2015 U.S. Nationals: NCAA 400IM Champ Will Licon Scratches That Final

2015 U.S. National Championships

• Thursday, August 6 – Monday, August 10
• Northside Swim Center – San Antonio, Texas
• Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM (Central Daylight Time)
• Full coverage
• Psych sheet
• Live stream link
• Live results

Everyone is expected to show up in her assigned lanes in the women’s 100m fly tonight, which will pit top qualifier Kelsi Worrell (57.53) of University of Louisville against American record-holder Dana Vollmer (59.18 in prelims) from California Aquatics. Vollmer is competing in her first major competition since the birth of her son on March 6.

There were a couple of changes to the lineup in the women’s 200m IM, though. Hali Flickinger of Athens Bulldog Swim Club, who went 2:12.88 to qualify fourth overall, scratched the final, presumably to focus on the 400m freestyle final later in the evening. Flickinger dropped an even more impressive 6 seconds off her personal best in the free, and stands a good chance of coming away with that national title. She is seeded third with 4:09.64 behind Allison Schmitt of North Baltimore (4:09.14 in prelims) and Mission Viejo’s Stephanie Peacock (4:09.24).

Moving up to the championship final of the women’s 200m IM in the absence of Flickinger will be T2 Aquatics’ Justine Bowker. Katherine Mills of SwimMAC Carolina takes over the 16th slot, drawing lane 8 for the consolation final.

There were no changes to the women’s 400m free lineup. The same is true of the men’s 400m free, where Zane Grothe of Badger Swim Club leads the field of qualifiers with 3:48.93. Similarly, all the qualifiers in the men’s 100m breaststroke A and B finals are slated to compete tonight.

In the men’s 400m IM, however, Texan Will Licon has ceded his spot in the consolation final. After going a best-by-a-tick 4:20.70 in prelims and qualifying tenth, Licon withdrew. Licon held onto his lane 4 spot in the consolation of the men’s 100 breast, however. Presumably he thinks he has a better chance of earning a spot on the 2015-16 U.S. National Team in breaststroke. Still it’s an interesting choice given that Licon posted the fourth-fastest time ever in the 400y IM at 2015 NCAA Championships.

The rest of the men’s 400m IM qualifiers will square off tonight, including co-leaders Gunnar Bentz of Dynamo and Sean Grieshop of Nitro, both of whom went 4:17.34 in prelims, and Australia’s Travis Mahoney (4:17.45).

You can see the full heat sheet for Thursday’s finals here.