2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 27 – July 1, 2023
- Indianapolis, IN
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pre-Scratch Psych Sheets
- How To Watch
Originally published on Thursday, June 22.
On Thursday evening, USA Swimming released the pre-scratch psych sheets for the 2023 Phillips 66 U.S. National Championships, which serves as a selection meet to decide the U.S. rosters for the 2023 World Championships, World Junior Championships, LEN U-23 European Championships, and Pan American Games.
U.S. Nationals begins on Tuesday, June 27, and concludes on Saturday, July 1. The meet will be held at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The most noteworthy name on these psych sheets is seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, who is entered as the top seed in the 100 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, and 50 free. Dressel is appearing in his first major competition since pulling out of the 2022 World Championships due to non-COVID-related medical reasons. He has not made any formal media appearances since then, but has competed at two other meets—the Atlanta Classic in May 2023 and FAST Senior Open in June 2023.
News that’s arguably bigger than Dressel’s presence is the absence of Simone Manuel, who is the American record holder in the 50 and 100 free. This year marks the second year in a row that Manuel has not competed at trials, as she was also absent from the 2022 U.S. World Championship trials and didn’t compete at all during 2022. However, this year’s absence is more surprising, as it came after her September 2022 move to Arizona State and her return to competition. In 2023, she raced at all four Pro Swim Series stops and the Sun Devil Open (which happened just three weeks ago), with her 50 and 100 free season-bests of 25.19 and 54.50 making her fast enough to be 13th and 14th seeds respectively had she entered the events at trials.
Manuel struggled with overtraining syndrome in the leadup to the 2020(1) Tokyo Olympics and spent the majority of 2022 trying to recover from it.
Ohter big names missing include last year’s women’s 200 fly third-place finisher Charlotte Hook, Olympian Blake Peroni (who retired last summer but returned to competition this May), and recently graduated Texas swimmer Danny Krueger.
Katie Ledecky, the best American female swimmer, is entered in her usual events—the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free. Last year at trials, she won the 200 free but then opted not to swim the event individually at Worlds. Questions about the lineups of America’s most versatile swimmers have not been answered, with most of them likely being over-entered. Take a look at the entries of some of those swimmers down below:
- Claire Curzan — 100 free, 200 back, 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 back, 100 back, 50 free
- Kate Douglass — 100 free, 200 breast, 50 fly, 100 fly, 100 breast, 200 IM, 50 free
- Alex Walsh — 200 free, 400 IM, 200 IM
- Regan Smith — 200 fly, 200 back, 100 fly, 50 back, 100 back, 200 IM
- Shaine Casas — 100 free, 200 back, 100 fly, 50 back, 100 back, 200 IM
- Carson Foster — 200 fly, 200 free, 200 back, 400 IM, 400 free, 200 IM
- Michael Andrew — 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 breast, 100 breast, 50 free
SwimSwam will be breaking down some of the event lineups of the athletes listed above in separate articles.
One notable entry is Alex Walsh in the 400 IM. Walsh is the two-time defending NCAA champion in the 400 IM, but this year marks the first time she will race the event at a major long course meet. She’s currently seeded sixth with a time of 4:42.15. Her Virginia training partner Kate Douglass is entered in the 100 breast for the first time at an international meet, being seeded third with her best time of 1:07.07 from the Atlanta Classic.
In addition to her usual 200 fly/200 back/100 back/50 back lineup, Regan Smith is entered in the 100 fly and 200 IM this year. She’s seeded third in the 100 fly and second in the 200 IM.
Despite being the second-fastest American over the last two years, Michael Andrew will not be swimming the 200 IM at trials. Carson Foster is a top-three seed in all six events that he’s entered in, but it’s unlikely that he will race the 400 free (it conflicts with the 400 IM at Worlds) or the 200 back (it conflicts with the 200 free at trials).
Can a swimmer who qualifies in multi events sign up for each event and then scratch later at a World’s swim meet as they can in their own country’s trials?
Who will make the team that’s never been to the WCs or Olympics?
I guess Gretchen Walsh comes to mind first. Anyone else?
Watched the prediction video and they both picked Jake Foster in the 200 breast.
I’m looking to see Will and Jake make the team. I’ve got my fingers crossed. Fink and Fallon are the biggest threats to that.
I think Fink may end up dropping the 200 to focus on the 100, maybe not this year but next year. Even if he does try to swim it, his recent track record says that he’s probably not as great at it as he used to be. After that, I think it’s a 3-way dog fight between Fallon/Licon/Foster, maybe 4 if Swanson surprises us again; he’s been very quiet this year though. No one else in those top seeds really strikes me as anyone who could really contend. Pouch didn’t have a great NCAA season, and I think Matheny’s better in the 100 in LC (I think he has the best chance of anyone to upset the Fink/MA 1-2 punch).… Read more »
Jillian Cox is still young but has been on fire since the Spring. A definite sleeper just beginning her journey😉
Why isn’t Torri HUSKE mentioned? She is currently the American record holder in multiple events and one of the most decorated swimmers at the international level in the last year.
If you want a list of every swimmer entered in the meet, click the psych sheet link at the top.
There was nothing particularly surprising about Torri’s entries, so “Torri Huske is swimming” isn’t all that newsworthy.
Women’s 400 IM will be a doozy for that second spot after Grimes.
It’s truly a grueling race and the last lap can make or break you.
Alex Walsh should be in good position after the breaststroke but will have to have saved something for the freestyle. I think she’ll be in the top 4 if she actually swims it.
Considering her 200 free is probably faster than almost all against her in the 400 IM, why is it her and not others that stand out they need to have something saved for the freestyle?
A 200 free and the final lap of a 400 don’t necessarily correlate. Brendon Smith doesn’t have a great 200 free but his final lap of a 400IM is well above the field.
Also A Walsh doesn’t really swim 400s in long course.
Watch the 400 IM final from Olympic trials. The top two spots shifted in the final lap and the race came down to the last 10 meters. Emma Weyant won it by her good pacing.
Hot take: Kate Douglass won’t qualify in any individual events.
Who would be the two people beating her in the 200 breast?
Lazor hasn’t been sharp since Tokyo. Would require a massive drop from Jacoby and Kate being off her game.
I fear you’ll suffer 3rd degrees burns with this one.
I have only ONE SIMPLE REQUEST for USA Swimming for this meet:
Please use OLYMPIC style lane lines for World Trials (3 yellow lane lines for lanes 4-5, different colors for lanes 2,3,6, and 7, etc).
Such a system, as you well know, makes it SIGNIFICANTLY easier to follow the action on both on smaller screens (smartphones, iPads) and also on big screen TVs.
Right?
That would also require them to put it on tv properly….
There’s no chance they would even though anyone agrees it looks better. America has to be different from the rest of the world.
I can’t believe they still don’t. Maybe Rowdy would get a few calls right if they did.
LOL!
Is there going to be a pick ‘em contest?
Yep, working on posting now.
Remind me why many swimmers represent New York Athletic Club without living/training there? What benefits do they get from NYAC?
They get paid for that representation. There’s no actual club team there. Mission Viejo and Sandpipers have also paid athletes to represent them despite not actually training there. They can use those results towards gold medal club status though, NYAC doesn’t need that with it not being a real team.
They cannot use results from over 18’s for Gold Medal or any Club Excellence points. Learn before commenting.
As of 2022, New York Athletic Club members have won 271 Olympic medals: 151 gold, 54 silver, and 66 bronze. NYAC athletes have competed at every modern Summer Olympics since 1896, with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, which the United States boycotted. I think this would rank them in the top 10 of all countries in the history of the summer games (something like that)
Always a valuable reminder that the sum of individual medals is almost always greater than the official countries’ medal counts.
Afterall, the US’ total medal count would rank them higher than the US in the all-time medals table ;-).
Agreed My point is the NYAC has been supporting amateur athletes in their pursuit of the Olympic dream for over 100 years.
What is your affiliation with the NYAC! 😉
Truth spitter.
Former athlete., longtime member. Nothing to hide here. I was just helping to answer Boxall’s Railing’s question.
I have nothing productive to say except your username has me dying!