2014 US National Championships: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2014 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 5 – FINALS

• Live Stream
• Live Results
• Wednesday, August 6th – Sunday, August 10th
• Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM PST
• Sunday Finals Heat Sheet
• Sunday Finals Timeline

The final session include the women’s 1500 freestyle, the 200 IM, the 50 Freestyle, and the men’s 800 freestyle. Click here for a full recap of day 5 finals here.  

Women’s 1500 Freestyle – Timed Final

• Meet Record: 15:47.15 – Katie Ledecky – 2014
• World Record: 15:34.23 – Katie Ledecky – 2014
• American Record: 15:34.23 – Katie Ledecky – 2014
• US Open Record: 15:34.23 – Katie Ledecky – 2014

The 1500 freestyle without Katie Ledecky gave way for a new National Champion in this event. Katy Campbell dropped more than 27 seconds to win the 1500 freestyle with a new best time of 16:17.59. Danielle Valley finished second with her time of 16:19.83. Lindsay Vrooman added a third place finish with her time of 16:22.83. Gillian Ryan finished fourth at 16:25.74.

Leah Smith had the fastest time out of the afternoon heats with a 16:27.37, which held up for fifth place. Kaitlin Pawlowicz finished sixth with her time of 16:28.31. She was the final swimmer under 16:30.

Isabelle Rongione finished seventh at 16:32.25 and Anina Lund was eighth at 16:36.89.

Women’s 200 IM – Finals

• Meet Record: 2:09.34 – Julia Smit – 2009
• World Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors – 2009
• American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors – 2009
• US Open Record: 2:09.34 – Julia Smit – 2009

Melanie Margalis secured her spot on the Pan Pacs team with a win in the women’s 200 IM. Maya DiRado finished second with her time of 2:10.20, followed by Caitlin Leverenz in third at 2:11.05. Leverenz will likely not make the Pan Pacs team.

Meghan Small, a youth Olympic team member, finished fourth with her time of 2:11.83. Elizabeth Beisel was fifth with her time of 2:12.46 and Karlee Bispo was sixth at 2:12.66.

Rounding out the top 8 in the women’s 200 IM is Celina Li and Madisyn Cox at 2:12.86 and 2:15.02.

Sarah Henry won the B-final of the women’s 200 IM with her time of 2:13.91. Kathleen Baker finished second at 2:14.05.

Bethany Galat won the C-final of the women’s 200 IM at 2:14.91. That is a 3.22 second drop from her morning swim and a nice way to celebrate her 19th birthday.

Men’s 200 IM – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:54.56 – Ryan Lochte – 2009
• World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte – 2011
• American Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte – 2011
• US Open Record: 1:54.56 – Ryan Lochte – 2009

What a race! Ryan Lochte went out really fast, clearing a body length lead into the breaststroke. Michael Phelps has always been a back half swimmer, despite his breaststroke being his worst of the four strokes. It came down to the final 25 meters as Phelps was gaining quickly on Lochte.  At the touch, it was Ryan Lochte with the second fastest time in the world at 1:56.50. Michael Phelps was just behind him at 1:56.55. Tyler Clary finished third at 1:57.94, and Conor Dwyer was fourth with his time of 1:58.03.

Chase Kaliz finished fifth with his time of 1:58.85 and Josh Prenot was sixth at 1:59.09. Kyle Whitaker and Tynan Stewart were 7th and 8th at 1:59.44 and 2:01.25.

Gunnar Bentz brought it home under 28 seconds to win the B-final of the men’s 200 IM at 1:59.19. Max Williamson was second at 2:00.12.

Jay Litherland won a close race in the C-final of the men’s 200 IM with his time of 2:01.95.

Men’s 800 Freestyle – Finals

• Meet Record: 7:46.78 – Connor Jaeger – 2013
• World Record: 7:32.12 – Lin Zhang – 2009
• American Record: 7:43.60 – Michael McBroom – 2013
• US Open Record: 7:46.78 – Connor Jaeger – 2013

Michael McBroom won the men’s 800 freestyle with the third fastest time in the world this year at 7:49.66. Matt McLean finished second at 7:55.78, followed by Michael Klueh at 7:58.13 for third. Arthur Frayler was the fourth place finish, just over 8 minutes with his time of 8:01.38.

Janardan Burns finished in fifth with his time of 8:01.43, followed by Ryan Feeley at 8:01.96. Liam Egan was 7th at 8:02.98 and Jacob Ores was 8th at 8:03.22.

Women’s 50 Freestyle – Finals

• Meet Record: 24.25 – Darra Torres – 2008
• World Record: 23.73 – Britta Steffen – 2009
• American Record: 24.07 – Darra Torres – 2008
• US Open Record: 24.13 – Cate Campbell – 2008

With six women under 25 seconds in the final heat of the 50 breaststroke, it was a very close race. Simone Manuel edged out the field for the win at 24.56, breaking the 17-18 NAG record set earlier this week at 24.80 by Weitzeil. Ivy Martin will make her first Pan Pacs team with her second place finish, touching the wall at 24.72. Madeline Locus finished second at 24.81, and Madison Kennedy was fourth at 24.83.

Abbey Weitzeil finished fifth at 24.91, only .11 off her time from earlier in the week during a time trial. She did hold the record for a few days before Simone Manuel broke it. Natalie Coughlin finished 6th at 24.97, missing her chance at the 2014 Pan Pac and 2015 World Championships team.

Margo Geer finished seventh at 25.06 and Maddy Schaefer was eighth at 25.07.

Katie Meili won the B-final of the women’s 50 freestyle with her time of 25.30. Faith Johnson was second at 25.33.

Katie McLaughlin won the C-final of the women’s 50 freestyle at 25.56.

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Finals

• Meet Record: 21.47 – Garrett Weber-Gale – 2008
• World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo – 2009
• American Record: 21.40 – Cullen Jones – 2009
• US Open Record: 21.19 – Cesar Cielo – 2009

To wrap up the 2014 US National Championships, Anthony Ervin won the men’s 50 free, securing his spot on the 2014 Pan Pacs team. He touched the wall for the win at 21.55, followed by Nathan Adrian at 21.69. Cullen Jones reached in for third, earning the final spot on the Pan Pac team. Josh Schneider finished fourth with his time of 21.88.

Matt Grevers was fifth at 22.25, followed by Jimmy Feigen in sixth. Seth Stubblefield finished 7th at 22.34 and Mark Weber finished 8th at 22.62.

The B-final was frustrating for many of the finalsts, as one swimmer jumped early, causing the whole crowd to yell prior to the start buzzer sounding. Instead of holding the swimmers back, they let the race continue. Some swimmers stood up while others got a head start. There was only one DQ in the B-final, although there should have been at least 4 or 5.

That being said, Caeleb Dressel won the B-final of the men’s 50 freestyle at 22.50. Brad DeBorde was second at 22.51.

James Jones won the C-final of the men’s 50 freestyle with his time of 22.93.