2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 31 – August 4, 2019
- Avery Aquatics Center
- Stanford, CA
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheet
Worlds is over. Take a breath. Did you take a breath? OK, good. Now it’s time for the 2019 U.S. Nationals.
We’ve picked out some of the top storylines for you to follow for another week of pool action. This isn’t an exhaustive list of swimmers, clubs, or teams to watch for. Feel free to let us know in the comments what you’re most excited for at this meet.
#1 RYAN LOCHTE BEGINS HIS ROAD TO TOKYO
Technically, Ryan Lochte‘s road to what would be his fifth-straight Olympics could’ve already started awhile ago. Instead, he will start racing this week at Nationals. In May of 2018, Lochte posted a curious photo on social media that led to an investigation and subsequent 14-month ban for performing an intravenous infusion without a Therapy-Use Exemption (TUE). His ban lifted last week, and after USA Swimming offered Lochte an exemption to include some of his spring 2018 times to qualify for Nationals, he will race in Palo Alto.
Lochte will compete in the 100 back, 100 fly, 200 free, 200 IM, and 400 IM.
OLYMPIC TRIALS CUTS – 2020
- 100 back – 56.59
- 100 fly – 54.19
- 200 free – 1:50.79
- 200 IM – 2:04.09
- 400 IM – 4:25.99
The times above are what Lochte will need to go (at some point before qualifying ends in 2020) to punch his ticket to Omaha. They’re pedestrian for someone like Lochte, who has the second-most Olympic medals of any swimmer, ever, behind Michael Phelps, and is also the 200 IM World Record-holder. Then again, it’s unclear what kind of shape he’s in, and we haven’t seen him swim official times in over a year. What do you predict Lochte will go this week in his five events?
#2 THE YOUTHS WERE DOMINANT AT WORLDS; WHAT SAYS URLANDO?
American Regan Smith was incredible at Worlds, becoming the fastest backstroker in history in the 100 and 200 back and helping Team USA to another WR in the 4×100 medley relay. Meanwhile, Hungarian Kristof Milak set fire to Michael Phelps’s legendary 200 fly WR.
Before Worlds, though, Luca Urlando made headlines with his 1:53.84 200 fly at the Clovis PSS meet, breaking Phelps’s 17-18 NAG record. Many of us might still be in WR fever after Worlds, but Urlando’s performance earlier in the summer was astounding. It’s more compelling when you realize Urlando wasn’t peaking for a PSS stop, and that he likely has more to go at Nationals and/or World Juniors. Speaking of World Juniors, here’s a reminder on how Team USA will pick their roster for that meet from Nationals results.
Smith, meanwhile, is entered in the backstrokes as well as the 100/200 fly and the 200 free. For more of a dive into Smith’s other events (and her 2020 potential), click here.
#3 NATIONAL TEAM SPOTS ARE ON THE LINE
Many swimmers rely on professional sponsorships and/or funding from being on the U.S. National team for a given season. With selection for the 2019-20 team happening in early September, there will be a mad dash for making it into the top 6 rankings to secure funding for the next season, as this is one of the last big meets with good competition for those to make their mark.
Even those who made an international roster this summer are not safe; this is an opportunity for those who stayed home this summer to peak here and steal away a spot (though some may already have spots in the top six that they are trying to hold onto). Meanwhile, plenty of Worlds roster members are on this roster, and they may be looking to fight through another jet lag transition and improve upon their rankings.
Full top six rankings for every event, as well as full details on National Team benefits, are available here.
#4 THE AMERICAN SPRINT MACHINE CHURNS AGAIN
With Caeleb Dressel notching new American records at Worlds, and with there being splits in the 47-low/46-high range from several men this summer (Hi, Zach Apple), it’s clear that the American men will bring a lethal group of sprinters for the 4×100 free relay in the next couple of years at least.
Dressel is on the psych sheets here, as well as WUGs roster members Dean Farris (one of the 47.0 splits), Tate Jackson, Robert Howard, and Justin Ress. Jackson raced the 100 free at WUGs, and Ress the 50 and 100 back, but Ress didn’t do any individual freestyle racing and neither did Farris and Howard.
Meanwhile, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held is entered to swim in the 100 free, along with Jack Conger and Daniel Krueger who are also entered with 48’s.
#5 THE NON-AMERICANS
Not every swimmer at this meet will be American, and there are a few contingents of foreign-born swimmers (mostly from Australia, Great Britain, and France) on these psych sheets.
For Australia, there’s young freestylers Elijah Winnington and Louis Townsend, along with butterfliers Matthew Temple and Bowen Gough and breaststroker Daniel Cave. Rising Northwestern University junior Calypso Sheridan will also represent the Aussies in the 100 back, 100 breast, and 200 IM, and Jenna Strauch is the top seed in the 200 breast.
GBR will have Anna Hopkin, who raced at Worlds and registered big time PRs in the 50 (24.34) and 100 free (53.21), along with 400 IMer Hannah Miley, who’s coming back after ankle surgery this past winter, and breaststroker Chloe Tutton. On the men’s side, there’s IM’er Mark Szaranek, Worlds roster member Scott McLay, and freestyler Stephen Milne, among others.
Finally, France will have Worlds member Jordan Pothain along with sprinter Anna Santamans in addition to several others.
I think Lochte is going to have a good meet. He wouldn’t be entered in the 400 IM if he weren’t in the shape to swim it well. He did go 1:58/4:15 at Mel Zajac shortly before the suspension and has had a solid block of training since. Beisel made Worlds in the 400 IM 2017 on eight weeks of training after taking a long break following Rio because she had built the base to do it. I think he’ll be alright.
#6 Dana Vollmer‘s last races. Something to take in and enjoy!
My hot take for the day – Calypso Sheridan is the best name in swimming
There’s a Canadian National Team swimmer named Montana Champagne.
By the way I don’t still understand why they allow foreign swimmers to swim at that meet. I’m consistent. I’ve always said that. It’s not a US Open meet. It’s a national championship!
And there’s no limit. You could have 8 foreign swimmers in the A-Final! It’s just stupid. At least don’t allow them to swim the A-Final.
And while I regret it’s not rather at US juniors next week, these US nationals serve as a qualifying meet for world juniors. So foreign swimmers will take A-Final spots to the detriment of young US stars in the making. It prevents young talents from racing the best US seniors, benefiting from the competition and taking much experience in those… Read more »
Give us your tired, your poor, your fast swimmers.
If they couldn’t swim nationals then I bet a lot less wouldn’t train here, and that would affect some checkbooks who have a say in the matter
Only Americans can make the A final, foreign athletes can make the B at best. And there’s an entire D final just for 18u, so they’re still getting plenty of swims.
Great meet in perspective. Can’t wait to watch future stars of the US swimming like Luca Urlando, Carson Foster, Dean Farris, Gretchen Walsh, Destin Lasco, Claire Curzan and many others. Let’s see how Regan and Caeleb have recovered from last week and from jet lag and if they will not drop their baby events to focus on events they didn’t swim at worlds. I wonder if Regan will swim backstroke races to save her energy for the 100 fly/200 fly/200 free. If yes then I think we can expect something big from her in those 3 events. Same for Dressel in the 200 IM. Maybe Regan will love one day breaststroke to make a historical 200 IM? It’s a fun… Read more »
I think Carson Foster is about to pop off. 1:58 low and 1:46.9 let’s see what happens 🙂
I have a feeling regan smith is gonna pop. 1:54 high/1:55 low in the 200 free
Hey Braden, its becoming more of a treasure hunt to find where Bobo posts his gems. Is there a way to create a tag that will attatch to his posts so those who want to follow them will know 1. That he has posted, and 2. Where to locate the posts?
How dare you call dean a “future” star
Curious to see what Winnginton does after his misfire at Australian Trials.
Is Annie Lazor doing another meet this summer or is she done?
She will be at Pan Ams
World Record Dressel 200 IM
It’s LCM, not SCM.