2017 U.S. NATIONALS/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS
- Tuesday, June 27th-Saturday, July 1st
- 50-Meter Course
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Meet Info
- Prelims timelines
- Broadcast schedule
- Event-by-event previews
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Stream (U.S. viewers)
- Live Stream (International viewers)
Day 1 of the 2017 U.S. Nationals/World Championships Trials are in the books. The men and women competed in the 100 free on Tuesday night, determining the 4×100 relay squads that will represent the United States at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.
Here’s a look at the 6 men and women who made the team*:
| Men | Women |
| Nathan Adrian (47.96) | Mallory Comerford (52.81) |
| Caeleb Dressel (47.97) | Simone Manuel (53.05) |
| Townley Haas (48.20) | Lia Neal (53.59) |
| Zach Apple (48.23) | Kelsi Worrell (53.99) |
| Michael Chadwick (48.48) | Olivia Smoliga (54.31) |
| Blake Pieroni (48.49) | Katie Ledecky (54.35) |
*5th and 6th place finishers have not been officially added to the roster yet.
The women now look like a serious threat to Australia in the gold medal race. The Americans have never headed into a major international meet with a woman sub-53, and now they have 2 swimmers going in with lifetime bests in the 52-high range thanks to Olympic champ Simone Manuel and tonight’s champion and U.S. Open Record-setter Mallory Comerford. Throw Katie Ledecky, who put up a sub-53 anchor split in Rio, into the mix, and the USA is in the conversation for gold. Lia Neal threw down a personal best 53.59 tonight, so it isn’t inconceivable to think she could pull out a 52.9 from a relay start, especially since she was a fantastic relay swimmer at NCAAs and has been a staple of the 400 free relay for years now. Additionally, Kelsi Worrell broke 54 seconds for the first time today, and she has the speed to put up a 53-low split.
World Record holder Cate Campbell is sitting out of the World Championships this summer, which could make it much more difficult for the Australians to bring home the gold ahead of the Americans in Budapest. The top-ranked Australians other than Cate Campbell this year are Bronte Campbell (52.85), Emma McKeon (53.12), Shayna Jack (53.40), and Madison Wilson (54.24). Brittany Elmslie, who swam on the winning relay in Rio last summer, will also be heading to Worlds with the Aussies, but her best time so far this season is a 54.38. Emily Seebohm isn’t far behind this season with a 54.39.
With Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressel both under 48 and a handful of men in the 48-low range behind them, the men’s team is looking great heading into Budapest as well. Adrian is known for his killer sub-47 anchor splits, and Dressel may be even faster in Budapest since he improved from Trials to the big meet last season. Townley Haas showed great speed with his 48-low tonight, and Zach Apple was consistent with his 48.1 in prelims and 48.2 in finals. Each should be able to put up a 47-mid split with a relay start, which could go a long way in helping the Americans to gold.
There is 0 doubt that the USA Women’s 4X100 Relay will be Comerford, Neal, Ledecky, Manuel……probably in that order too. To get eyes on our sport you need the biggest names in big events (It’s why Lochte was on the 800 Free Relay last year. One last time Phelps and him team up to get gold). Ledecky is the biggest name right now and to pair her up with Manuel on the back half of the relay is a broadcasters dream. Luckily this is probably the fastest combination as well.
What a petty that Lia Neal doesn’t swim 200 free. Should she try just a little bit it could be the first time in the history of competitive swimming when the same team wins gold medals at 400 and 800 free relays in major meets. 🙂
2009
As an Australian, my take on it.
The Aussie men 4×100 have been pretenders even with out best swimmers, without Maggie or Chalmers, we will be lucky to get into final.
The Aussie women 4×100 losing C1 & with US improving, far closer, probably leaning towards US, C2 hasn’t regained her best yet & have feeling McKeon focusing more on 200 free, but Elmslie will be better then trial time.
The Aussies took a shellacking in RIO, for Campell (both) 100 & 50, McEvoy 100 (though Chalmers made up) & 50, Seebohm 100 & 200 Back & Larkin 100 back to not only not win but not even medal just blew me away & I think the Aussie… Read more »
In men’s race, is up to the US to lose.I think we will see AUS, RUS, BRA and ITA fighting for minor medals.
In women’s, I can see US and AUS fighting for gold with NED slightly behind ahead of the pack.
Gday Rob, basically agree with the bulk of what you’re saying. People hadn’t realised that London WAS the return to normal programming for AUS swimming after the years of plenty, NOT an aberration. They also fail to realise that that due to the costs of the sport at any serious competitive level, AUS swimming is now drawing from an ever contracting population dempographic …. almost all top AUS swimmers these days will be from more affluent backgrounds.
Completely agree re M4X100 being ‘overrated’ at this point.Whilst I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of Kazan debacle they are most certainly scrambling to put together a competitive quartet.
W4X100, agree that USA should now prob be seen as narrow favourites. C2… Read more »
As an American I like the USA winning but I want other countries like Australia and France also preforming really well. I think you’re right it will take time to recover but let’s hope when they do they’re back stronger than ever and give the world a race worth watching regardless of who wins.
well… Cate Campbell did technically swim the Aussie trials, if she feels that it is necessary, I wonder if she’d consider popping in for one swim. I imagine that she may be there anyways. With her in season times, she could probably drop 52.6-8, call it a day and eek out what will probably still be a hard fought victory.
Also don’t lose sight of team Sweden. Sjostrom is prognosticated to swim a 51high, Coleman has picked up steam in recent years and could split 52mid. If Hansson’s is on and splits a 53mid, this team swum in this order could be ahead about over a second at the 300 mark.
True but Sweden needs another swimmer to really step it up to win gold
A 53 split at least from their 4th swimmer would be ideal
Will be tough for Sweden.The fourth slot is not up to the top dogs.
I have the same feeling. Perhaps C1 likes to look around in Budapest as a swimmer tourist.
Honestly, who is #4 for Sweden?
In Rio, the prelims and finals had two different girls splitting 54.7, and in Kazan they had a different girl going 55.0
The fourth girl (Nathalie Lindborg) had 55.8 at their trials, so Sweden will have to settle again for 4-5 place. Her sister Ida (also on the team for Worlds) split 54.4 (relay) at her best in 2016, but is nowhere near that this year.
Don’t sleep on Ida just because of her in-season times. She’s a good racer, a lot better in relays than individually. She can still do what she did last year. That’s still not enough though. But if Coleman can start the relay with a 53 low, Sjostrom 51 mid, Hansson 53 high and Ida 54 mid there is a fighting chance for a medal. So far this year Sjostrom is 0.7 sec better, Coleman is 0.2 better, Hansson 0.3 better (and that’s pre-championship) compared to last year so that’s quite a bit of drop, but we were 2 & 3 seconds behind Netherlands and Canada last year.
Speaking of the dutch.. Kromowidjojo is better in-season this year and is one… Read more »
The mens team just gets better and better.
Even if the Australians was at full strength with McEvoy/Chalmers/Cartwright/Magnussen, I’d still tip the US team everyday of the week(and I’m Australian).
Yep
Not if they were at their best
Dressed went 47.97, not 48.97…..
i second that – its always a sheer pleasure to watch those guys swim each year .
Lauren….Caeleb was 47.97 right?
Yes. Just a typo. Thanks!