Caeleb Dressel (left) and Anthony Ervin (right) will swim 50 free prelims today and should find themselves battling again in the final. Current photo via Mike Lewis/Ola Vista Photography
The top four men in the 100 free qualified for Rio last night, and one thing was clear– Anthony Ervin is throwing down some serious speed. He was out in 22.37 last night in the 100, more than three tenths ahead of Nathan Adrian. Caeleb Dressel is still a serious contender for a spot on the team, but now the top two isn’t so clear. Adrian and Dressel? Adrian and Ervin?? Dressel and Ervin?! Something else?!? We can’t forget that last night’s 3rd place finisher, Ryan Held, split an 18.1 at ACCs this year with a flying start in yards.
WOMEN’S 800 FREE
Yes, we’ve heard a bunch about Katie Ledecky. Let’s focus on who might finish somewhat close to her– Leah Smithhas had an amazing meet thus far, though she’s been more of a 200-400 range swimmer of late. Becca Mann is putting all of her energy in this event, and has the chops to get under 8:20 (we think Smith does too, but maybe not in prelims). Cierra Runge looked great in the 200 free, but her 400 was off. And, of course, there’s American open water star Haley Anderson who’s already punched her ticket to Rio in OW.
MEN’S 100 FLY
Phelps’ 200 fly looked like it hurt, well, all three times he swam it. His 200 IM has looked much sharper, as he’s been able to coast into the wall for prelims and semis. Tom Shields already looks to have made the team in the 200 fly, and he gets to swim his better event, the 100, today. Jack Conger wasn’t able to come back on Shields fast enough in the 200 fly final and settled for third, but he certainly isn’t out of the conversation for an individual spot in this race, too.
WOMEN’S 200 BACK
This is Missy Franklin‘s event, and she showed in her 200 free that her longer races are much stronger for her this week. She faltered again in the 100 free, failing to make the final, but her efforts in the 200 free final illustrate her determination. She knows how to swim this race, and the world record holder should be under 2:10 for an easy move to semifinals. We’ll see Maya Dirado in action again, looking to add a third individual event to her schedule, and Elizabeth Beisel does show up on the start list for this event despite suffering a broken pinky finger and torn ligament from a couple days ago. A slew of NCAA stars and rising young talent file in behind these three, and you can expect Cal girls Kathleen Baker and Amy Bilquist to move up after their impressive 100 back performances the other night.
Is it bad that I kind of want Adrian to not make the team in the 50 again? Sort of want him focused on the 100…and I want Ervin to get an individual swim real bad.
Hey Ervin, any idea why Katie Baker decided not to swim the 2Back? She could have been a dark horse if one of the top 2 faltered and it doesn’t look like she has other events. Or did she swim it and I just can’t find her in the results?
Track
7 years ago
50 free should be an awesome battle between Adrian, Dressel, and Ervin. Ervin could surprise after seeing how fast his first 50 of his 100 was yesterday. Held could also sneak in, but Ervin looks great, Adrian does too, And based off a huge PB from Dressel in the 100 we could see him better his 21.53
Prince Namor
7 years ago
Does any one know whether the 26 person limit on the men’s/women’s OT rosters includes or doesn’t include the 10K Open Water swimmers already named to the team? FINA Bylaw 9.3.6.9 (Entries/Swimming): “Each Member may enter a maximum number of twenty-six (26) men and twenty-six (26) women swimmers.” FINA Bylaw 9.3.7.1 (Open Water Swimming/Entries): “For the Olympic Games and the World Championships each member may enter a maximum of two (2) males and two (2) females per individual event.” It is not clear to me from the verbiage whether the Open Water swimmers count towards the 26, or in addition to the 26.
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.
Is it bad that I kind of want Adrian to not make the team in the 50 again? Sort of want him focused on the 100…and I want Ervin to get an individual swim real bad.
(Though I <3 you Nathan, smooches.)
Rooting for Bilquist in the 200back
Hey Ervin, any idea why Katie Baker decided not to swim the 2Back? She could have been a dark horse if one of the top 2 faltered and it doesn’t look like she has other events. Or did she swim it and I just can’t find her in the results?
50 free should be an awesome battle between Adrian, Dressel, and Ervin. Ervin could surprise after seeing how fast his first 50 of his 100 was yesterday. Held could also sneak in, but Ervin looks great, Adrian does too, And based off a huge PB from Dressel in the 100 we could see him better his 21.53
Does any one know whether the 26 person limit on the men’s/women’s OT rosters includes or doesn’t include the 10K Open Water swimmers already named to the team? FINA Bylaw 9.3.6.9 (Entries/Swimming): “Each Member may enter a maximum number of twenty-six (26) men and twenty-six (26) women swimmers.” FINA Bylaw 9.3.7.1 (Open Water Swimming/Entries): “For the Olympic Games and the World Championships each member may enter a maximum of two (2) males and two (2) females per individual event.” It is not clear to me from the verbiage whether the Open Water swimmers count towards the 26, or in addition to the 26.
It does not.