2023 U.S. Trials: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• June 27 – July 1, 2023
• Indianapolis, IN
• Indiana University Natatorium
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet (updated version, 6/26)
• Live Results
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• How To Watch
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

We’ve reached the fifth and final day of racing at the U.S. National Championships. The final prelims session will be a short one with the heats of the 200 IM and 50 freestyle. Following prelims will be a distance session featuring the slower heats of the men’s 800 and women’s 1500.

Coming in as the top seed in the women’s 200 IM is Alex Walsh, who already punched her ticket to Fukuoka in the 400 IM. It’s a deep field behind her, including Regan Smith who has had a fantastic meet thus far. Leah Hayes is another swimmer to keep an eye out for, as is Walsh’s Virginia teammate Kate Douglass.

In addition to the 200 IM, Douglass and Torri Huske are slated to take on the 50 freestyle. Douglass enters as the third seed, while Huske sits at 6th. Coming in as the top seed with a time of 24.38 is Erika Brown, while Abbey Weitzeil is entered at 2nd.

Shaine Casas leads the entries in the men’s 200 IM, although there is potential he does not race after skipping the 100 back yesterday. Carson Foster is the second seed in the event and will look to secure his third national title of the week.

American record holder Caeleb Dressel is the top seed in the men’s 50 freestyle, with Michael Andrew entered just a tenth behind him. Dressel has finished as high as 3rd this week in the 50 fly, while Andrew is in the hunt for his 2nd title this week after winning the 50 fly.

Watch:

Women’s 200 IM — Heats

• World Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2015
• American Record: 2:06.15, Ariana Kukors – 2009
• U.S. Open Record: 2:07.84, Alex Walsh (USA) – 2022
• Championship Record: 2:07.84, Alex Walsh (USA) – 2022
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 2:12.98
• 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 2:09.99
• 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 2:08.91

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 2:08.29
2. Alex Walsh (NAC) – 2:11.02
3. Torri Huske (AAC) – 2:12.23
4. Leah Hayes (TIDE) – 2:12.32
5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) – 2:13.35
6. Beata Nelson (WISC) – 2:13.40
7. Bella Sims (SAND) – 2:13.61
8. Isabel Ivey (FLOR)/Abby Harter (CA-Y) – 2:14.23

Kate Douglass wasted no time this morning, as she threw down a new personal best time of 2:08.29 to lead prelims by nearly three seconds. She opened with a 27.15 fly split, followed 33.09, 37.24, and 30.81 on the last three legs. Her swim makes her the third-fastest American ever in the event behind Ariana Kukors and Alex Walsh.

Walsh grabbed the second spot with a comfortable looking morning swim of 2:11.02. Her personal best stands at 2:07.13, which she set en route to winning gold at the 2022 World Championships.

Wisconsin also had a strong showing this morning with both Phoebe Bacon and Beata Nelson earning a spot in tonight’s championship final. Bacon’s time of 2:13.35 marks a personal best by just under a second, while Nelson was over a second off her own with a 2:13.40.

There will be a swim-off to determine the final spot in the A-final between Florida’s Isabel Ivey and Virginia’s Abby Harter.

Update: Abby Harter won the swim-off with a time of 2:13.60 and will race in the A-final.

Regan Smith, the second seed in the event, was no-show this morning.

Men’s 200 IM — Heats

• World Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (USA) – 2011
• American Record: 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte – 2011
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.56, Ryan Lochte – 2009
• Championship Record: 1:54.56, Ryan Lochte – 2009
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 1:59.53
• 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 1:56.65
• 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 1:56.22

Top 8:

1. Carson Foster (RAYS) – 1:58.56
2. Will Licon (TXLA) – 1:59.08
3. Destin Lasco (CAL) – 1:59.12
4.  Arsenio Bustos (WOLF) – 1:59.13
5. Kieran Smith (RAC) – 1:59.14
6. Trenton Julian (MVN) – 1:59.17
7. Maximus Williamson (LAC) – 1:59.32
8. Shaine Casas (TXLA) – 1:59.60

Carson Foster decisively took the top time of the morning with a time of 1:58.56. Foster could easily be quicker tonight, as his best time stands at 1:55.71 from last summer. He had the fastest opening 100 of the top-8 with a 54.51 at the halfway point.

Behind Foster, it looks to be anyone’s race this evening with five swimmers finishing within less than a tenth of a second of each other. Will Licon dropped over a second from his entry time to secure the second spot, with Trenton Julian rounding out the middle group at 6th.

Top seed Shaine Casas snuck into the 8th spot of the A-final with a time of 1:59.60, while Chase Kalisz notably pulled out of the event due to food poisoning.

Women’s 50 Freestyle — Heats

• World Record: 23.67, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017
• American Record: 23.97, Simone Manuel – 2017
• U.S. Open Record: 24.08, Pernille Blume (DEN) – 2019
• Championship Record: 24.10, Simone Manuel – 2018
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 25.04
• 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 24.52
• 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 24.38

Top 8:

1. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 24.24
2. Gretchen Walsh (NAC) – 24.53
3. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 24.57
4. Catie DeLoof (NYAC) – 24.71
5. Erika Brown (TNAQ) – 24.91
6. Olivia Smoliga (SUN) – 24.96
7. Gabi Albiero (UOFL) – 24.98
8. Torri Huske (AAC) – 25.02

Abbey Weitzeil got the job done this morning as she won her heat in a time of 24.24. The swim marks a season best by just over a tenth, while her personal best stands at 24.19 from 2021.

Both Kate Douglass and Torri Huske successfully pulled off the 200 IM-50 freestyle double and advanced to the A-final in both events. Douglass logged a 24.57 this morning to take 3rd, while Huske stopped the clock at 25.02 for 8th out of the morning. Both were off their entry times.

Gretchen Walsh qualified in second with a 24.53, just 0.06 off her own best time. Walsh is having a fantastic meet so far, and is in the hunt for her second victory after winning the 50 fly earlier.

Men’s 50 Freestyle — Heats

• World Record: 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
• American Record: 21.04, Caeleb Dressel – 2019/2021
• U.S. Open Record: 21.04, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
• Championship Record: 21.29, Caeleb Dressel – 2022
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 22.12
• 2022 U.S. Trials Top 2 Time: 21.45
• 2022 Worlds Medal Time: 21.57

Top 8:

1. Ryan Held (NYAC) – 21.65
2. Jack Alexy (CAL) – 21.83
3. Michael Andrew (MASA) – 21.87
4. Matt King (TFA) – 21.98
5. Jonny Kulow (SUN) – 22.03
6. Chris Guiliano (ND) – 22.08
7. Drew Kibler (CSC) – 22.12
8. David Curtiss (WOLF) – 22.13

Ryan Held had a phenomenal race this morning to take the top seed heading into tonight’s final. He stopped the clock at 21.65, putting him just 0.03 off his personal best from 2021. Held finished 5th in the 100 free on day 1 to potentially qualify for Fukuoka as a relay swimmer, but a top-2 finish tonight in the 50 could secure his spot.

Jack Alexy, the winner of the 100 free, recorded the 2nd-fastest time this morning with 21.83. His swim marks a new personal best, with his previous best time standing at 22.09 from the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont.

Jonny Kulow also had a huge swim this morning. He knocked over two tenths off his personal best from last month to hit a 22.03. His time moves him to #4 all-time in the 17-18 boys age group after previously being ranked 5th.

Caeleb Dressel, who was entered as the top seed, ended up finishing 22nd with a time of 22.72.