2016 U.S. Olympic Trials: Day 5 Finals Preview

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

• Sunday June 26th-Sunday July 3rd, 2016
• Century Link Center – Omaha, Nebraska
• Friday-Sunday – Prelims – 11:00 am EDT   Finals – 7:45 pm EDT
• SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
• NBC Televison Coverage Schedule
• Psych Sheets
• Live results

Day 5 prelims saw Abbey Weitzeil scorch a personal best 53.58 to lead the women’s 100 free, making her one of 4 women under 54 in prelims. In the men’s 200 IM, Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps cruised to a pair of 1:58s, and we’ll see each of them swim in lane 4 of semifinals tonight. Here are a few things to watch out for in tonight’s seven races:

FINALS

• MEN’S 200 BREAST
  • After setting the U.S. Open Record last night with his 2:07.81, Kevin Cordes will get another chance to chase the American and World Records in the 200 breast final. He’ll have his hands full in a loaded heat that includes Josh Prenot, Will Licon, Nic Fink, Andrew Wilson and Cody Miller. Both Prenot and Cordes were under World Record pace through the 150 last night, and we could see them push each other under the mark as they go head-to-head in finals. Prenot and Licon, of note, scratched out of the 200 IM altogether to focus on this race.
• WOMEN’S 200 FLY
  • Cammile Adams, Hali Flickinger, and Cassidy Bayer all head into tonight’s 200 fly final with times in the 2:07-range. Adams, who represented the U.S. in this event in the 2012 Olympics, swam a smooth 2:07.31 to lead the pack last night. 100 fly champion Kelsi Worrell will also be in the mix, and will try to add this event to her Olympic schedule.
• MEN’S 100 FREE
  • In last night’s semifinals of the men’s 100 free, Olympic champion Nathan Adrian clocked the 2nd fastest time in the world this year with a 47.91. Adrian looks like the favorite for the top spot, but a close battle is lined up behind him. Ryan Held and Caeleb Dressel come into finals with a pair of 48-mids after each set a best time last night. Veteran Olympians Jimmy Feigen and Anthony Ervin will look to add another Olympic berth tonight after competing in the London Olympics.

SEMIFINALS

• WOMEN’S 100 FREE
  • Abbey Weitzeil impressed this morning with a personal best 53.58 to lead prelims of the women’s 100 free, and will look to better that against Amanda Weir, Dana Vollmer, and Simone Manuel, who all swam sub-54 in prelims. Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin were outside of the top 8 this morning, and will look to move up to earn a spot in finals.
• MEN’S 200 BACK
  • Cal teammates Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley will go head-to-head in the men’s 200 back semis. Look for them to post some impressive times after their stellar performances in the 100 back earlier in the meet. Defending Olympic champion Tyler Clary will swim in semifinal 1 against Dynamo’s Michael Taylor, who dropped an impressive 53.77 in the 100 back earlier in the meet.
• WOMEN’S 200 BREAST
  • World Championship silver medalist Micah Lawrence leads the field heading into semifinals of the women’s 200 breast with her 2:26.27, half a second ahead of Texas A&M’s Bethany Galat. Galat is having a great meet so far, with best times in the 100 breast, 400 IM, and 200 breast. Also featured in this race will be Lilly King, the American Record holder in the yards version of this event, and 2012 Olympian Breeja Larson.
• MEN’S 200 IM
  • The men’s 200 IM semifinals will feature Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the two heavy favorites in this event. Both should easily make it into the final, after both cruised to times in the 1:58-range this morning. In finals, Phelps will race Jay Litherland, who took 2nd ahead of Lochte in the 400 IM on day 1. Look for Litherland to earn a top 8 spot and try to shake things up in the final.