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Ryan Held Analyzes 100 Free Field Heading into Olympic Trials (Video)

2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – DES MOINES

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 100 FREE FINAL

  1. Zach Apple, MVN, 48.59
  2. Tate Jackson, TXLA, 48.72
  3. Dean Farris, HARV, 48.97

Zach Apple successfully defended his top seed from the prelims, winning the men’s 100 free in a time of 48.59. Apple proved superior on the second 50 of the race, closing in 25.26 to edge out Tate Jackson. Apple, 22, leads the world rankings after going 47.69 in December at the US Open.

Jackson posted his fastest time ever at a non-taper meet in 48.72, taking second, while Dean Farris (48.97), Ryan Held (48.99) and Blake Pieroni (49.00) had virtually nothing between them as took third, fourth and fifth. Farris is the only one of the three who has been faster this season (48.45 at US Open).

In the B-final, Caeleb Dressel got out quick in 23.02, but Nathan Adrian stormed home with a back-half split of 25.24 to run down the reigning world champ and win the heat in 48.62, putting him eighth in the world. Dressel clocked 48.68, just off his 48.63 from February. The two would’ve been second and third with those swims had they’d been in the A-final.

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Awsi Dooger
4 years ago

How is he analyzing the field when he didn’t mention anybody by name, nor make any references that can be interpreted toward names?

Everybody knows the top guys. Via this header I assumed there had to be something Held said related to the bubble guys.

Robbos
4 years ago

Yeah, no-one is getting close to team USA here!!!! Not only high end quality but massive depth.

DBswims
4 years ago

Everyones talking about the 4×100 free relay. But the real question is who’s anchoring the medley?

Khachaturian
Reply to  DBswims
4 years ago

Held or Adrian

Rachel Wander
Reply to  DBswims
4 years ago

Given that the 400 free relay is earlier and Dressel is leading off, I’d say fastest split from that. Or possibly whoever gets the second spot.

Drewbrewsbeer
Reply to  DBswims
4 years ago

Dean, Dean, Andrew Wilson, Dean will be the MR order

NC Swim Fan
Reply to  DBswims
4 years ago

I’d say the answer to this likely depends on where the bigger gap is between the 100 free and 100 fly with Dressel. If Rooney can drop another two or three tenths from the 50.6 he swam last year, leaving only a .5 difference in fly, and Dressel shows up in 46.8 form in the 100 free without anybody else under 47.5 or so, I could at least imagine a scenario where Rooney swims fly and Dressel swims free.

He Gets It Done Again
4 years ago

Here’s my analysis of the field: STACKED AF

swimgeek
4 years ago

This kind of USA sprinter depth is fun. In 2016, Dressel was 2nd at trials with a 48-low. Adrian was our only 47 going into Rio. In London, I believe Lochte was forced into 400 FR duty — anchoring and getting run down by Agnel. Lochte was in peak form, but 100 free was really NOT his wheelhouse. This year we’ll have 6 guys made for this relay

frug
Reply to  swimgeek
4 years ago

I wouldn’t really say that Lochte was forced into the 4×100 in London. Grevers posted a 47.54 in the prelims but the coaches made the odd decision to stick Lochte on finals team anyways despite the facts A) Grevers split was faster than anything Lochte ever did in a textile and B) Lochte only finished 7th at trials.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  swimgeek
4 years ago

Lochte still managed to pull of a 47 low on that relay with a splendid turn & underwater ….that was not a slow swim at all . They lost it thanks to the slower times the others produced .

frug
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
4 years ago

Lochte was 47.74 on the relay, slower than Jones (47.60) and Phelps (47.15). It was faster than Adrian (47.89), but he had a flat start.

I agree it’s not fair to blame Lochte for the loss (47.74 was the best he ever did in a textile), but he was the slowest person on that relay* and slower than what Grevers did in the prelims.

*After adjusting for flying start vs. flat start

Swimmy
4 years ago

Could olympic staff take adrian if he doesn’t hit top 6 at trials

swimgeek
Reply to  Swimmy
4 years ago

Short answer is YES (assuming he’s on the team — like in the 50, for example). The coaches can do *whatever they want* with swimmers on the team. We learned that firsthand with Phelps/Lochte in recent Olympics — or Ledecky on the 400FR after being 7th at trials. Would they do it in the scenario you suggest? I seriously doubt it.

Dbswims
Reply to  swimgeek
4 years ago

I could be wrong but I thought there was a new rule that required swimmers to qualify at their trials to be on the relay? Phelps qualified for the relay in 2016 through a time trial.

iLikePsych
Reply to  Dbswims
4 years ago

It’s the opposite – as Bo Swims says below, if a swimmer qualifies for the meet ONLY via a relay, they have to swim that relay or it’s DQ’d

Phelps’s ‘time trial’ in 2016 was simply a 100 free time trial at training camp where he showed everyone that the GOAT remains

Bo Swims
Reply to  Swimmy
4 years ago

All relay only swimmers have to swim… if they get sat out the relay is DQ’d

mando
4 years ago

idk how any of y’all are leaving Adrian out of the top 4, I’m hard pressed to think of a time he hasn’t come through. Honestly, I still think he could be top 2. But mark my words, you are dead wrong to think he won’t be on that relay. The man has popped out more 48s than I can remember, and I believe more 47s than some of these youngters with hot hands

Willswim
4 years ago

Who’s got predictions for top 6 at trials? Here’s what my gut says today, but I’m sure it will change 50 times before the meet. It’s gonna be exciting, there are legitimately like 15 guys who could make it without it being a big shock.
Dressel
Apple
Pieroni
Held
Hoffer
Farris

Jabroni Pepperoni
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

I don’t see Hoffer making it, I wouldn’t be surprised, but I would put money on Jackson, Rooney, or Adrian before him.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

are you serious about Hoffer?

Adrian will make it.

Aquajosh
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

I wouldn’t count out Kieran Smith.

PhillyMark
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 years ago

He’ll need a big time drop in his LCM 100…think his pb is close to 49 but he’s seriously trending the right direction.

Lane 8
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 years ago

He will totally make it in the 200 but his 100 is not at the same level

first to the 25
Reply to  Aquajosh
4 years ago

I’d like to see him go after the 2/4 frees, and the im events. 100 free is too loaded.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Based upon the last 1-2 years, I’d go with this group.

Tier 1. Dressel
Tier 2. Held, Rooney, Apple
Tier 3. Peironi/Adrian
Tier 4. Farris/Jackson
Possibilities. Krueger, Chadwick, Haas, Howard, Conger, Seliskar, Burras (went 48.5 last summer)

Reid
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

Burras is British right?

Admin
Reply to  Reid
4 years ago

Correct.

Khachaturian
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

Didn’t Adrian break 47 off a relay in 2019

first to the 25
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

The ARTVANDELEGH10 we know and love.

Konner Scott
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

Dark Horse: Brooks Curry

RUN-DMC
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
4 years ago

My dream team:

Dressel (46.8)
Apple (46.8)
Farris (47.0)
Adrian (46.8)
Rooney
Howard

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  RUN-DMC
4 years ago

Love that Team , close to my Dream Team

Pvdh
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Hoffer? Lmao nah. Adrian will get through.

Willswim
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

With Dean taking a redshirt, Hoffer is currently my favorite NCAA swimmer so I’m bias! Let me have this!

Caleb
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Dressel
Held
Apple
Pieroni
Rooney
Farris
Adrian (ouch)
Haas
Smith
Jackson
Howard
Chadwick
Krueger
Kibler
Seliskar
Conger

Reid
Reply to  Caleb
4 years ago

Brooks Curry is another up and comer with a good 200, so should transfer pretty well to LC

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Caleb
4 years ago

Farris will be there …..would be so cool to see him swim a relay leg

Drewbrewsbeer
Reply to  Caleb
4 years ago

Forgot about Howard

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Hoffer ? no way ….Haas goes faster on a flat start …. I would put Rooney or Adrian in the top 7

swimgeek
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Hoffer is a wonderful swimmer who does NOT translate to LC. sorry.

Michael Schwartz
Reply to  Willswim
4 years ago

Hoffer really misses his walls in LCM. But he’s an example of somebody who could go on to have a successful pro career in the ISL post college (assuming it’s still around for a few more years).

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