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Abbey Weitzeil Hits First 100 Free PR Since 2016 Olympic Trials

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rising Cal senior and Rio gold medalist Abbey Weitzeil picked up a national title on the first night of the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships, hitting her first lifetime best in the 100 free since 2016 Olympic Trials.

Weitzeil won the race in 53.18, shaving a tenth off her previous best of 53.28; she split 25.31/27.87. Erika Brown and teenager Grethen Walsh tied for second place in 54.13.

Weitzeil was the top seed out of prelims, when she went 53.47. That swim was only her third time under :54 since 2016. She was 53.56 and 53.94 on the same day at summer Nationals last year.

Weitzeil, a 2016 Olympian, becomes third-fastest American woman this season behind Simone Manuel (52.04) and Mallory Comerford (52.98). No other American has been under 54.00 from a flat start.

2018-2019 Top 5: U.S. Women’s LCM 100 Free

  1. Simone Manuel – 52.04
  2. Mallory Comerford – 52.98
  3. Abbey Weitzeil – 53.18
  4. Margo Geer – 54.09
  5. Erika Brown/Gretchen Walsh – 54.13

Weitzeil just returned from the 2019 FINA World Championships, where on the U.S. women’s 4×100 free relay,  she split 52.66 on the second leg en route to a silver medal.

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Bearly Breathing
5 years ago

Her orthodontist must be so proud.

Seli Lover
5 years ago

I was thinking about Amy Bilquist. It’s like she is adjusting to the system of her new club. Wish she had not left Cal.

swimmerTX
Reply to  Seli Lover
5 years ago

Amy broke her hand a couple of weeks back so it’s likely that she’s still in the recovery process

Seli Lover
5 years ago

I’m very happy for Abbey. Go bears!

Heyitsme
5 years ago

Happy to see Abbey back in top form. Hopefully she’ll go 52 next summer, it’ll be close with Mal and Walsh will be good next summer when she peaks

Jjran
5 years ago

Easy w no competition and nothing at stake. Do it with Simone next to you.

Swimmer2020
5 years ago

Shout out to coach McKeever

coach
Reply to  Swimmer2020
5 years ago

Absolutely!

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
5 years ago

100 free PR or 100 free PB?

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
5 years ago

Congratulations to Abbey Weitzeil! Job well done!

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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