2016 U.S. Olympic Trials: Day Seven Prelims Preview

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

This will be a short one folks, in terms of events at least. The last prelims session is only two events, one of which is the women’s 50 free prelims. The other is the men’s 1500 free, which has ten heats.

PRELIMS

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

  • Natalie Coughlin and Amy Bilquist, two of the fastest seeds, have scratched this event. Abbey Weitzeil, who won the 100 free last night with a best time of 53.28, is a favorite in this event. Weitzeil is the SCY American record holder in this event, and has been taking the 100 free out fast this week. She’s been out as fast as 25.38 (her first 50 to the feet in the 100 free final), and her lifetime best of 24.72 will probably get smashed this weekend. Simone Manuel and Madison Kennedy have been looking sharp on the front half of their races, too, and 2016 NCAA 50 free champion and NCAA record holder Olivia Smoliga should get under 25 for the first time in her career.

MEN’S 1500 FREE

  • We’ll get to see our 2016 Open Water Olympians Sean Ryan and Jordan Wilimovsky in action this morning, along with 400 free champion Connor Jaeger, who holds the American record in this event. NCAP’s Andrew Gemmell, who trains with Katie Ledecky, will race Ryan and Wilimovsky in heat 9 of 10 along with Taylor Abbott, a young rising open water star. Michael McBroom has been under 15 minutes as have Wilimovsky and Jaeger, and we’ll see what Clark Smith can do in a mile.

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Mikeh
7 years ago

I don’t know why Natalie Coughlin scratched. She might have had a good swim and possibly made it.

Peter
7 years ago

Come on man! Ivy Martin in the 50. She was a surprise semi-finalist in the 100 fly, and showed decent, if not blazing speed in the front half of an otherwise disappointing 100 Free. She’s the third seed for heaven’s sake. She’s got as good a chance as anybody else.

Peter Lee
Reply to  Peter
7 years ago

in a 50, sure anything is possible, but I think the top 3 are Weitzel, Kennedy and Manuel. Vollmer might sneak in there as well.

irviner
Reply to  Peter Lee
7 years ago

Vollmer’s been having trouble reproducing her prelim/semi times in finals. If she can maintain or drop time at finals, she’ll be right in the thick of things.

swimdoc
7 years ago

Memo to Clark Smith: take it a little easier on the front half.

Billabong
Reply to  swimdoc
7 years ago

I want to see him take out the first 400m in 3.51, and then just repeat 59.5’s. To quote the one and only Tim Riggins, “Texas Forever”.

Admin
Reply to  Billabong
7 years ago

^^^^^^^^^^THIS

Back2Back
Reply to  swimdoc
7 years ago

I hear that Ready rhymes with Eddie. Eddie Reese has a plan for Clark and as long as he follows that plan – we will see something special in the 1500. Hook E’m Horns!

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  Back2Back
7 years ago

I’ll hold you responsible for my disappointment if this doesn’t happen

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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