2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 31 – August 4, 2019
- Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
- Avery Aquatics Center
- Stanford, CA
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheet
- Omega Results
This morning, the prelims of the men’s and women’s 400 free, 100 breast, and 100 back will be contested to determine the A, B, C, and junior D finalists. Among the top seeds, Aussie Elijah Winnington will be aiming for his second title here in Stanford after winning the 200 free earlier in the meet.
The men’s 100 breast will feature an array of talent aiming for spots in the A-final including top seed Devon Nowicki, WUGs champion Ian Finnerty, Scot Craig Benson, Wyoming alum Brandon Fischer, and 200 breast champion Reece Whitley.
More of this morning’s top seeds include Haley Anderson (400 FR), 2012 Olympian Breeja Larson (100 BR), Scot Kathleen Dawson (100 BK), and Frenchman Yohann Ndoye Brouard (100 BK).
Women’s 400 Free- Prelims
- World Record: 3:56.46, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016
- American Record: 3:56.46, Katie Ledecky, 2016
- Championship Record: 3:58.48, Katie Ledecky, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018
- Olympic Trials Cut: 4:16.89
Still performing strong post-Worlds is Ally McHugh, who posted the first of two sub-4:10 swims with a 4:09.85. Taking second also sub-4:10 is Cierra Runge, followed closely behind 800 free runner-up Sierra Schmidt.
Claire Tuggle was right at her 4:10.11 seed time with her 4:10.37, which is in the top 20 times in 15-16 age group history. Lauren Pitzer and Worlds open water medalist Haley Anderson join in the top 8 along with 200 free champion Allison Schmitt and Kensey McMahon.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Ally McHugh, 4:09.85
- Cierra Runge, 4:09.94
- Sierra Schmidt, 4:10.10
- Claire Tuggle, 4:10.37
- Lauren Pitzer, 4:10.58
- Haley Anderson, 4:10.64
- Allison Schmitt, 4:11.09
- Kensey McMahon, 4:11.29
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Addison Smith, 4:16.11
- Olivia McMurray, 4:16.31
- Ashley Strouse, 4:16.86
- Isabel Gormley, 4:17.16
- Kaitlynn Sims, 4:17.55
- Abigail McCulloh, 4:17.66
- Michaela Mattes, 4:19.84
- Katie Crom, 4:20.34
Men’s 400 Free- Prelims
- World Record: 3:40.07, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
- American Record: 3:42.78, Larsen Jensen, 2008
- Championship Record: 3:43.53, Larsen Jensen, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53, Larsen Jensen (USA), 2008
- Olympic Trials Cut: 3:57.29
The top 3 qualifiers into the A-final were all under 3:50, led by Eric Knowles, 200 free champ Elijah Winnington, and Mitch D’Arrigo. Trenton Julian dominated his seed time of 3:54.97 to swim a 3:50.43, touching just ahead of Patrick Callan.
18-year-old Jake Mitchell secured his spot into the World Jrs roster with his 6th-place qualifying position in this event. 400 IM champ Bobby Finke and WUGs team member Zach Yeadon round out the top 8.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Eric Knowles, 3:49.41
- Elijah Winnington, 3:49.63
- Mitch D’Arrigo, 3:49.67
- Trenton Julian, 3:50.43
- Patrick Callan, 3:50.46
- Jake Mitchell, 3:50.63
- Bobby Finke, 3:50.76
- Zach Yeadon, 3:51.16
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Coby Carrozza, 3:54.91
- Julian Hill, 3:55.04
- Ivan Puskovitch, 3:55.67
- Will Gallant, 3:56.06
- Colton Paulson, 3:56.40
- Calvin David, 3:56.70
- Michael Petrides, 3:56.95
- Jack Wright, 3:56.97
Women’s 100 Breast- Prelims
- World Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA), 2017
- American Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King, 2017
- Championship Record: 1:04.95, Lilly King, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45, Jessica Hardy (USA), 2009
- Olympic Trials Cut: 1:10.99
Breeja Larson leads the women’s 100 breast with a 1:07.04, tying her fastest performance (from 6/23/19) since the 2014 Pan Pacs. Zoie Hartman put up a monster lifetime best of 1:07.67, now the 8th-fastest time in 17-18 age group history. Miranda Tucker and Kaitlyn Dobler make up the remainder of the top 4 qualifiers.
WUGs team member Emily Weiss joins in alongside Ellie Andrews and Nikol Popov. 200 breast champion Madisyn Cox qualified 7th in the 100 breast as well.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Breeja Larson, 1:07.04
- Zoie Hartman, 1:07.67
- Miranda Tucker, 1:07.94
- Kaitlyn Dobler, 1:08.07
- Emily Weiss, 1:08.11
- Ellie Andrews, 1:08.12
- Madisyn Cox, 1:08.40
- Nikol Popov, 1:08.43
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Cecilia Porter/Anna Keating, 1:09.94
- –
- Zoe Bartel, 1:09.99
- Sophia Zhang, 1:10.17
- Kylie Powers, 1:10.47
- Lilly Higgs, 1:10.51
- Janessa Matthews, 1:10.61
- Ashley McCauley, 1:11.03
Men’s 100 Breast- Prelims
- World Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
- American Record: 58.64, Kevin Cordes, 2017
- Championship Record: 58.74, Kevin Cordes, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: 58.74, Kevin Cordes (USA), 2017
- Olympic Trials Cut: 1:03.29
Scot Craig Benson leads a quiet morning session for the men’s 100 breast with a top time of 1:00.18. Frenchman Theo Bussiere, Aussies Daniel Cave and Samuel Williamson, and dual Netherlands citizen Caspar Corbeau are among the forgieners in this A-final.
Looking to bring the fire for the US are 200 breast champ Reece Whitley, 2018 US National medalist Devon Nowicki, and Purdue swimmer Trent Pellini.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Craig Benson, 1:00.18
- Reece Whitley, 1:00.25
- Theo Bussiere, 1:00.40
- Devon Nowicki, 1:00.67
- Daniel Cave, 1:00.70
- Samuel Williamson, 1:00.72
- Caspar Corbeau, 1:00.87
- Trent Pellini, 1:00.88
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Jake Foster, 1:02.55
- Maxwell Reich, 1:02.80
- Tyler Babinec, 1:02.83
- Dillon Hillis, 1:03.29
- Jason Louser, 1:03.31
- Forrest Frazier, 1:03.39
- Dylan Rhee, 1:03.47
- Ben Dillard, 1:03.50
Women’s 100 Back- Prelims
- World Record: 57.57, Regan Smith (USA), 2019
- American Record: 57.57, Regan Smith, 2019
- Championship Record: 58.00, Kathleen Baker, 2018
- U.S. Open Record: 58.00, Kathleen Baker (USA), 2018
- Olympic Trials Cut: 1:02.69
Amy Bilquist leads the way with a 1:00.13, just ahead of 15-year-old Claire Curzan‘s 1:00.44. That lifetime best from Curzan is now #8 on the all-time 15-16 age group rankings. Tennessee’s Erika Brown and Stanford’s Lucie Nordmann round out the top 4.
Alongside Curzan, 17-year-old Annabel Crush (1:00.74) will be competing for the World Jrs automatic spot in the A-final. Rounding out the top 8 qualifiers are Cal’s Isabel Ivey, Kentucky’s Caitlin Brooks, and NC State’s Kylee Alons.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Amy Bilquist, 1:00.13
- Claire Curzan, 1:00.44
- Erika Brown, 1:00.64
- Lucie Nordmann, 1:00.67
- Annabel Crush, 1:00.74
- Isabel Ivey, 1:00.87
- Caitlin Brooks, 1:00.96
- Kylee Alons, 1:01.03
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Caroline Bentz, 1:02.16
- Ellie Waldrep, 1:02.26
- Julia Cook, 1:02.29
- Natalie Mannion, 1:02.43
- Emma Atkinson, 1:02.55
- Tea Laughlin, 1:02.97
- Charlotte Hook, 1:02.98
- Talia Bates, 1:03.00
Men’s 100 Back- Prelims
- World Record: 51.85, Ryan Murphy (USA), 2016
- American Record: 51.85, Ryan Murphy, 2016
- Championship Record: 51.94, Aaron Peirsol, 2009
- U.S. Open Record: 51.94, Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009
- Olympic Trials Cut: 56.59
Shaine Casas leds the men’s 100 back final as the 10th-fastest American in history with a 53.26. Sitting a second behind him is 200 back champ Austin Katz. Frenchman Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Clark Beach also finished in the top 4.
As the only junior in the A-final, Wyatt Davis has locked in his spot on the World Jrs roster for this event with his 5th-place qualifying spot. Matthew Klotz rounds out the top 8 alongside Nicolas Albiero and Bryce Mefford.
Finals Qualifiers:
- Shaine Casas, 53.26
- Austin Katz, 54.46
- Yohann Ndoye Brouard, 54.62
- Clark Beach, 54.69
- Wyatt Davis, 54.73
- Matthew Klotz, 54.79
- Nicolas Albiero, 54.82
- Bryce Mefford, 54.84
18-Under Finals Qualifiers:
- Brendan Burns, 55.51
- Peter Larson, 55.61
- Destin Lasco, 56.01
- Harrison Lierz, 56.08
- Jack Dolan, 56.13
- Sean Conway, 56.18
- Josh Zuchowski, 56.48
- Hunter Tapp, 56.51
Didn’t he swim back at SECs, but then he switched to fly for NCAAs? Perhaps that was the wrong choice! In any case, he’s rising fast, definitely one to watch
Casas from 54.51 to 53.26 BOOM
Is this the real bobo Gigi?
Casas FL 52.15 + BK 53.26 + poor BR leg + FR 49.17
Let’s see how is his 200 IM now
He’s a 1:42 IM in SCY… given his improvement in LCM, I’d say 1:57+ is in the cards!
I just watched the NBC show. Allison wore an Arena suit for 100 and a TYR suit for the 200. At Worlds she and Chase wore MP suits which probably neither will ever wear at a big meet again. Coincidence they didn’t swim well at Worlds?
Hmmmm
I’m really interested to see if Murphy switches from speedo at any point and if that gets him back.
The new speedo suit is really good, probably not the problem
Chase signed with MP so he’ll be wearing that for awhile.
Sadly no Mizuno
And the Mizuno salesman enters the chat.
Allison too? And she lives with Phelps family and trains with Bowman!
I wonder how the MP brand is selling. Is there a visible number of swimmers wearing them at meets, or even practice suits/ goggles in practice?
Not in USA but heard it selling a bit in Asia
I seem to remember Phelps did ok in Rio wearing those suits. Having said that the women’s arena suit looks a big step forward in particular.
Hmm, Lochte looked mighty iffy on coming up before 15m off the turn, but they didn’t call him for it. Lucky!
It was real close, but it’s his birthday lol
Lochte qualifies B-final. Backstroke was good. 55.08
Do they check pools for currents at meets like this? Lanes 5-9 look they’re ahead almost every heat of the men’s and women’s 100 breast
Your comment caught me…yesterday it seemed like Lanes 7 & 8 were magical during the morning heats. Seemed odd like a coin flip beggaring the odds.
I actually noticed a difference in some swimmers splits depending on which way they were swimming.
Finnerty and Fischer would be in the A final if the foreigners were in the B final
Or. If they would have swum faster
Or it could be US nationals..
Sounds like he days when Missy Franklin haters didn’t think she should be allowed to swim high school swimming so their own daughters could win for once.
I don’t like how foreigners can be in the A final. Most places have it to where they have to be in the B final, which seems fair.
This meet is not a selection meet, so it really doesn’t matter
Eh it’s a national title on the line, I think it matters… Who from America goes to Australia and wins a national title?
What I meant was that having foreign athletes in the A final does not hinder any US swimmer’s chances of qualifying for anything.
Yes I know, I was just getting my point across.
The Real Sam, I disagree. It’s a national championship. Not a US Open meet. And it’s a selection meet for world juniors. Based on times. But you don’t swim necessarily the same times if you swim in the A-Final or the B, C or D-Finals. So a qualification in the A-Final where you will be pushed can be very important. And I also add the experience these junior swimmers can take for the future in the A-Final.
YES Bobo Gigi agrees. That’s all I needed.
Kathleen Baker isn’t the German National Champs as we speak
Lol she didn’t even swim the individual tho
But she could of is the point
Yes, they should build the wall around the A final
I don’t know if that’s accurate for “most places.” Off the top of my head, it’s Canada.
We might say “xenophobia has entered the chat” but unfortunately, it’s been here for quite a while.
To show their gratitude Australia is opening their National championships and Commonwealth Championships to USA swimmers. I mean why would they not. It’s the cool thing to do host a NATIONAL championship meet and invite random countries.