2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS
- April 26-30, 2022
- Greensboro, NC
- Greensboro Aquatic Center
- LCM (50m)
- Start Times: Prelims – 9 am ET / Finals – 6 pm ET
- Worlds Qualifying Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- SwimSwam Pick ‘Em Contest
- How To Watch
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
The last night of the 2022 U.S. World Championship trials was surely an eventful one. First, the distance GOAT Katie Ledecky did GOAT things again, swimming a 15:38.99 to win the women’s 1500 free in dominant fashion. Behind her, 16-year-old Katie Grimes finished second with a 15:51.36 to overtake Janet Evans as the #2 15-16 year old in the 1500 free.
Next, Alex Walsh crushed the women’s 200 IM with a time of 2:07.84 to break the U.S. Open record and become the second American woman under the 2:08 barrier in the 200 IM. With the absence of Olympic bronze medalist Kate Douglass, 16-year-old Leah Hayes finished second to secure a senior international berth at Worlds. The top two finishers in the men’s 400 IM then took the 200 IM in reverse order, with Chase Kalisz finishing first and Carson Foster finishing second.
Bobby Finke and Charlie Clark repeated what they did in the 1500 free to go 1-2 in the 800 free, and once again the same two men will be representing the USA in both long distance events.
The women’s 50 free was an eventful one, with the top four finishers being seperated by just 0.05 seconds. It was Torri Huske and Erika Brown who came out on top, with Gretchen Walsh missing the team by just 0.01 of a second. Kate Douglass, who dropped the 200 IM to focus on this event, finished fifth. In the men’s 50 free, Caeleb Dressel dominated once more to win the event in a world-leading time of 21.29. Michael Andrew swam a 21.45 to set a new personal best and finish second.
What was your favorite swim of the night? You can watch them all here:
WOMEN’S 1500 METER FREESTYLE – FASTEST HEAT
Podium:
- Katie Ledecky, Unattached – 15:38.99
- Katie Grimes, Sandpipers of Nevada – 15:51.36
- Bella Sims, Sandpipers of Nevada – 16:15.87
- Claire Weinstein, Sandpipers of Nevada – 16:22.78
- Michaela Mattes, Sarasota – 16:23.44
- Elise Bauer, Florida – 16:33.48
- Madelyn Donohoe, Virginia – 16:34.31
- Sierra Schmidt, Scottsdale Aquatic Club – 16:36.06
WOMEN’S 200 METER INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS
Podium:
- Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:07.84
- Leah Hayes, Fox Valley Park – 2:09.99
- Beata Nelson, Wisconsin Aquatics – 2:11.80
- Mackenzie Looze, Indiana University – 2:13.28
- Isabelle Odgers, Unattached – 2:15.33
- Sara Stotler, Tennessee – 2:15.40
- Abby Hay, University of Louisville – 2:16.30
- Teagan O’Dell, Irvine Novaquatics – 2:17.62
MEN’S 200 METER INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS
Podium:
- Chase Kalisz, Athens Bulldog Swim Club – 1:56.21
- Carson Foster, Texas – 1:56.65
- Sam Stewart, Unattached – 1:57.70
- Trenton Julian, Unattached / Destin Lasco, Unattached – 1:58.42
- –
- Jake Foster, Texas – 1:58.64
- Grant House, Unattached – 1:59.23
- Kieran Smith, Florida – 1:59.83
MEN’S 800 METER FREESTYLE – FASTEST HEAT
Podium:
- Bobby Finke, Florida – 7:43.32
- Charlie Clark, Ohio State – 7:50.07
- David Johnston, Texas – 7:54.40
- Ross Dant, NC State – 7:56.06
- Tyler Watson, Florida – 7:56.44
- Alex Enyeart, TST – 7:58.68
- Matthew Chai, Fullerton – 8:03.44
- Will Gallant, NC State /Joey Tapper, Tennessee – 8:04.65
WOMEN’S 50 METER FREESTYLE – FINALS
Podium:
- Torri Huske, Unattached – 24.50
- Erika Brown, Tennessee Aquatics – 24.52
- Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 24.53
- Claire Curzan, TAC Titans – 24.55
- Kate Douglass, Virginia – 24.67
- Abbey Weitzeil, Cal – 24.75
- Natalie Hinds, Unattached – 24.97
- Gabi Albiero, University of Louisville – 25.22
MEN’S 50 METER FREESTYLE – FINALS
Podium:
- Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club – 21.29
- Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy – 21.45
- Brooks Curry, Tennessee Aquatics – 21.84
- Ryan Held, NY Athletic Club – 21.85
- David Curtiss, NC State / Hunter Armstrong, Ohio State – 22.00
- –
- Jack Alexy, Unattached – 22.13
- Danny Krueger, Texas – 22.35
I noticed Ledecky is using a 2-beat kick. Is that new for her? I always thought she used a 6-beat kick for that race in the past. It also looks from the video (see 4min in) like she is syncing her catch with the downkick on the opposite side, but it is hard to tell for sure. Normally it is synced with the downkick on the same side as the catch.
Held in the background of Dressel’s celebration HAHAHA
I appreciate that, in addition to the name of each event, USA Swimming lists the event winner, their time, and any relevant records in the title of their race videos. It helps me to know if I should invest 21 seconds to see if Caleb Dressel won or not.
Looks like one of the women’s 50 free swimmers moved slightly on the blocks. At least that’s what it looked like in the angle at the beginning of the video.
HOT TAKE: Smoliga shouldnt have left Georgia 🙁
She should go to Florida with Hinds and focus on her freestyle. With the backstroke field so deep I think the 400 FR is her best shot at making rosters now.
The depth is weak in the women’s 200 meter freestyle not the women’s 400 meter freestyle.