World Juniors Roster: Showdowns & Swim-Offs On Night 2 of U.S. Nats

• 2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

With USA Swimming selecting its 2019 World Junior Championships roster from the finish order of U.S. Nationals, a few World Juniors roster spots are already mostly locked in, barring DQs from junior athletes in the A or B finals. A handful of other spots are already set up to come down to head-to-head showdowns within heats tonight, setting up what are effectively swim-offs for the World Juniors roster.

Here’s our look at tonight’s battles. Bear in mind that some athletes will decline their roster spots, so these showdowns aren’t final or official – just what the team would look like if everyone (except those who we have reason to believe have already declined roster spots) accepts their roster position. (This Mitch Dalton tweet says it factors out those who have already declined spots, including world champ Regan Smith).

Girls 200 Free

• Mostly locked in: Claire Tuggle (1st individual entry), Micayla Cronk (2nd relay-only spot)
• Roster battle(s):
  • B final – Erin Gemmell vs Ashley Strouse (2nd individual entry)

The only junior in the A final, 15-year-old Claire Tuggle should be locked in for an individual entry. In the B final, 14-year-old Erin Gemmell should battle with 16-year-old Ashley Strouse for the second individual entry. Whoever loses that race should still get in as a relay-only swimmer, joining lone C finalist Micayla Cronk.

Selection procedures don’t show a 5th swimmer being added for the 200 free, only the 100 free.

Boys 200 Free

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • B final – Carson Foster vs. Luca Urlando vs. Jake Magahey (2 individual entries)
  • C final – Dare Rose vs. Destin Lasco (final relay-only spot)

The boys 200 should be a thriller in the B heat. Carson Foster, Luca Urlando and Jake Magahey should swim off for two individual entries, with the third-placer of that bunch taking the first relay-only spot. Magahey and Urlando are both on the team already, so they should add some doubles, which brings us closer to all the priority 2 and 3 swimmers being added to the roster.

In the C final, Dare Rose and Destin Lasco should battle for the fourth and roster spot in this event. But scratches could shake up this landscape dramatically: a scratch out of the top 8 would put Foster into a swim-off for the A final, and if he won that, it would lock him into an individual spot. A scratch anywhere in the top 16 would bump Rose into the B final, where he’d be locked into the World Juniors roster and could challenge Urlando or Magahey for the second individual spot. That would bump Lasco from the team in this event, though he’s already in in the 100 free.

Girls 200 Breast

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • A final – Abby Arens vs. Ellie Andrews vs. Anna Keating

In the girls 200 breast, it’s three swimmers in the A final swimming for a likely two roster spots. The winner is locked in, and second place will likely make it, if enough other swimmers double. Third will be out.

Boys 200 Breast

• Mostly locked in: Joshua Matheny (1st individual entry), Matt Fallon (2nd individual entry)
• Roster battle(s): none

With Caspar Corbeau representing the Netherlands internationally, Joshua Matheny is the only A finalist eligible for World Juniors. Matt Fallon just edged out Dylan Rhee for the second spot – if there are no scratches, Fallon will get the second spot by virtue of a 16th place qualifying and a B final spot, while Rhee (17th) will miss out by just .09 seconds.

Girls 200 Back

• Mostly locked in: Natalie Mannion (1st individual entry)
• Roster battle(s):
• • B final – Rye Ulett vs. Claire Curzan (2nd individual entry)

Another easy one. 15-year-old Natalie Mannion made the A final, and should have the first spot. Rye Ulett (14)and Claire Curzan (15) should swim-off in the B final for the #2 entry.

Boys 200 Back

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • A final- Carson Foster vs. Wyatt Davis (2 individual entries)

Not really a high-pressure swim-off here. Both are in the A final. The higher placer will be the priority 1 entry and guaranteed a roster spot. The other will be a priority 2 selection and very likely to make the team.