There has been a recent string of successes for young female sprinters in America. Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil, age group juggernauts and soon-to-be Bay Area rivals, have traded 100 yard free American records. Weitzeil smashed Lara Jackson‘s 21.27 American record in the 50 this spring. Meanwhile, college junior Olivia Smoliga won the 2016 NCAA title in the 50 free in a time of 21.21 (also under Jackson’s old record) with Manuel and Weitzeil both red-shirting the season.
Abbey Weitzeil is the fastest female 50 yard freestyler in history. (photo: Tim Binning)
Manuel has been the quickest 50 meter freestyler over the last few years at long course championships, hitting a 24.47 in the semifinals of the World Championships last summer. Meanwhile, Weitzeil has gone under 25 seconds seven times this calendar year, with her fastest being twin 24.72’s (a best time) from the American SC Champs (which had long course finals sessions) in March and the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa in April. Manuel was a 24.78 in Mesa, but it’s intriguing that Weitzeil has hit best times in both the 50 and 100 free this spring presumably untapered.
Simone Manuel is a young front runner for a spot on the American Olympic team in the 50 free. (photo: Tim Binning)
Smoliga’s best is the 25.25 she went at the Atlanta Classic to finish 2nd behind Manuel, taking four hundredths off of her old lifetime best. Her resurgence at NCAAs this season after a rough sophomore year might indicate that she’ll throw down something bigger in LCM in Omaha. If it weren’t for Weitzeil’s surreal 21.11 before NCAAs, Smoliga would be the 50y free American record holder. The Georgia Bulldog has excelled more in backstroke in the big pool, nearly making the 2012 Olympic team after a fourth place finish in the 100 back, but this could be the year where her free prowess shines in LCM.
But don’t let these young sprinters convince you that the top 2 in Omaha will be under 22 years of age.
Natalie Coughlin has honed her sprint skills– the first woman under 1:00 in the 100m back is also a leading veteran in the 50 and 100m free. Madison Kennedy, meanwhile, has hit her stride recently. At the Arena Pro Swim Series stop in Mesa, albeit supported by a friendly tailwind, Kennedy blasted a new PR in 24.45 which currently ranks her 6th in the world this year. She followed that up with a reassuring and very much NOT wind-aided 24.53 in Charlotte. Amanda Weir, for her part, hit a 24.85 at U.S. Nationals last summer.
Not to be looked past is Dana Vollmer— the mom on a comeback made waves with a big-time sub-57 second 100 fly at Mesa, but her 50 free was also a huge achievement at that meet. Her time of 24.69 beat both Weitzeil and Manuel, but was also her first time under 25 seconds. Her prelims swim of 25.00 was also a personal best by nine hundredths.
It’s not just butterfly for Dana Vollmer— she flew under 25 seconds for the first time in her career at age 28 (photo: Mike Lewis)
Back to youth– Amy Bilquist was a sprint stud for high school powerhouse Carmel, and has been as fast as 25.03 in her career. Much closer to the lead pack, though, is Kelsi Worrell. Seen as the next American butterfly star (especially in Vollmer’s absence from competition) after her incredible swims at NCAAs over the last two years, Worrell has quietly been making big strides in her sprint freestyle. She recently made her first venture under 25 seconds at the French Nationals this spring with a solid 24.98, notably just a couple weeks after competing at the NCAA Championships.
Sprint regulars Ivy Martin, Lia Neal and Margo Geer have solid shots at getting into the final in Omaha, too. They’ve all been in the range of 25-low, though Neal and Geer will be primarily focused on the 100 free, an event which they are better suited for. Youngsters Katrina Konopka and Marta Ciesla should be fighting for finals spots as well. They, too, have been 25-low in their careers, with Ciesla topping all five of these women with a 25.07 from last summer’s Junior Nationals.
TOP 8 PREDICTIONS
| Swimmer | Best Time (since 2012 Olympics) | Predicted Time in Omaha |
| Abbey Weitzeil | 24.72 | 24.27 |
| Simone Manuel | 24.47 | 24.31 |
| Madison Kennedy | 24.45 | 24.39 |
| Dana Vollmer | 24.69 | 24.52 |
| Natalie Coughlin | 24.66 | 24.59 |
| Kelsi Worrell | 24.98 | 24.78 |
| Amy Bilquist | 25.03 | 24.87 |
| Olivia Smoliga | 25.25 | 24.90 |
Dark Horse: Amanda Kendall has bounced around training locations over the last several years but has seen some improvement recently. Notably, she unleashed a lifetime best of 25.08 last June, but hasn’t been under 25.8 yet in 2016. It’s hard to say where she’s at this year, but it might not take a sub-25 performance to get into the top 8 in Omaha.
The 50 is always hard to predict as anything can happen but I will go with Kennedy 24.2 and Weitzel 24.3. It seems that Manuel is focusing more on the 1 and 2 possibly to ensure she makes both relays (which could mean two medals at the olympics)
Agree that it is unlikely that any us woman will medal in the 50 free with the Campbell’s, Kromo and sjostrom in the mix so it makes sense for most of the us women freestyles to want to focus on the 1 and 2.
i think Manuel cannot make the team…Madison Kennedy (24.32 sec) & of course Weiitzeil (24.25 sec) will make USA’s roster in 50m freestyle…though both have no chance to get a medal….but both will make the final in RIO olympic…
“No chance” , Are you sure?.
To tell the truth I think the same. CC, SS, RK after them BC and FH. Realistically max. 4. place. But any of them will be 5. she sould be happy.
I think people are forgetting that this is a 50– maybe the most difficult race to 1. Improve and 2. Predict.
A bad reaction off the block can be the difference between making the team or not. There is no room for error.
Don’t cut your fingernails, ladies!
Vollmer’s PB was also in the wind-aided Mesa final…she might make the final but I don’t expect her to be a contender for a spot.
No medal contender but interesting race to watch.
I really hope a big breakout summer from Abbey Weitzeil.
3-girl battle between Weitzeil, Kennedy and Manuel in my opinion.
It’s a 50, anybody’s a medal contender. (Which I learned at the last Olympics – I didn’t even think Cullen Jones was gonna make the US team, then he went ahead and snagged a silver medal.)
Kennedy 23.9 Manuel 24.2
It’s a 49-meter pool in Omaha?
That was funny!
The OT cuts for women need to be faster
Ivy Martin has actually been 24.62 at 2014 Summer Nationals. Also Madeline Locus went a 24.81 at the same meet.