2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave I: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

• When:
  • Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
  • Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
• Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
• Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
• Wave I & II Event Order
• LCM (50m)
• Prelims Live Stream (NBC Olympics)
• Finals Live Stream (Olympic Channel)
• Wave I Psych Sheets
• Wave I Live Results
• Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet

It’s the final day of Wave I U.S. Olympic Trials, with the final few transfer spots to next week’s Wave II meet up for grabs.

Keep refreshing this page for live, event-by-event updates of all the action from Omaha.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• World Record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:06.12 (2015)
• American Record: Ariana Kukors – 2:06.15 (2009)
• US Open Record: Kathleen Baker (USA) – 2:08.32 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Yu Yiting (CHN) – 2:09.64 (2021)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2:06.58
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Maya DiRado – 2:09.54
• Wave I Cut: 2:17.39
• Wave II Cut: 2:15.26

Podium:

1. Kate McCarville (SPA) – 2:15.09
2. Ella Bathurst (TEAM) – 2:15.64
3. Malia Rausch (ASC) – 2:16.42

In the first and only 9-person A final of the meet, SPA’s Kate McCarville battled home on freestyle to overtake Ella Bathurst, roaring to a new lifetime best and her 2nd Wave II advancement. McCarville touched behind Ella Bathurst at the 150 mark, but a stellar 31.36 on the final 50 led McCarville to burst into the lead as she approached the finish.

Incredibly, Ella Bathurst made her move against McCarville on breaststroke, which was a weak stroke for her in prelims. Bathurst led the field on backstroke, splitting a 33.35, which was the only 33 in the field.

Malia Rausch of ASC nearly pulled off an unthinkable chase-down in this race, throwing down a jaw-dropping 30.39 on the freestyle split. To give you an idea of just how fast that free split is for a women’s 200 IM, Rausch’s 30.39 would’ve been the 2nd fastest split in the women’s 200 IM final at the 2019 World Championships, behind only China’s Ye Shiwen (30.28). Rausch won the 200 free earlier in the meet.

After the drama of getting DQ’d then reinstated into the A final Tennessee’s Trude Rothrock posted a 2:16.73 for 4th tonight, swimming out of lane 0.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• World Record: Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:54.00 (2011)
• American Record: Ryan Lochte – 1:54.00 (2011)
• US Open Record: Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:54.56 (2009)
• World Junior Record: Hubert Kos (HUN) – 1:56.99 (2021)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:54.66
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Michael Phelps – 1:55.91
• Wave I Cut: 2:04.09
• Wave II Cut: 2:03.02

Podium:

1. Tristan DeWitt (ISC) – 2:02.03
2. Spencer Arnou-Rhees (NAAC) – 2:02.43
3. Kyle Maas (MLA) – 2:03.03

Tristan DeWitt was in control of this race for the majority of its duration, only losing the lead on the backstroke lap. During his interview, DeWitt expressed how he’s fed off the energy of this meet, and how much he’s enjoying being back in a competitive atmosphere. With the swim, DeWitt shed 2 seconds off his personal best. He led the field with a quick 34.7 breast split.

Spencer Arnou-Rhees, conversely, was in 2nd for the vast majority of the race, only taking the lead during the backstroke 50. MLA’s Kyle Maas was holding strong with DeWitt and Arnou-Rhees for the first half of the race, but fell behind just slightly on the breast length.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 23.67 (2017)
• American Record: Simone Manuel – 23.97 (2017)
• US Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA) – 24.10 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Claire Curzan (USA) – 24.17 (2021)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Pernille Blume (DEN) – 24.07
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 24.28
• Wave I Cut: 25.99
• Wave II Cut: 25.65

Podium

1. Missy Cundiff (TRIB) – 25.46
2. Camille Spink (NCAP) – 25.54 (TIE-2nd)
3. Anna Moesch (STAC) – 25.54 (TIE-2nd)

Shortly after our first 9-swimmer final of the meet, we had another unique final. The women’s 50 free gave us our first tie for 2nd-place, with both NCAP’s Camille Spink and STAC’s Anna Moesch touching in 25.54. In the event of a tie for 2nd, both swimmers advance to Wave II, so Spink and Moesch will be advancing along with winner Missy Cundiff.

Spink’s swim was a personal best, just a touch faster than she was this morning. The 16-year-old is now #24 all-time in the 15-16 girls 50 free rankings. Both Cundiff and Moesch were personal bests as well, and all 3 women were under the Wave II standard.

In fact, the top 7 swimmers were all under the Wave II standard of 25.65. Ohio State’s Taylor Petrak came in 4th, posting a 25.59, while ISC’s Kristina Paegle swam a 25.60 for 5th. There was a tie for 6th as well, with both Kailyn Winter (QSS) and Arkansas’ Kobie Melton swimming 25.65.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• World Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
• American Record: Caeleb Dressel – 21.04 (2019)
• US Open Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 21.14 (2009)
• World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (USA) – 21.75 (2017)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (USA) – 21.40
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Nathan Adrian – 21.51
• Wave I Cut: 23.19
• Wave II Cut: 22.71

Podium

1. Jack Armstrong (BATS) – 22.55
2. Eric Anderson (NLSA) – 22.57
3. Matthew Essing (TUS) – 22.63

BATS’ Jack Armstrong posted a lifetime best in a super tight finish, advancing on to the Wave II meet. NLSA’s Eric Anderson was right behind, also advancing with a new personal best of 22.57. Both Armstrong and Anderson, as well as 3rd-place finisher Matthew Essing (25.63), and 4th place Chris Guiliano (22.65) were under the Wave II standard of 22.71.

Anderson, 18, has now vaulted up to a tie for #18 all-time in the 17-18 boys standings. Giuliano’s 22.65 already has him in a tie for #22 all-time 17-18, and he’s only 17 now.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• World Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (DEN) – 2:19.11 (2013)
• American Record: Rebecca Soni – 2:19.59 (2012)
• US Open Record: Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2:20.38 (2009)
• World Junior Record: Viktoriya Zeynep Gunes (TUR) – 2:19.64 (2015)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Rie Kaneto (JPN) – 2:20.30
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Lilly King – 2:24.08
• Wave I Cut: 2:33.29
• Wave II Cut: 2:30.49

Podium

1. Gracie Weyant (SYS) – 2:31.10
2. Abigail Herscu (LAC) – 2:31.53
3. Kristina Murphy (AZTC) – 2:31.89

Gracie Weyant shaved 0.05 seconds off her lifetime best en route to winning the race and advancing to the Wave II meet. Both Weyant and 2nd-place finisher Abigail Herscu made their moves on the 2nd 100 of the race. Weyant, for her part, was in the thick of it throughout the race, touching 3rd at both the 50m and 100m turns. She then kicked it into gear, moving to 2nd at the 150m turn, and overtaking the lead on the final lap.

Herscu’s back half was much more dramatic. She touched in 8th at the 50m mark, 1.5 seconds behind the lead, then moved up to 5th at the halfway mark. She then moved into 4th on the 3rd 50, then jumped to 2nd heading into the finish. Herscu’s time was also a lifetime best by 0.2 seconds.

B final winner Denise Phelan touched in 2:31.85, which would have put her 3rd in the A final

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• World Record: Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2:06.12 (2019)
• American Record: Josh Prenot – 2:07.17 (2016)
• US Open Record: Josh Prenot (USA) – 2:07.17 (2016)
• World Junior Record: Qin Haiyan (CHN) – 2:07.35 (2017)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ) – 2:07.46
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Josh Prenot – 2:07.17
• Wave I Cut: 2:17.89
• Wave II Cut: 2:15.28

Podium

1. Alec Cullen (UCSB) – 2:14.38
2. Jakob Frick (NCAP) – 2:14.40
3. Coleman Modglin (ZSC) – 2:15.49

There have been plenty of photo finishes throughout this Wave I meet, and we just got another one at the end of the meet. UCSB’s Alec Cullen and NCAP 18-year-old Jakob Frick went down to the wire in the men’s 200 breast, both posting lifetime best as they earn spots at the Wave II meet.

The furthest apart the pair got during the race was 0.31 seconds, and that was at the 50 mark. Frick was stronger on the middle 100, splitting 1:08.88, while Cullen was 1:09.32 over the same distance. Cullen entered the meet with a personal best of 2:15.77, while Frick was 2:15.71 before this meet.

With the swim, Jakob Frick has risen to #32 all-time for 17-18 boys in the event.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREE – TIMED FINAL 

• World Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:20.48 (2018)
• American Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:20.48 (2018)
• US Open Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:20.48
• World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:28.36 (2014)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: N/A (New Olympic event in 2021)
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: N/A (New Olympic event in 2021)
• Wave I Cut: 16:49.19
• Wave II Cut: 16:44.60

Results

1. Kristin Cornish (BAD) – 16:42.63
2. Audrey Coffey (HUSK) – 16:49.09
3. Alivia Lindorfer (WA) – 16:55.85
4. Aurora Roghair (IFLY) – 16:57.40
5. Juli Arzave (TAC) – 17:03.38
6. Hayley Pike (BA) – 17:26.33

Kristin Cornish made the most out of the opportunity, getting on her pace early, and doing the best job of anyone in the field at holding her pace. She posted a 16:42.63 to win the race convincingly, taking 3 seconds off her lifetime best. The 17-year-old now sits just outside the all-time top 100 for 17-18 girls, and will have another shot at the race in about a week.

Cornish swam a consistent race, splitting 5:30.28 on the first 500m, 5:36.03 on the 2nd 500m, and 5:36.32 on the final 500m. Runner-up Audrey Coffey was right with Coffey through the first few hundred meters of the race, but Cornish pulled away from her through the last 1000m of the race.

MEN’S 1500 FREE – TIMED FINAL 

• World Record: Sun Yang (CHN) – 14:31.02 (2012)
• American Record: Connor Jaeger – 14:39.48 (2016)
• US Open Record: Peter Vanderkaay (USA) – 14:45.54 (2008)
• World Junior Record: Franko Grgic (CRO) – 14:46.09 (2019)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) – 14:34.57
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Connor Jaeger – 14:47.61
• Wave I Cut: 15:44.89
• Wave II Cut: 15:35.76

Podium

1. Joshua Brown (HIGH) – 15:35.94
2. Owen Lloyd (NCS) – 15:36.24
3. Jake Narvid (TENN) – 15:38.69

Winner Joshua Brown did an excellent job of swimming his own race, holding his pace while allowing Jake Narvid to take the race out fast. Brown negative split his swim, posting a 7:48.49 on the first 750m, and coming home in 7:47.55. Runner-up Owen Lloyd also negative split his race, splitting 7:49.43/7:46.81. Brown dropped a few tenths of a second with his swim, and will get another shot in a week. Lloyd shed just over 4 seconds off his personal best and will also be getting another shot next week.

It looked like Narvid was going to run (or swim, rather) away with the heat, but in the last few hundred meters, Brown and Lloyd closed fast, overtaking the 18-year-old, who was fading. Narvid took the race out the quickest, flipping in 58.09 at the 100 mark, before settling into a high 1:02-low 1:03 pace for the majority of the race. Regardless of how it was swum, Narvid’s time was still a personal best by 4 seconds.