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Top-Eight Seeds Böcekler, Travis & Dant Scratch 800 Free On Day 1 of U.S. Open

2022 US OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

A trio of swimmers slated to race in the fastest heat of the 800 freestyle on Wednesday night have scratched out of the event.

In the women’s 800 free, #4 seed Beril Böcekler and #7 seed Chase Travis have both dropped the event, and in the men’s event, fifth seed Ross Dant is out.

Böcekler, a Turkish native who swims at UCLA, was entered with a time of 8:38.25, done this past April at a meet in Turkey. She owns a PB of 8:32.65 set at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival.

Travis swims at Virginia Tech in the NCAA, and was entered at 8:43.23, a time she produced at the U.S. International Team Trials in April. Her best sits down at 8:30.76.

Dant was one of three NC State swimmers seeded inside the top five of the men’s 800 free, alongside Will Gallant and James Plage. Dant was seeded with the 7:56.06 he swam at the International Team Trials, and has been as fast as 7:50.66 from last year’s Olympic Trials.

Böcekler and Travis’ scratches moved 15-year-old Chloe Kim and 19-year-old Caroline Pennington up into the fastest seeded heat in the women’s 800 free, where world record holder Katie Ledecky comes in seeded first by over 27 seconds.

In the men’s event, Dant’s withdrawal moved in 15-year-old Sean Green. Brazilian Guilherme Costa is the top seed at 7:45.48.

Also dropping out of the men’s race was ninth seed Landon D’Ariano, 10th seed Joey Tepper and 23rd seed Michael Brinegar. Brinegar owns a best time of 7:49.94 and represented the U.S. in this event at the Olympic Games last summer.

There were also only five entrants in the 800 free relay (combined), but there will now be just three teams racing after both Tennessee squads scratched. The women’s and men’s teams will race in the same heat.

ALL DAY SCRATCHES

Women’s 800 Free

Men’s 800 Free

Women’s 800 Free Relay

  • #1 Tennessee

Men’s 800 Free Relay

  • #3 Tennessee

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About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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