2022 U.S. World Championship Trials: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2022 U.S. World Championship Trials

• April 26-30, 2022
• Greensboro, NC
• Greensboro Aquatic Center
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times: Prelims – 9 am ET / Finals – 6 pm ET
• Worlds Qualifying Criteria
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• SwimSwam Pick ‘Em Contest
• How To Watch
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

WEDNESDAY EVENING HEAT SHEETS

Day Two finals session will add a new crop of international qualifiers to the Team USA rosters. Katie Ledecky will seek her second spot, this time in the 200 free. Lilly King, Kate Douglass, and Annie Lazor will battle for right to represent the US in the 200 breast, while Phoebe Bacon, Rhyan White, and Regan Smith will do the same in the 200 back. Claire Curzan posted the top time this morning in the 50 fly, just ahead of American record-holder Kelsi Dahlia.

In the men’s events, Carson Foster led the qualifiers for the 200 free final, dropping nearly a second from his previous PB to post the #3 time in the world for the season. His brother Jake Foster had the fastest 200 breast of the morning; he will face challenges by Charlie Swanson and Nic Fink. Shaine Casas will have the middle lane in the 200 but with Jack Aikins and Ryan Murphy on either side of him. Finally, in the men’s 50 fly, Michael Andrew qualified first for tonight’s final, but one should never write off Caeleb Dressel, who will be swimming in lane 5 after putting up the second-fastest time this morning.

Wednesday, April 27

Women’s 200 Meter Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini (2009)
• American Record: 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• US Open Record: 1:54.40 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• Jr World Record: 1:55.11 – Mollie O’Callaghan (2021)
• FINA “A” Cut: 1:58.66
• SwimSwam Preview – W200 Free

Podium:

1. Katie Ledecky, Unattached – 1:55.15
2. Claire Weinstein, Sandpipers of Nevada – 1:57.08
3. Leah Smith, Longhorn Aquatics – 1:57.44
4. Hali Flickinger, Sun Devils – 1:57.53
5. Bella Sims, Sandpipers of Nevada – 1:57.61
6. Alex Walsh, Virginia – 1:57.82
7. Erin Gemmell, Nation’s Capital – 1:58.12
8. Katie Grimes, Sandpipers of Nevada – 1:58.22

Katie Ledecky pulled off a wire-to-wire win in the 200 free to start Day 2 finals, going 1:55.15 to lead the field by over a body length.

Alex Walsh was in second place at the halfway mark, with Bella Sims just behind. Leah Smith passed Sims on the third 50 and was began to move up on Walsh.

Claire Weinstein, threw it into another gear over the final 50 meters to pass all three of them and finish second to Ledecky with 1:57.08, a new personal best and the #3 performance of all-time for the 15-16 age group. Smith (1:57.44) held on for third place, while Hali Flickinger edged Sims for fourth, 1:57.53 to 1:57.61. Alex Walsh finished sixth with 1:57.82.

The entire A final came in under the FINA “A” standard.

Men’s 200 Meter Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (2009)
• American Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• US Open Record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• Jr World Record: 1:44.62 – Sunwoo Hwang (2021)
• FINA “A” Cut: 1:47.06
• SwimSwam Preview – M200 Free

Podium:

1. Kieran Smith, Florida – 1:45.25
2. Drew Kibler, Texas – 1:45.32
3. Carson Foster, Texas – 1:45.66
4. Trenton Julian, Unattached – 1:46.69
5. Coby Carrozza, Texas – 1:46.87
6. Trey Freeman, Florida – 1:46.93
7. Luke Hobson, Texas – 1:47.43
8. Luca Urlando, DART – 1:47.99

Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith won the men’s 200 free from lane 6, having qualified fourth out of heats. Smith put up the fastest time in the world so far this season, winning in 1:45.25.

Top-seeded Carson Foster led the field at the 50 wall, but Smith took over at the 100 and never let up. Drew Kibler remained in the second position throughout the entire race, coming with .07 of Smith at the touch to nearly take the event. Kibler’s 1:45.32 is the #2 time in the world thus far.

Foster came in third, finishing a full second ahead of Trenton Julian, 1:45.66 to 1:45.69.

Coby Carrozza (1:46.87= and Trey Freeman (1:46.93) came in fifth and sixth, both swimming faster than the FINA “A” cut.

Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 2:18.95 – Tatjana Schoenmaker (2021)
• American Record: 2:19.59 – Rebecca Soni (2012)
• US Open Record: 2:20.38 – Rebecca Soni (2009)
• Jr World Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoria Gunes (2015)
• FINA “A” Cut: 2:25.91
• SwimSwam Preview – W200 Breast

Podium:

1. Lilly King, Indiana Swim Club – 2:21.19
2. Kate Douglass, Virginia – 2:21.43
3. Annie Lazor, Indiana Swim Club – 2:21.91
4. Anna Keating, Virginia – 2:24.62
5. Lydia Jacoby, Seward – 2:26.60
6. Mackenzie Looze, Indiana University – 2:27.60
7. Ella Nelson, Virginia – 2:29.07
8. Josie Panitz, Ohio State – 2:29.78

In a thrilling race to the end, Lilly King edged Kate Douglass and Annie Lazor to win the women’s 200 breast with 2:21.19. King went out characteristically fast, leading by .9 at the halfway mark in 1:07.7. Douglass turned up the pressure over the second half of the race and finished just .24 behind King with 2:21.43 to become the fourth-fastest performer in American history (behind only Rebecca Soni, King, and Lazor). Lazor touched in third place with 2:21.91, and the trio are now the only sub-2:22s in the world so far this year.

Splits:

King – 1:07.7/1:13.4
Douglass – 1:08.5/1:12.8
Lazor – 1:09.0/1:12.8

Men’s 200 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 2:06.12 – Anton Chupkov (2019)
• American Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
• US Open Record: 2:07.17 – Josh Prenot (2016)
• Jr World Record: 2:09.39 – Haiyang Qin (2017)
• FINA “A” Cut: 2:10.32
• SwimSwam Preview – M200 Breast

Podium:

1. Nic Fink, MAAC / Charlie Swanson, Nova of Virginia – 2:08.84
2. –
3. Jake Foster, Texas – 2:09.73
4. Will Licon, Longhorn Aquatics – 2:11.03
5. AJ Pouch, Virginia Tech – 2:11.14
6. Josh Matheny, Indiana University – 2:11.14
7. Tommy Cope, Indiana Swim Club – 2:12.84
8. Maxwell Reich, Indiana University – 2:15.04

Jake Foster, swimming in lane 4 after posting the top time out of morning heats, went out first in the final, leading Charlie Swanson by a tenth at the 50 wall. Swanson took over the lead at the 100, outsplitting Foster by half a second on the second 50. Swanson was still up by almost half a body at the 150 turn and seemed to have the race sewn up.

But then along came Nic Fink.

Fink upped his tempo over the final 50 meters to shoot by Foster. He then began to challenge Swanson and the two traded stroke for stroke over the final 15 meters. They lunged for the wall and stopped the clock at exactly the same time, going 2:08.84 to tie for first place.

Foster fell off pace over the final 50 meters to finish third in 2:09.73, 1.3 seconds ahead of Will Licon (2:11.03).

Women’s 200 Meter Backstroke – Finals

• World Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• American Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• US Open Record: 2:05.68 – Missy Franklin (2013)
• Jr World Record: 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• FINA “A” Cut: 2:11.08
• SwimSwam Preview – W200 Back

Podium:

1. Phoebe Bacon, Unattached – 2:05.08
2. Rhyan White, Alabama – 2:05.13
3. Regan Smith, Unattached – 2:05.65
4. Isabelle Stadden, Unattached – 2:09.69
5. Reilly Tiltmann, Virginia – 2:10.15
6. Kennedy Noble, Phoenix Swim Club – 2:10.53
7. Natalie Mannion, Commonwealth – 2:10.81
8. Jo Jo Ramey, Fishers Area Swimming Tigers – 2:10.92

The women’s 200 back final was equally as exciting as the 200 breast final, but this time, the top three finishers all came to the wall under the U.S. Open Record time of 2:05.68, set by Missy Franklin in 2013.

Rhyan White took the early lead, flipping in 29.65 at the 50 wall. World Record-holder Regan Smith was just .06 behind, and Phoebe Bacon trailed by .24. Bacon pulled to the lead over the second 50, outsplitting the other two by four-tenths, 31.5 to a pair of 31.9s.

The excitement built over the second half of the race. It was on the final 50 yards that Smith came from behind to win the NCAA title this year, and here she looked like she was making her move on the third 50. But Bacon and White still had plenty left in the tank, and where Smith went 32.0, they went 31.8 and 31.9, respectively.

White had the fastest final 50, coming home one-tenth faster than Bacon, but it wasn’t enough to grab the title. Bacon won in 2:05.08 to White’s 2:05.13; Smith finished third in 2:05.65.

All three were faster than Franklin’s U.S. Open record, and the entire championship final swam better than the FINA “A” cut.

Bacon, White, and Smith now rank second, third, and fourth in the world. Only Australia’s Kaylee McKeown has been faster, with 2:04.64.

Men’s 200 Meter Backstroke – Finals

• World Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• American Record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• US Open Record: 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• Jr World Record: 1:55.14 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2017)
• FINA “A” Cut: 1:58.07
• SwimSwam Preview – M200 Back

Podium:

1. Ryan Murphy, Cal – 1:55.01
2. Shaine Casas, Unattached – 1:55.46
3. Jack Aikins, Virginia – 1:56.29
4. Hunter Tapp, NC State – 1:56.79
5. Destin Lasco, Unattached – 1:57.31
6. Keaton Jones, Neptune – 1:57.97
7. Josh Zuchowski, FAST – 1:58.44
8. Sam Stewart, Unattached – 1:58.80

Shaine Casas, whose 1:55.57 in prelims this morning was the fastest performance in the world so far this year, got off to a quick start from lane 4. He flipped at 26.8 and 56.0 to lead 2016 Olympic champion Ryan Murphy by two-tenths at the halfway mark. Just behind the leaders was UVA’s Jack Aikins.

Murphy surged on the third 50, outsplitting Casas by half a second to lead 1:25.3 to 1:25.7 on the final wall. Murphy held the lead, through to the finish, winning with 1:55.01 to take over the top time in the world. Casas improved on his prelims time, and now ranks second with 1:55.46.

Aikins finished in third place, half a body behind the leaders and .50 ahead of fourth-place Hunter Tapp (1:56.79). Destin Lasco (1:57.31) and Keaton Jones (1:57.97) also finished faster than the FINA “A” cut.

Women’s 50 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjoestroem (2014)
• American Record: 25.48 – Kelsi Dahlia (2017)
• US Open Record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee (2017)
• Jr World Record: 25.46 – Rikako Ikee (2017)
• FINA “A” Cut: 26.32

Podium:

1. Claire Curzan, TAC Titans – 25.49
2. Torri Huske, Unattached – 25.68
3. Kelsi Dahlia, Cardinal Aquatics – 25.71
4. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 25.97
5. Sarah Thompson, Missouri – 26.06
6. Natalie Hinds, Unattached – 26.18
7. Gabi Albiero, University of Louisville – 26.51
8. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin Aquatics – 26.53

Claire Curzan improved on her prelims time by .11, which had been the fastest 50 fly in the world so far this year, with her winning performance of 25.49. She came within a hundredth of the U.S. Open Record of 25.48, set in 2017 by Kelsi Dahlia. Dahlia was swimming beside Curzan in lane 5 and looked as though she might take the race, but over the final 20 meters, Curzan solidified her lead over the field.

Meanwhile, Torri Huske came from behind to clip Dahlia for second place, stopping the clock in 25.68 to Dahlia’s 25.71.

Gretchen Walsh (25.97), Sarah Thompson (26.06) and Natalie Hinds (26.18) all beat the FINA “A” standard with their fourth- to sixth-place finishes.

Men’s 50 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 22.27 – Andri Govorov (2018)
• American Record: 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• US Open Record: 22.91 – Bryan Lundquist (2009)
• Jr World Record: 23.05 – Andrei Minakov (2020)
• FINA “A” Cut: 23.63

Podium:

1. Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club – 22.84
2. Michael Andrew, MA Academy – 22.87
3. Maxime Rooney, Pleasanton Seahawks – 23.25
4. Dalton Lowe, University of Louisville – 23.77
5. Zach Harting, Cardinal Aquatics – 23.81
6. Ilya Kharun, Sandpipers of Nevada – 23.90
7. Coleman Stewart, Wolfpack – 23.91
8. Carl Bloebaum, Mason Manta Rays – 24.33

American Record-holder Caeleb Dressel took down the U.S. Open Record that had stood since 2009 with his winning 22.84. Dressel and Michael Andrew, who had been the fastest this morning in heats, put on an explosive show in the middle two lanes, finishing with .03 of each other with the second- and third-fastest times in the world so far this year. Brazil’s Nicholas Santos went 22.73 earlier this month for the leading performance of the season.

Behind the leaders, only Maxime Rooney went under the FINA “A” mark with his 23.25 for third place. Rooney is the 5th-fastest American in history in the 100 butterfly, but hadn’t been a long course best in any race since 2019 until this 50 fly result, which shaved .07 seconds off his previous best time – a split en route to his 50.68 in the 100 fly.