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Erika Connolly (Brown) and Catie Deloof Tie for 6th in 100 Free, Roster Spot On The Line

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

We’ve got our third swim-off on deck at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, but this is our first that is happening after a finals result.

Update: The swim-off will take place after the conclusion of day 6 prelims.

Erika Connolly (née Brown) and Catie DeLoof tied for 6th in the final of the women’s 100 freestyle, clocking matching times of 53.86. Both swimmer improved from their semis efforts, with a caveat: This will be Connolly’s second swim-off of the meet and in this event. She won the last swim-off for a lane in this final last night, beating out Anna Moesch. When this swim-off is over, Connolly will have swum five 100 freestyles over two days.

Connolly and DeLoof tied from opposite ends of the pool, in lanes 1 and 8 respectively.

We don’t have splits from DeLoof’s swim to compare as there appears to be a malfunction in the official results.

The 5th and 6th-place finishers in the 100 and 200 freestyles are the lowest priority to be named to the team. The official Trials handbook necessitates a swim-off in this situation according to section 1.3.8.a:

If there is a tie in an Event at the Qualifying Competition between two or more athletes, and if it is necessary to break the tie to decide the finish order int hat Event for purposes of determining (i) who would qualify for Nomination to the Team under the Priorities in Section 1.3.4, or (ii) who would be given the opportunity to swim the Event at the Olympic Games, then a swim-off between the athletes involved in the applicable tie will be conducted to determine the finish order. For example, if there is a tie for second place in the 100-meter Freestyle, a swim-off will be conducted between the two Available Swimmers to determine second place and thus who would be given the opportunity to swim the corresponding Event at the Olympic Games. As another example, if there is a two-way tie for 4th place in the 200-meter Freestyle, a swim-off will be conducted between the two athletes to determine fourth and fifth places and thus who is included under Priority #1 and Priority #3.

After the first swim-off for finals of this meet, we reported that it was the first for a finals spot since 2008.

This one between Connolly and DeLoof has much higher stakes: assuming the women’s roster doesn’t run into an issue with doubles, it will directly determine who is named to the Olympic roster.

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Freddyfam
5 months ago

Just add Deloof to the team already!

CavaDore
5 months ago

I’m just bummed that Claire Curzan is not still a 100 free swimmer with history of 53 lows individual and 52 high relay splits. I’m also bummed that Maxine Parker didn’t swim at or better than her trials time from last year. Both of them would’ve finished ahead of 6th place tonight with those times. Even more odd since they’re training with one of the best sprint coaches, if not THE best, for women in the entire country.

Zoey
5 months ago

TBH, it really doesn’t matter who goes as 6th, they will likely have little to zero affect on how this relay performs in finals. just saying. not to be rude, but like we have Douglass, Manuel, Huske capable of 52’s, and Walsh 53 low (likely a 52 mid split)

NCSwimFan
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 months ago

Having an extra body to swim the prelims relay is always better than not as you increase the likelihood of a good split from a swimmer that you can then bring back to finals, but it’s so unlikely that Deloof or Connolly can outsplit Walsh and Manuel.

MarshMadness
5 months ago
Swammer
Reply to  MarshMadness
5 months ago

That was the swim off to get into the finals

LBSWIM
Reply to  MarshMadness
5 months ago

It hasn’t happened

LBSWIM
Reply to  MarshMadness
5 months ago

Wrong swim off. That was to get into the finals

MarshMadness
Reply to  LBSWIM
5 months ago

My mistake! Wow, two ties. Absurd.

swimmer
5 months ago

wish men and women could switch places re: hitting the roster cap so we don’t need Brown/DeLoof lol orrrr we get 9 doubles and can’t take the sixth 😅 how likely is this 🥹

tea rex
5 months ago

Is there still a limit on relay-only swimmers? Is it possible neither is selected?

side note: Surprised Berkoff didn’t compete.

Katie
Reply to  tea rex
5 months ago

Yes, limit of 12 relay-only swimmers across both the men’s and women’s teams even if the rest of the roster is under limits. No, unlikely, there are enough doubles for the women that there should be room for everyone on the women’s side. Men’s roster will be much tighter.

Breezeway
Reply to  tea rex
5 months ago

Berkoff didn’t want to interfere with her 100bk in same session. Just take 5 and let Berkoff swim the prelim

Yikes
Reply to  Breezeway
5 months ago

What’s her PB?

Breezeway
Reply to  Yikes
5 months ago

54.27 from last year. I would assume it would be faster if she swam it now

VFL
Reply to  Breezeway
5 months ago

Not as fast as these girls

Breezeway
Reply to  VFL
5 months ago

Maybe, maybe not. Just have the swim-off before Saturday morning

P K
Reply to  tea rex
5 months ago

No; enough doubles have been obtained that there won’t be more than 12 combined relay only swimmers.

VFL
5 months ago

Update please!

gllr0302
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 months ago

Is there no possibility of taking them both, in the event there is a spot open? Discretionary pick?

jeff
Reply to  gllr0302
5 months ago

I don’t think discretionary pick exists and by USA swimming’s own rules/whatever org makes the rules, they cannot take 7 swimmers for any relay

Last edited 5 months ago by jeff
VFL
5 months ago

Is the swim off tonight?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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