It’s day 2 of the 2015 U.S. Nationals and we’re in for another exciting morning of fast swimming. Both the men and women will swim the 100 back and 200 free, with the men’s 200 fly closing the session.
First up for the women, some big names in the women’s 100 back will include Belinda Hocking, Olivia Smoliga, Clara Smiddy, and Courtney Bartholomew. The 200 free will feature Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt. Schmitt will look to rebound after a tough 400 free finish, but 17-year-old Katie Drabot and Team USA relay standout Megan Romano could be tough to beat.
The first event for the men, the 200 free, is headlined by 18-year-old Townley Haas. Behind him, there are several men that could move up to make the final. David Nolan, Jack Conger, Caeleb Dressel, and Zane Grothe come to mind. The 2012 Olympic silver medalist, Nick Thoman, comes in as the top seed in the 100 back. He’ll have to fend off Jacob Pebley, Eugene Godsoe, and international veteran Arkady Vyatchanin.
Finally, Michael Phelps will swim the 200 fly prelims as the 8th seed. He’ll have to take on Jack Conger, the American record holder in yards, in his heat. Andrew Seliskar, Clark Smith, and 2013 National Champion Tom Luchsinger will also look to make a splash here.
2015 U.S. NATIONALS
- Thursday, August 6 – Monday, August 10
- Northside Swim Center – San Antonio, Texas
- Prelims 9AM/Finals 6PM (Central Daylight Time)
- Full Coverage
- Psych Sheet
- Live Stream Link
- Live Results
- Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet
Women’s 100m Backstroke
One of the biggest surprises in this event came from a familiar face, but not one we’re used to seeing in the backstroke events. After winning the 100 fly last night, Kelsi Worrell scorched her previous best in the 100 back to make the championship final. She came to the meet with a 1:02.76, but raced to a 1:00.38 in prelims.
That was the fastest swim up to the circle seeds, until 17-year-old Claire Adams dropped a 1:00.08 to lead prelims. Georgia Davies posted a 1:00.11 in the last heat to take 2nd overall, while Ali Deloof came in just behind her at 1:00.35. That left Worrell 4th, still a finalist in an event we haven’t seen her do a lot of damage in.
Behind Worrell, Olivia Smoliga (1:00.43) and Hannah Stevens (1:00.65) took the 5th and 6th seeds. USA National Teamer Clara Smiddy tied with Danielle Galyer for 7th in 1:01.10.
Men’s 200m Freestyle
Texas Longhorn Jack Conger had a great swim in the men’s 200 free prelims, dropping 2 seconds to post a 1:47.62. He’s got the top time headed into finals, followed by Blake Pieroni (1:48.10) and Frank Dyer (1:48.64).
Some top junior talent will join them in the final. Maxime Rooney qualified 4th after dropping a second to clock a 1:48.68. Fresh off a bronze in the 400 free last night, Townley Haas grabbed 5th in 1:48.74.
Trevor Carroll (1:48.78), Michael Wynalda (1:48.79), and Tom Kremer (1:48.88) rounded out the top 8. Zane Grothe, last night’s 400 free champion, just missed the final. He was 0.01 behind Kremer to swim a 1:48.89 for 9th.
Men’s 100m Backstroke
With the only sub-54 of the morning, Junya Koga took top seed in the men’s 100 back with a 53.63. Nick Thoman will swim alongside him to challenge for the win tonight. Thoman was 2nd overall in 54.03.
Alabama’s Luke Kaliszak dropped 2.5 seconds to post a 54.32 for 3rd over international backstroke star Arkady Vyatchanin (54.34). Auburn’s Kyle Darmody raced to the wall behind them in 54.43 for 5th seed.
There was a tie for 6th place between Cal’s Jacob Pebley and Florida’s Jack Blyzinskyj. Both men hit the wall at 54.58. Georgia’s Taylor Dale dropped a half second to take the last spot in the final at 54.69.
Eugene Godsoe narrowly missed the final, 9th in 54.72. Michael Andrew will get a second swim after placing 14th in 55.34.
Women’s 200m Freestyle
The defending Olympic gold medalist in this event, Allison Schmitt, topped the prelims with a 1:58.12. Schmitt will look for redemption after last night’s 400 free final, but this has been a much stronger event for her lately.
Behind Schmitt, Georgia’s Hali Flickinger took 2nd seed in 1:58.54. She was the silver medalist in the 400 free. Sarah Henry (1:59.42), Katie Drabot (1:59.47), and Madisyn Cox (1:59.90) joined her under 2:00 to make the final.
It took a 2:00.51 to make the top 8. Haley Lips swam a best time to nearly swim sub-2:00 in 2:00.08. Hannah Cox, a finalist in the 400, swam to 7th in 2:00.43. Alexa Davis (2:00.51) grabbed the 8th spot.
Men’s 200m Butterfly
He’s back. If there was any doubt about it, Michael Phelps just threw some crazy shade on that doubt. Phelps swam a 1:55.15 to move into 10th in the world for 2015. That was just in prelims. He showed some great front half speed in his splits (54.85/1:00.30), leaving room to improve on the back half.
Phelps wasn’t the only swimmer to impress in prelims. Jack Conger went head-to-head with him in their heat, blazing to a 1:56.19 for 2nd seed. That was Conger’s 2nd race of the morning, going 2-for-2 in best times.
Conger’s teammate Clark Smith will come in as 4th seed with a 1:57.59. Pace Clark dropped over a second to earn himself the 3rd seed in between them at 1:57.39.
Team USA’s Andrew Seliskar (1:58.58) qualified 6th just behind Dakota Hodgson (1:58.38). Seliskar comes to this meet after representing the Americans at World University Games. He was also a finalist in the 400 I.M. last night.
Spain’s Carlos Peralta Gallego was 7th in 1:58.81. Another Texas swimmer rounded out the final, as John Martens was 8th in 1:58.82.
Seliskar off so far. I guess swimming 1:55’s in-season takes its toll 😉
Jack Conger’s 200 free is another example of a swimmer not at Worlds outperforming a member of the World Champ team. He swam faster than Reed Malone and Michael Klueh did in the 800 free relay. Occurrences like this weaken our world team, and our reputation, but they also diminish the significance of being on the American team – it doesn’t mean you’re the best anymore, just that you happened to be in the right place at the right time to be selected. It’s not just this event, but many others – Kelsi Worrell, Katie Meili,…….
don’t forget his 47 split in the 100 on one of the relays at WUGs
Yes, it seems like there were a lot of people not at WC who could be and people at WC not swimming in races they could’ve won. However, from the races I’ve seen the only one America would’ve actually won if they fielded a full squad is probably the men’s 4x200free. If Cordes have beaten Peaty? Absolutely not. Would Murphy have won the 100back? Given his finals race, I’d say probably not. Would Meli have beaten Efimova? …Possible, but unlikely. Would Worrell have beaten Sjos…. let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The US men would’ve made the 4×1 finals, but given Adrian’s form probably would’ve knocked Italy out for the bronze at best.
The take away is the team… Read more »
I share your sentiments on the 400IM. It’s a real shame that Hagino is out, and he might have a slow start to next year, as a broken elbow takes a long time to heal. I dont know what is afflicting Clary, but he has been well off form in the 2 back. Something has gone wrong with the Japanese men. Seto under performed expectations in the 200fly, and completely caved in the 200IM. The 400IM looks pretty daunting for a man in his kind of shape. That Leaves Kalisz and Dan Wallace, the hard drinking man from Scotland(Florida Gator). He looks like he is in great shape and will provide stiff competition for Kalisz. Both could be sub 4:09.
you don’t get Conger. he doesn’t swim well when he has to. he is best at time trials, in slow heats, outside lanes, relays…when there is NO pressure. he wouldn’t be able to do it on the World stage……yet. hopefully, someday. look what he did in the 100 free flat start vs the relay! look at his 100 and 200 fly time trials at Texas.
Relays are a ton of pressure though. So I feel like he definitely has the capability to swim fast under pressure. I’m sure we’ll find out sooner rather than later.
Yea, you’re right. It’s just shocking that he would be 3 tenths of a second faster in an empty-pool time trial at the beginning of a meet than he would during his 14th swim over a 3-day meet in a tightly contested strategic race.
He’s also the first person in the history of swimming to go faster than his flat-start in a relay so that sends up red flags as well.
I’ll have a chat with him and see if we can’t get the ol’ ticker straightened out, he’s too talented to squander it like he has been!
He never did a 100 fly time trial at Texas. And your comments are absurd. He’s best with no pressure? Anchoring a 40.9 to win the 4med relay at NCAAs is no pressure? A 47.7 at WUGs is no pressure? Going a 1:56.1 two lanes over from Phelps is no pressure?
I certainly believe he’s shown that he’s able to perform on relays better than individually at the moment, but to say he’s only good in outside lanes, slow heats, and time trials is laughable.
Nice drop by Kaliszak in the back – good sign of things to come for the Soph to be
Conger with a real strong 28.78 last 50 for his 200 fly.
I think it’s going to be a good race tonight…..Phelps 1:54.5 and Conger a 1:55.0
i was expecting seliskar to be in the mix too, but he isnt anywhere near the 155 high he had at the start of the year
Something must have happened with Seliskar. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear about something that impacted his training because he is way off this meet.
He’s already been to one major meet recently. It seems he has messed up his taper.
Conger was at WUGs too.
No way was that anything close to full tilt for Michael and 1:55 low. He’ll challenge the world best time tonite. Looking forward to it!
Conger at 1:47…he is looking more and more like a guy who is going to be very valuable on both free relays in Rio. An incredible talent.
And Conger 1:56.1 in fly — in the same session. That’s a tough double
I agree. He has a great chance to make that relay team.
Phelps in 1.55.15 very impressive! i think he can go even faster in finals
I hope so, but he looked a bit tired on that last 50. My guess is he may be good for a 1:54.5 in the final.
he did look tired but i think he actually split under 31 which isnt bad for a 200 fly.
Hurry up Allison, the Kevin Cordes show is on…
No Nolan in the 200 Free?
42nd in 1:51.89. Dissapointing, but far from his best event.
After his 100 free relay leadoff that is very disappointing.
One more time… SCY is not the same than LCM thats life
Think Ole 99 was talking about his lead off at this meet yesterday. In long course. Just to clarify in case