
• Oldest A-finalist: Mike Alexanderov

Brendan McHugh had the fastest time of the morning with a US Open record of 27.10. Kevin Cordes was right behind him at 27,39, which sets up a great race for tonight. The sleeper to watch in this race is Kameron Chastain. After a bad slip on the blocks, he was still able to qualify for the A-final tonight. Chastain should be right in the race tonight with a solid start.

We have to mention the swimmers above to be courteous, but everyone knows that Jared Anderson is our favorite to win tonight! Jared has been writing for us now for close to a year, and it is great to see him excelling in the pool. We are hoping for the best for Jared tonight.

WOMEN’S 50 Backstroke

• Average Age of A-final: 20 Years, 6 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: 3 Swimmers, 19
• Oldest A-finalist: Cheyenne Coffman, 25

Rachel Boostsma scratched the 100 butterfly today to focus on this event. She had the fastest time of the morning, just ahead of Olivia Smoliga. This race is too close to call, especially after the slips we saw yesterday. Five swimmers were under 29 seconds this morning.

MEN’S 50 Backstroke

• Average Age of A-final: 25 Years, 3 Months
• Youngest A-finalist: Kyle Darmody, 19
• Oldest A-finalist: Adam Mania, 30

David Plummer is hungry for a win in the 50 backstroke today. He was in great shape last year, but an unfortunate slip in the semi-finals at the 2013 World Championships held him out the A-final. The American record of 24.33 is a possibility tonight.