2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Day 3 Finals Preview

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

Tonight marks the third session of semifinals and finals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Event finals will include the the men’s 200 free, the women’s 100 back, the men’s 100 back, and the women’s 100 breast. Semifinals tonight will be the women’s 200 free, the men’s 200 fly, and the women’s 200 IM.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Semifinals

Katie Ledecky will be the top seed going into tonight’s 200 free semifinals after her very fast, but easily controlled top seed swim this morning.

Yesterday in the 400 free, Ledecky (who most likely is not fully tapered like she will be in Rio) swam a 1:56.28 200 split, so, clearly, she has her eye on taking the win in this final tomorrow night.

One of her likely challengers will be Virginia’s Leah Smith, who pulled out a nearly superhuman 400 free last night and qualified second in the event this morning.

Melanie Margalis of Saint Petersburg put up the third-fastest time this morning on the heels of a very successful Indy Pro Swim at the beginning of the month, and NBAC’s Cierra Runge has looked in good shape all week.

And, of course, lurking in the semis will be three members of the 2012 Olympic gold medal team: Allison Schmitt (4th seed: 1:57.77), Missy Franklin (7th seed: 1:58.61), and Shannon Vreeland (6th seed: 1:58.29).

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

Texas men Jack Conger, Townley Haasand Clark Smith will show off their mid-distance prowess in the final of the men’s 200 free tonight, after qualifying second through fourth yesterday.

But, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 800 free relay Conor Dwyer is the one to beat going into the final tonight, after coming in .21 ahead of Conger in the semis.

As always, despite his groin injury on day one, all eyes will be on Ryan Lochte in the finals of this event. Lochte qualified fifth yesteday, well under a second back from #1 Dwyer. 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 200 back Tyler Clary came in just behind Lochte last night.

A ton of Olympic spots (a possible six) are up for grabs here in this final, so seventh seed Gunnar Bentz and eighth seed Jonathan Roberts (another Texas man) will have extra motivation to outswim the three Olympic veterans and the three top-four up-and-comers.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

Last night, Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga became the fifth-fastest American in history in the 100 back, putting up a 59.16.

Also under 1:00 were SwimMAC’s Kathleen BakerCal’s Amy Bilquist, and Mizzou’s Hannah Stevens. 

While the middle lanes have the semifinals speed, the outside lanes pack in the starpower. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin and three-time Olympic gold medalist (12 time Olympic medalist) Natalie Coughlin will be in lanes 1 and 8 for the final.

While some speculated that Franklin might drop the 100 back to focus on the 200 free (or vice versa), she has confirmed that she is swimming both events.

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

Yesterday, a reportedly unshaved Ryan Murphy threw down a wicked 100m backstroke to put up the top time in the world this year in the first semifinal. He was a 52.28 at the finish, just shy of his 52.18 personal best.

However, it is longtime-on-the-verge-of-stardom David Plummer who comes into the final with the fastest time, a 52.12 that ranks him the fifth fastest 100 backstroker of all time.

Like in the women’s 100 back, the 2012 Olympic champion is in danger of being unseated. Here, defending gold medallist Matt Grevers comes in ranked third from his 52.64.

The three were well ahead of the rest of the field, and the trio will battle it out tonight for the two Olympic slots.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

There will likely be a changing of the guard in the women’s 100 breaststroke starting tonight. Although fourth seed Jessica Hardya 2012 double Olympic gold medalist in the 400 free and medley relays, and 2012 Olympian Breeja Larson are lurking in the field, the newcomers have the advantage going into the final.

And leading the charge will be defending NCAA champion Lilly King, an Indiana incoming sophomore who made a huge statement at NCAAs this year by taking down the short course NCAA, U.S. Open, and American marks.

Her biggest challengers will be Molly Hannis of Tennessee and SwimMAC’s defending Pan Am Games gold medalist Katie Meili

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Semifinals

Michael Phelps went a very easy 1:56.68 this morning, and, if he has any swim on lockdown this week, it’s this 200 fly. He shut it down this morning after the first 100, and today was the first time in the history of Phelps’ career that he’s ever taken the top seed after prelims at the Olympic Trials.

The real race here will be for second tomorrow, and it will be packed; the next nine swimmers came in within a second of each other. Tonight, the field will take shape a little more, but it will be a real race to make it into the top eight. Pace Clark, Jack Conger, Chase Kalisz, Kyle Higgins, Tyler Clary, Michael Kleuh, Adam Hinshaw, Justin Wright, Andrew Seliskar, Zach Harting, and Tom Shields all came in the 1:56.90 to 1:57.96 range.

Women’s 200 IM – Semifinals

This morning, Maya DiRado, who already made her way onto the Olympic team with a win in the 400m IM, took the top seed in the women’s 200m IM with a smooth 2:11.66.

Also well in the mix were Cal’s Caitlin Leverenz, Saint Petersburg’s Melanie Margalisand Stanford’s NCAA champion and short course American record holder Ella Eastin

2016 Olympic team member in the 400 IM Elizabeth Beisel was a no-show this morning after fracturing her finger in the warmup pool.

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Back2Back
7 years ago

BTW – as a backstroker (go figure), I am feeling pretty good about this stroke for the men – and for what it portends for the 4MR leadoff.

Back2Back
Reply to  Back2Back
7 years ago

I’m not discounting how the BR leg is looking either mind you…

MrsTarquinBiscuitbarrel
7 years ago

Such a pleasure to see the Trials Brock Turner-free!

EliteSwimmer99
7 years ago

Looks like Phelps’ Semifinal will not be aired on TV given that NBC just runs from 8-9pm EDT again. How can I watch this? Being from Canada, I can’t watch the webcast due to the authorization requirement (even though I have a Canadian TV provider that includes NBC. This is such garbage. Any help?

Charinka
Reply to  EliteSwimmer99
7 years ago

Use the nbc app!

shehulkswim
7 years ago

fact of the matter is all of these swimmers worked hard to get where they are so i dont want to hear anyone saying “so and so deserves this because they wroked so hard for it.” just remember to respect all of the athletes and enjoy the acomplishments for what they are. most of all remember, it’s just a game. go usa!

John
Reply to  shehulkswim
7 years ago

Agree but it’d be nice to see a WR. I was thinking earlier this could be the first Olympics swimming with no WRs. Peaty and Ledecky have the best chances.

shehulkswim
Reply to  John
7 years ago

Swimming has gotten so much faster it is definitely going to be tough. How many of the WR from London came out of no where though? There could certainly be a few unexpected records.

Steve Nolan
7 years ago

If Haase’s head is OK – I mean that literally, she got stuff dropped on it recently – I could see her sneaking up in breast.

Back2Back
7 years ago

In track and field, world class runners in the 800M try to ‘flow’ the first lap before letting loose for the second 400M. I don’t think there will be any FLOW in the first 100M of the 2FR – I predict under WR pace at 100M…and then we’ll see who can hang on…

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Back2Back
7 years ago

Rooney’s crazy fast opening 100 in prelims was still a second or so off WR pace. I could see everybody going out that fast, but if anybody is out ahead of that they’re gonna be in trouble on the way back.

Back2Back
Reply to  Steve Nolan
7 years ago

Speaking only for the TX boys (yeah – 4 of them) – I know the work they have put in under Eddie and have a feeling one of them is going to bust a good one tonight! Trust the work…good things will come to the bold…

Reider
7 years ago

I’d love to see the duo Conger/Bentz really tear it up tonight, getting that relay spot (in Conger’s case even an individual one, but I don’t really see it happening) AND a lane in the 200Fly final tomorrow night.
That would be perfect, just perfect

Captain Awesome
7 years ago

I feel like the men’s 200 free is either going to be spectacular or hugely anticlimactic.

PVSFree
Reply to  Captain Awesome
7 years ago

Even if the times aren’t good I’m sure it’ll be a good race

Captain Awesome
Reply to  PVSFree
7 years ago

The race between the Texas guys alone should be pretty good in itself. I feel like there’s a bit of a question mark over Lochte though. I think he’s got a pretty good chance of making the relay but the individual looks shaky. His last length yesterday looked like he was struggling after that long underwater off the last turn which he didn’t used to.

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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