2019 US Open Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2019 U.S. Open Swimming Championships

• December 4th-7th, 2019
• McCauley Aquatic Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia
• LCM (50m), Prelims/Finals
• Psych sheets
• Pre-scratch timeline
• Live stream (all sessions beside A finals on Friday/Saturday)
• Live results
• Day 2 finals heat sheets

Women’s 400m Free – Final

• American record: 3:56.46, 8/7/2016, Katie Ledecky
• U.S. Open record: 3:57.94, 5/17/2018, Katie Ledecky
• U.S. Open Meet record: 4:05.45, 12/20/1987, Janet Evans

Podium:

1. Katie Ledecky, Nation’s Capital – 4:00.81
2. Kiah Melverton, TSS Aquatics (AUS) – 4:07.38
3. Leah Smith, Tucson Ford Dealers – 4:08.06

Katie Ledecky was out quickly, with the fastest reaction time and a quick first 100 meters. She was up by a full body length already with 57.80 at the 100 wall. Leah Smith and Kiah Melverton were in second and third. Allison Schmitt was in fourth, nearly even with Smith and Melverton. At the 200 wall it was Ledecky in 1:58.56, Melverton in 2:02.15, and Schmitt with 2:02.22.

Ledecky was 2:59.44 at the 300 wall, while Smith and Melverton were tied with 3:05.82. Ledecky brought it home with a final time of 4:00.81 for a new U.S. Open Meet record. Melverton came home with the fastest final 50 and out-touched Smith, 4:07.38 to 4:08.06, for the silver medal.

Erica Sullivan of Sandpipers won the B final in 4:09.99 ahead of Sarasota Sharks’ Emma Weyant (4:10.33) and Riptide’s Regan Smith (4:10.40).

Men’s 400m Free – Final

• American record: 3:42.78, 8/10/2008, Larsen Jensen
• U.S. Open record: 3:43.53, 6/29/2008, Larsen Jensen
• U.S. Open Meet record: 3:45.63, 8/3/2016, Zane Grothe

Podium:

1. Guilherme da Costa, Minas Tenis Club (BRA) – 3:46.57
2. Kieran Smith, University of Florida – 3:47.72
3. Ziyang Zhang, Team Santa Monica – 3:48.21

Kieran Smith from University of Florida took it out quickly, turning in 54.25 at the 100. He was about 1 second ahead of Guilherme da Costa (BRA) and Jordan Wilimovsky (Team Santa Monica). Smith was 1:52.55 at the halfway mark, with da Costa a half-second back. Zane Grothe picked up the pace on the 3rd 50, as did Ziyang Zhang of Team Santa Monica.

Smith held the lead by 1/100 at the 300 wall but da Costa took over at the 350. Da Costa got the win in 3:46.57. Smith held off a fast-charging Zhang for second place, going 3:47.72 for a personal-best time. Zhang finished 3rd in 3:48.21.

The B final featured an exciting finish in which Luca Urlando of Dart Swimming just touched out Bobby Fink from University of Florida, 3:52.69 to 3:52.78. Hayden Curley of University of Louisville was third in 3:53.49.

Women’s 200m IM – Final

• American record: 2:06.15, 7/27/2009, Ariana Kukors
• U.S. Open record: 2:08.32, 7/29/2018, Kathleen Baker
• U.S. Open Meet record: 2:10.71, 12/5/2019, Melanie Margalis

Podium:

1. Melanie Margalis, Saint Petersburg/Georgia – 2:08.84
2. Alex Walsh, Nashville Aquatic Club – 2:09.01
3. Torri Huske, Arlington Aquatic Club – 2:11.70

Alex Walsh of Nashville Aquatic Club was out first in the fly, followed by Torri Huske of Arlington Aquatic Club and Saint Petersburg Aquatics/Georgia Bulldogs’ Melanie Margalis, who had broken the meet record in prelims. Walsh held onto the lead at the halfway mark, with Huske and Margalis still in second and third. Margalis split a 36.2 on the breaststroke to pull within a couple of tenths of Walsh at the 150 wall, while Emma Barksdale of Gamecock Aquatics moved into third. Margalis powered home in the freestsyle to take down her own U.S. Open Meet record with 2:08.84. Walsh was also under the meet mark with a 2:09.01 (PB by 2.2 seconds), while Huske finished third in 2:11.70. That performance moved Huske to 7th all-time in the 15-16 age group.

That was a personal best for Alex Walsh by 2.23 seconds (2:11.24 prior PB) and a new National Age Group Record for 17-18 girls. The previous mark of 2:10.02 had been set by North Baltimore’s Elizabeth Pelton in 2011.

Bethany Galat of Aggie Swim Club won the B final in 2:12.90, ahead of Reka Gyorgy (2:13.85) and Meaghan Raab of NAC/UGA (2:14.45).

Men’s 200m IM – Final

• American record: 1:54.00, 7/28/2011, Ryan Lochte
• U.S. Open record: 1:54.56, 7/10/2009, Ryan Lochte
• U.S. Open Meet record: 1:59.24, 8/6/2017, Ryan Lochte

Podium:

1. Chase Kalisz, Athens Bulldogs/Georgia – 1:57.28
2. Carson Foster, Mason Manta Rays – 1:57.59
3. Ryan Lochte, Gator Swim Club – 1:58.89

Ryan Lochte blazed to an early lead with a 25.34 butterfly leg. He was followed by Carson Foster of Mason Manta Rays, who took over the lead after the backstroke leg. Lochte was in second place at the halfway point, while Daniel Sos of University of Louisville was in third. Chase Kalisz of Athens Bulldogs moved into first place after the breaststroke and was able to hold onto the lead until the end, setting a new U.S. Open Meet record with 1:57.28. Foster finished second in 1:57.59, while Lochte grabbed the bronze medal with 1:58.89.

This was Foster’s first sub-1:58. He came into the meet with a seed time of 1:58.48, which he earned at World Junior Championships this summer. He went 1:58.38 in prelims before dropping to 1:57.59 in the final. The NAG for 17-18 boys was set by Michael Phelps in August 2003 with 1:55.94. Foster ranks second all-time behind Phelps.

Will Licon of Longhorn Aquatics edged Gator Swim Club’s Caeleb Dressel, 1:59.96 to 1:59.97, to win the hotly-contested B final.

Women’s 50m Free – Final

• American record: 23.97, 7/30/2017, Simone Manuel
• U.S. Open record: 24.08, 6/1/2019, Pernille Blume
• U.S. Open Meet record: 24.65, 12/5/2019, Simone Manuel

Podium:

1. Simone Manuel, Alto Swim Club – 24.43
2. Erika Brown, University of Tennessee – 24.58
3. Gretchen Walsh, Nashville Aquatic Club – 24.83

Simone Manuel of Alto Swim Club had the edge from start to finish in the championship final of the 50 free. Having broken the meet record in prelims with 24.65, she lowered it to 24.43 in the final. Erika Brown of University of Tennessee was just behind Manuel, going 24.58 for the silver medal. Nashville Aquatic Club’s Gretchen Walsh rounded out the podium with 24.83.

Farida Osman (EGY) of Pinnacle Racing won the consolation final with 24.98 ahead of Olivia Smoliga from Athens Bulldogs/Georgia (25.07) and Aly Tezloff (25.23).

Men’s 50m Free – Final

• American record: 21.04, 7/27/2019, Caeleb Dressel
• U.S. Open record: 21.14, 7/9/2009, Cesar Cielo
• U.S. Open Meet record: 21.59, 12/5/2019, Bruno Fratus

Podium:

1. Bruno Fratus (BRA) – 21.72
2. Zach Apple, Mission Viejo Nadadores – 21.81
3. Michael Chadwick, Team Elite – 21.97

Bruno Fratus, unattached from Brazil, won the 50 free in 21.72, just 2/100 off his meet record from morning heats. Zach Apple from Mission Viejo was runner-up in 21.81. Team Elite’s Michael Chadwick came in third with 21.97.

Will Pisani from Club Seminole won a tight B final in 22.44, edging Ian Ho (22.46) and Dylan Carter of Team Elite (22.47).