2015 US Nationals: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

It’s the final day of 2015 U.S. Nationals and we’re in for some great races in the women’s 100 free and 200 breast, as well as the men’s 200 back and 200 breast. In that men’s 200 breast, we’ll see Michael Phelps in heat 11. After a stellar meet where he’s already put up the world’s fastest times in the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 I.M., it should be fun to watch him challenge himself in an off event. Don’t forget to look out for Jack Conger and Jacob Pebley in the 200 back as well.

2015 U.S. NATIONALS

WOMEN’S 100 FREE

Veteran Amanda Weir topped the prelims of the women’s 100 free. Her 54.64 was good enough to beat out Allison Schmitt in the final heat this morning. She was also close to her season best of 54.36 from the Pan American Games this summer.

After a day off yesterday following a 200 free victory, Schmitt looked very solid through prelims with a 54.81. She’s been a 54.46, also at Pan Ams this year. Those two women should make tonight’s final interesting. Weir is a sprint specialist, but Schmitt has been making improvements, working her way back to her London 2012 form.

50 free National Champ Madison Kennedy grabbed the 3rd seed for finals with a 55.14, just ahead of 17-year-old Katie Drabot in 55.19. Drabot is having a solid meet after swimming a best time to make the championship final in the 200 free. She was the fastest junior swimmer this morning.

Amanda Kendall (55.35) took 5th over Mallory Comerford, who dropped over 1.5 seconds to finish 6th overall in 55.48. Rounding out the final, Felicia Lee and Faith Johnson hit the wall in 55.51 and 55.54 respectively.

MEN’S 200 BACK

Qualifying first in the 200 back, Dynamo’s Michael Taylor posted the third fastest 15-16 time in American history with a 1:58.41. He now only trails behind the legendary Aaron Peirsol and Ryan Murphy in the all-time rankings.

That moved him ahead of the former 3rd fastest in that age group, Jacob Pebley. Pebley, now a senior at Cal, qualified 4th for finals in 1:58.91 behind Carter Griffin (1:58.51), Jack Conger (1:58.54), and Travis Mahoney (1:58.90). Conger, who has focused more on fly and free lately, previously won World University Games in this event in 2013.

Robert Owen (1:58.92), Austin Katz (1:59.35), and Austin Surhoff (1:59.37) of North Baltimore will round out the A final for tonight. Katz was the Junior National Champion in this event last week and will look to qualify for the Junior World Championships tonight.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST

Bluefish Swim Club’s Laura Sogar, the bronze medalist in the 100 breast earlier this week, crushed her heat of the 200 breaststroke prelims. Sogar, the postgrad based at Texas, swam the top time of the morning in 2:25.16.

In heat 9, Emma Schoettmer of Tucson Ford hit the wall a whole body length ahead of the competition in 2:26.33. That was a best time by over a second, shattering the 2:27.49 she posted at the 2012 Olympic Trials. The University of Arizona senior will be tonight’s 2nd seed.

Emily Escobedo finished third in 2:27.64, followed by Molly Hannis (2:27.94), Andrea Cottrell (2:28.04), and Esther Gonzales Medina (2:28.09).

Annie Lazor of Auburn hit the wall in 2:28.79 to make the final in the 7th spot, just ahead of Anne Zhu (2:28.86). She came into the morning with the top seed after competing for Team USA at the Pan American Games this summer.

Surprisingly, SwimMAC’s Emma Reaney, the short course American record holder in this event, will not get a 2nd swim after a 2:33.42 this morning.

MEN’S 200 BREAST

100 breaststroke national champion Andrew Wilson of Longhorn Aquatics posted the top qualifying 200 breaststroke time of the morning in 2:09.84. That swim moved Wilson into 19th in the FINA world rankings in this event, and makes him the 4th fastest American of 2015.

Wilson’s time will give him lane 4, right next to his summer training partner, Will Licon. Licon dropped a best time of 2:10.10 for the 2nd seed heading into finals ahead of BJ Johnson (2:11.92).

A pair of international swimmers, Craig Benson (2:12.14) and Michael Jamieson (2:12.17), took 4th and 5th. Benson went head-to-head with Michael Phelps this morning in heat 11. Phelps held his own against Benson, proving that he can compete nationally in even his “off events.” He was the 6th fastest qualifier in 2:12.68, smashing his previous best of 2:15.06 from 2007.

Across his career, Phelps has already won national titles in every other stroke. If he chooses to swim the event tonight, he could become the 2nd swimmer in history to have won American national championships in all four strokes.

Mizzou graduate Sam Tierney qualified seventh in 2:12.71, followed by Cal’s Chuck Katis (2:13.11).

Other notable swims include Avon Community’s Chandler Bray’s 2:14.55, the 2nd fastest swim in 15-16 age group history. The 15-16 NAG record holder in that event, Reece Whitley, qualified 10th with a 2:13.42, just a second slower than his NAG record swim from last week’s Juniors.

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completelyconquered
8 years ago

I think Phelps should go for 7 golds in Rio. 100/200 Fly, 200 IM, 200 Free, and the relays.

Rafael
Reply to  completelyconquered
8 years ago

200 free finals is on the same day of 200 fly heats and semis.. Will phelps be able to do the double job? Also the 200 heats and semi will clash with 4×100 free relay.

Teamwiess
Reply to  completelyconquered
8 years ago

So I hope he doesn’t. I don’t think he needs to win x golds anymore. I think the 100 fly/200 fly/ 200 IM is a good program individually that allows his 31 (at the Olympics) body rest.. Then let him lead off the 400 free relay and the 800 free relay.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Teamwiess
8 years ago

that’s a great line – up for him !!!

Rafael
8 years ago

Who is the only swimmer to have won on all 4 strokes?

Boknows34
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

Tracey Caulkins

Boknows34
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

Tracey Caulkins.

fina bites
Reply to  Rafael
8 years ago

Caulkins not only won national titles, but also held simultaneous American records, in all 4 strokes AND IM’s, at least in SCY. I don’t think she ever held ARs in LCM backstroke or freestyle but I could be wrong about that too. I know she never held world records in back or free, and her 2Fly world record quickly became toast when Mary T came along. But it was an amazing ride she had!

Phelps could still be tempted to try to be the first male to win national titles in all the disciplines, but I don’t think he could get down to 2:09.8 tonight without having trained specifically for it. I think he pretty much went all out this… Read more »

E GAMBLE
8 years ago

The field for Rio in the 100 and 200 breaststroke is even more crowded with the emergence of Andrew Wilson. I can’t wait to see Nick Fink vs Cody Miller vs Andrew Wilson.

KeithM
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

Well there’s this other guy by the name of Kevin Cordes. He beat out both Miller and Fink to swim the medley relay finals in Kazan.

swimdoc
8 years ago

It will be interesting to see if Phelps experiments with the dolphin kicks on his back off the breast-free wall a la Lochte. I’ve always thought that Phelps prone underwater body dolphins seemed just as fast, if not faster, than when he’s on his back, in contrast to what Marsh says about Lochte. But maybe he IS faster on his back.

Either way, it it ends up being a tight, side-by-side race between those two at Trials (which one would expect), their breakouts off the last wall will be unbelievable to watch.

anonymus
Reply to  swimdoc
8 years ago

I’m hoping for a 200 im à la 2011 wc 🙂 since that day I never got so excited about a race again

swimdoc
Reply to  anonymus
8 years ago

That would be great to watch.

Swimmer A
8 years ago

In case anyone missed Phelps’ 2 breast this morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzcZfC7ZhOA

Italian fan
8 years ago

@We love Phelps: Your enthusiasm for Phelps is at the n.1 of the ranking too.. lol
Anyway it’s a pity not see a 100 and 200 free from this Phelps.
My pick is: 1.44.8 in the 200 free; 47.9-48.0 in 100 free.

We Love Phelps
8 years ago

if MP swim the 2 free he could be in 1:43-1:44 range…easily win the world tittle

anonymus
Reply to  We Love Phelps
8 years ago

hes probably physically strong enough to go under 1.44.2 but dont forget he had a mediocre free split in the 200 im. i wonder what was the reason, it has to be something technical though so i think hed swim around 1.46.0 now

Italian fan
8 years ago

@Sven: good pick overall.
You only missed the first split: 30.1 for Phelps at 50m instead 31.2 you predicted.

Nice to see a Phelps so engaged even for an off-event and at the end of an already great Champ.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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