2017 U.S. NATIONALS/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS
- Tuesday, June 27th-Saturday, July 1st
- 50-Meter Course
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Meet Info
- Prelims timelines
- Broadcast schedule
- Event-by-event previews
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Stream (U.S. viewers)
- Live Stream (International viewers)
- Thursday Prelims Heat Sheet
The action continues this morning with day 3 prelims in Indianapolis. Swimmers are slated to compete in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 50 breast, and 50 back. Veteran Olympian Elizabeth Beisel will look to make the World Championships squad in the 400 IM in the final World Championships Trials of her career. Matt Grevers looks to secure his spot on the team in the 50 back, but he’ll be up against backstroke aces Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley. The men’s 100 fly is one of the most anticipated races of the meet with a loaded field that includes Jack Conger, Tom Shields, Caeleb Dressel, and Tim Phillips. Read on for live updates from this morning’s action.
WOMEN’S 400 IM:
- American Record: Katie Hoff, 4:31.12, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Katinka Hosszu, 4:31.07, 2015
- LC National Meet Record: Katie Hoff, 4:31.12, 2008
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 4:43.06
Top 8:
- Leah Smith– 4:36.90
- Elizabeth Beisel– 4:38.78
- Ella Eastin– 4:40.56
- Brooke Forde– 4:42.32
- Brooke Zeiger– 4:43.09
- Ally McHugh– 4:43.75
- Bethany Galat– 4:43.81
- Madisyn Cox– 4:44.63
Olympic freestyler Leah Smith rolled out a huge swim in prelims, dropping 6 full seconds from her best time to take top seed in 4:36.90. Before this season, Smith’s best time was a 4:55.95 per the USA Swimming database. She had lowered her time to a 4:42.94 at the 2017 Charlotte UltraSwim prior to this meet. Elizabeth Beisel, an international veteran in this event, was also sub-4:40 this morning to take 2nd seed in 4:38.78. Smith is now the 9th fastest 400 IMer in the world this year, while Beisel moves up to 16th.
After setting the American Record yet again in the yards pool this season, Ella Eastin is another one of the top contenders for a spot tonight. This morning she qualified 3rd with a 4:40.56, which is her fastest time since 2013 per the USA Swimming database. Her fastest ever is a 4:38.97 from 2013, though, and she definitely looks to be in good shape for a breakthrough at this meet.
Bethany Galat and Madisyn Cox, who were 2 of the favorites coming into the meet, snuck into the final at 7th and 8th. Galat has been having a great meet, and made big improvements from prelims to finals when she took 2nd in last night’s 200 breast. Both Galat and Cox seemed to take things pretty smoothly this morning, so it’s likely we’ll see them sub-4:40 tonight. Galat has been as fast as 4:37.69 when she finished 3rd at Olympic Trials last summer, so she should be in the mix for a spot.
Ally McHugh knocked over a second off her lifetime best to qualify 6th in 4:43.75. She’s been making big drops this season, as her best time prior to 2017 was a 4:52.05 from 2014.
MEN’S 400 IM:
- American Record: Michael Phelps, 4:03.84, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps, 4:05.25, 2008
- LC National Meet Record: Michael Phelps, 4:03.84, 2008
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 4:17.90
Top 8:
- Chase Kalisz– 4:13.34
- Jay Litherland– 4:16.76
- Gunnar Bentz– 4:17.92
- Sean Grieshop– 4:18.40
- Charlie Swanson– 4:19.14
- Kieran Smith– 4:19.89
- Curtis Ogren– 4:20.44
- Jonathan Roberts– 4:20.48
Olympic silver medalist Chase Kalisz dominated this morning, turning in a 4:13.34 to qualify 1st for the final. It looks to be a race between the 3 Georgia boys for the 2 worlds spots tonight, as Jay Litherland (4:16.76) and Gunnar Bentz (4:17.92) filled out the top 3 behind him. Junior standout Sean Grieshop could surprise us, however, as he wasn’t far behind with a smooth 4:18.40. He’ll be chasing his own Junior World Record tonight, which stands as a 4:14.00 from last summer’s Olympic Trials.
Another junior IMer, Kieran Smith, swam a best time to qualify for the final. His 4:19.89 landed him 6th this morning, and marked the first time he’s broken the 4:20-barrier in his career.
Abrahm DeVine was initially the 3rd fastest swimmer in heat 7, but was disqualified as officials cited him “swimming the style of backstroke for more than one quarter of the race,” also known as the Lochte Rule. Josh Prenot and Michael Weiss were initially set to swim in heat 8, but both declared a false start.
WOMEN’S 100 FLY:
- American Record: Dana Vollmer, 55.98, 2012
- U.S. Open Record: Sarah Sjostrom, 56.38. 2016
- LC National Meet Record: Dana Vollmer, 56.42, 2012
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 58.48
Top 8:
- Kelsi Worrell– 57.40
- Hellen Moffitt– 58.24
- Sarah Gibson– 58.41
- Mallory Comerford– 58.61
- Katie McLaughlin– 58.80
- Amanda Kendall– 58.97
- Kendyl Stewart– 59.03
- Danielle Nack– 59.11
As expected, Kelsi Worrell easily took control of the 100 fly prelims with a quick 57.40. The race for 2nd behind her is shaping up to be a close one. Hellen Moffitt knocked a couple of tenths from her best time to take 2nd in 58.24, followed by Sarah Gibson (58.41). Some swimming fans may be surprised to see freestyle standout Mallory Comerford in this final. Comerford lowered her best time by almost a second to qualify 4th in 58.61. Prior to 2017, she had never broken a minute before.
Danielle Nack had a breakthrough swim this morning to sneak into the top 8. Coming into this meet, her best time was a 59.37 from back in 2013. This morning she finally dipped under that, touching in 59.11 to take 8th.
15-year-old phenom Regan Smith popped a 59.46 out of heat 10, marking her first time under 1:00 and the 16th fastest swim ever for an American in the 15-16 age group.
MEN’S 100 FLY:
- American Record: Michael Phelps, 49.82, 2009
- U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps, 50.22, 2009
- LC National Meet Record: Michael Phelps, 50.22, 2009
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 52.29
Top 8:
- Jack Conger– 51.37
- Caeleb Dressel– 51.38
- Tom Shields– 51.73
- Tim Phillips– 51.76
- Matt Josa– 52.33
- Justin Lynch– 52.63
- Andrew Liang– 53.08
- (T-8) Miles Smachlo– 53.16*
- (T-8) Zach Harting– 53.16*
Caeleb Dressel and Jack Conger brought the heat in heat 8. Conger held a narrow lead through the 50 with a 24.11 split. Dressel had the faster back half, but came up just short, as Conger touched in 51.37 to Dressel’s 51.38. That was a new best time by almost a full second for Dressel, who entered the meet with a 52.22. Conger was just a tenth off his best, which stands as a 51.26 from Olympic Trials. That puts them at #4 and #5 in the world for 2017.
Tom Shields and Tim Phillips also put on a show in heat 10. Phillips turned in a lightning fast 23.70 at the 50, but Shields was able to run him down to finish in 51.73 ahead of Phillips’ 51.76.
There will be a swim-off for 8th place between 200 fly finalists Miles Smachlo and Zach “The Dark Knight” Harting. Harting dropped just over a tenth off his best time this morning to touch in 53.16, while Smachlo smashed his former best 54.45 to put up an identical time.
**Harting wound up winning the swimoff in a blistering 52.63, while Smachlo went another best time in 53.08**
WOMEN’S 50 BREAST:
- American Record: Jessica Hardy, 29.80, 2009
- U.S. Open Record: Jessica Hardy, 29.80, 2009
- LC National Meet Record: Jessica Hardy, 30.12, 2014
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 31.22
Top 8:
- Lilly King– 29.96
- Katie Meili– 30.47
- Molly Hannis– 30.67
- Jorie Caneta– 30.85
- Andee Cottrell– 31.13
- Breeja Larson– 31.14
- Natalie Pierce– 31.22
- Katharine Ross– 31.25
It looks to be all Lilly King in the 50 breast. King set a Championship Record this morning, turning in a 29.96 to erase the former mark of 30.12 set by Jessica Hardy at 2015 Nationals. Tonight, she’ll be chasing Hardy’s American Record of 29.80, which was set back in 2009 during the supersuit era.
MEN’S 50 BREAST:
- American Record: Kevin Cordes, 26.76, 2015
- U.S. Open Record: Brendan McHugh, 27.10, 2014
- LC National Meet Record: Brendan McHugh, 27.10, 2014
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 27.51
Top 8:
- Kevin Cordes– 26.86
- Andrew Wilson– 27.29
- Cody Miller– 27.39
- Nic Fink– 27.41
- Michael Andrew– 27.45
- Ian Finnerty– 27.54
- Connor Hoppe– 27.78
- Matt Anderson– 27.79
Kevin Cordes blasted a new U.S. Open Record in heat 6, turning in a 26.86 to lead prelims. That knocked almost a quarter of a second off the former mark, which stood as a 27.10 done by Brendan McHugh at 2014 Nationals. It was also just a tenth shy of his own American Record of 26.76 done at 2015 Worlds.
Cordes’ time makes him the 3rd fastest swimmer in the world this year behind only Great Britain’s Adam Peaty (26.48) and Brazil’s Joao Gomes (26.83).
WOMEN’S 50 BACK:
- American Record: Natalie Coughlin, 27.51, 2015
- U.S. Open Record: Natalie Coughlin, 27.51, 2015
- LC National Meet Record: Natalie Coughlin, 27.68, 2013
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 28.52
Top 8:
- Ali Deloof– 27.86
- Hannah Stevens– 27.94
- Kathleen Baker– 28.09
- Courtney Caldwell– 28.39
- (T-5) Grace Ariola– 28.51
- (T-5) Caroline Baldwin– 28.51
- Amy Bilquist– 28.64
- Katharine Berkoff– 28.74
Ali Deloof and Hannah Stevens closed in on the Championship Record this morning. Deloof was within 2 tenths of the mark with her 27.86, with Stevens less than a tenth behind her in 27.94. It’s shaping up to be a tight race between those two and Kathleen Baker (28.09) tonight, and we could see 3 swimmers dip under 28 in the final.
Olivia Smoliga, one of the favorites in this event, appeared to slip on the start. She finished 32nd this morning in 29.25.
MEN’S 50 BACK:
- American Record: Randall Bal, 24.33. 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Junya Koga, 24.36, 2015
- LC National Meet Record: David Plummer, 24.52, 2013
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 25.29
Top 8:
- Matt Grevers– 24.75
- (T-2) Michael Andrew– 24.96
- (T-2) Justin Ress– 24.96
- Luke Kaliszak– 25.06
- Taylor Dale– 25.12
- John Shebat– 25.14
- Ryan Murphy– 25.26
- (T-8) Jacob Pebley– 25.30*
- (T-8) Daniel Carr- 25.30*
- (T-8) Bob Glover- 25.30*
Veteran Matt Grevers put up a quick 24.75 to lead prelims, while Michael Andrew and Justin Ress tied to break the 25-barrier behind him. Andrew was just .02 shy of the current Junior World Record, which stands as a 24.94 done by Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in 2016.
There was a 3-way tie for 8th place between Jacob Pebley, Daniel Carr, and Bob Glover in 25.30, which will likely lead to a swimoff.
**Jacob Pebley opted out of the swimoff. Daniel Carr won in 25.27 by just a hundredth over Bob Glover (25.28)**
ELLA EASTIN DQD
My prediction for tonight
W400IM
1. Galat 4:34.8
2. Smith 4:35.2
Galat had a shaly prelim, but I think shes ready after that 200 breast last night. I almost forgot about smiths morning swim, but she seems like she has a great shot at swimming this at worlds.
M400IM
1. Kalisz 4:07.8
2. Litherland 4:09.5
Kalisz will look for a huge time after that upset in the 200 fly, and Litherlands been looking great so far.
W100fly
1. Worrell 56.8
She had a good 50 fly and will prbably be about the same here
2. Literally anyone else in the final this event is very wide open
… Read more »
Women’s 400 IM. What must I think about Leah Smith? No idea. I didn’t even know she could swim IM. 🙂 Galat and Cox have played with fire. Hopefully for them they were in total control. I continue to think both girls are the favorites with also Brooke Forde in the conversation.
Men’s 400 IM. No surprise here. Kalisz big favorite for the win. Then Litherland favorite for second. Can Bentz finally show me I was right to believe in him for so long? 🙂 I would also like to see Grieshop in the last 100 in the battle for second with Litherland and Bentz. 3 huge closers. They would destroy the record of the fastest last 50 in… Read more »
Michael Andrew has really become the big US specialist of 50s in all strokes. The news about the new events in 2020 must have been a dream come true for him.
The women’s 1500 and the mixed 4×100 medley relay? How would those benefit him unless he becomes the top 100 breaststroker by then?
I swear, if dressel medals in the 100 fly and not the free, Bobo will have an aneurysm
Where did the Beisel story go?
Its the DECK PASS Live with Ariana Kukors
With Cullen Jones and later on David March
I think pebley takes this swim off by merit of being a 200 backstroker.