2016 U.S Olympic Trials: Day Three Prelims Live Recap

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

After an eventful first few days of competition it’s finally time to see Michael Phelps return to Olympic trials action. Phelps will be featured in the 200m butterfly final and will give us a first look into what a likely partially tapered 2016 Phelps looks like.

He’s claimed to put in work like he did before Beijing, which means that if what he’s been telling the media is true, he should look smooth as a hot knife cutting through butter today.

Although the Phelps gravy train is claiming the focus of the morning, the women’s 200m freestyle is going to be a fun event to watch. Katie Ledecky threw down a monster first 200 in her 400m freestyle yesterday, demonstrating that she has speed heading into today.

Toss in Maya DiRado, who already made the team in the 400m IM, into the 200m IM heats, and things this morning are going to get toasty.

WOMEN’S 200m FREESTYLE

2016 Top seed: Katie Ledecky (1:54.43)
World record: 1:52.98 – Frederica Pellegrini (Italy)
American record: 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt
U.S Open record: 1:54.40 – Allison Schmitt
U.S Nationals record: 1:54.40 – Allison Schmitt
JR World record: 1:56.12 – Shen Duo (China)
2012 Winning Time: 1:54.40 – Allison Schmitt

Katie Ledecky continued her freestyle domination here at the 2016 U.S Olympic Trials with a very fast, but easily controlled 200m freestyle that took the top seed overall heading into tonight’s semifinals.

Ledecky was a 1:55.60 at the touch in the final heat to beat Leah Smith. For the second time this meet, Smith closed on Ledecky. She finished almost a second behind her in 1:56.47, but began to creep up on her hip during the last 50 after Ledecky rocketed to a body-length and change lead at the 100.

Melanie Margalis won heat 10, taking down Missy Franklin and Simone Manuel en route to the third fastest time of the morning. Margalis was a 1:57.61, Franklin was a 1:58.61 for seventh overall, Manuel was a 1:59.27 for 10th overall.

Seed fourth is Olympic champion Allison Schmitt who won the first of the circle seeded heats with a smooth 1:57.77.

TOP 16

  1. Katie Ledecky (1:55.60)
  2. Leah Smith (1:56.47)
  3. Melanie Margalis (1:57.61)
  4. Allison Schmitt (1:57.77)
  5. Cierra Runge (1:58.11)
  6. Shannon Vreeland (1:58.29)
  7. Missy Franklin (1:58.61) – Tie
  8. Hali Flickinger (1:58.61) – Tie
  9. Sarah Gibson (1L59.19)
  10. Simone Manuel (1:59.27)
  11. Katie Drabot (1:59.28)
  12. Karlee bispo (1:59.29)
  13. Chelsea Chenault (1:59.67)
  14. Katie McLaughlin (1:59.76)
  15. Mallory Comerford (1:59.78)
  16. Sarah Henry (2:00.00)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 200m BUTTERFLY

2016 Top seed: Michael Phelps (1:52.94)
World record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
American record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 1:55.92 – Andrew Seliskar 1:52.20 – Michael Phelps
2012 Winning Time: 1:53.65 – Michael Phelps

In his first swim of these trials, Michael Phelps was smooth as can be in order to take the top seed heading into tonight’s semifinals. After 100-meters, Phelps had already given himself a body-length lead over the rest of the field. Out in 54.49, he came back in a 1:02.19 in order to drop a 1:56.68.

Phelps shut things down after the first 100, and on the last 25 it appeared as though he was tightening up slightly. Altogether, his race looked easy and controlled, a great sign heading into semifinals.

This is the first time in the history of Phelps career that he’s ever taken the top seed after prelims at the Olympic Trials. Previously, his best prelims placing had been second.

Pace Clark of Georgia was the second fastest qualifier behind Phelps in 1:56.90. His Texas rival Jack Conger grabbed third overall with a 1:57.33 performance over Chase Kalisz‘s 1:57.34.

TOP 16

  1. Michael Phelps (1:56.68)
  2. Pace Clark (1:56.90)
  3. Jack Conger (1:57.33)
  4. Chase Kalisz (1:57.34)
  5. Kyle Higgins (1:57.41)
  6. Tyler Clary (1:57.42)
  7. Michael Klueh (1:57.59)
  8. Adam Hinshaw (1:57.60)
  9. Justin Wright (1:57.68)
  10. Andrew Seliskar (1:57.77)
  11. Zach Harting (1:57.94)
  12. Tom Shields (1:57.96)
  13. Mick Litherland (1:58.43)
  14. Bobby Bollier (1:58.44)
  15. Gunnar Bentz (1:58.61)
  16. Christian McCurdy (1:58.70)

For official results click here. 

WOMEN’S 200m IM

2016 Top seed: Maya DiRado (2:08.99)
World record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu
American record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors
U.S Open record: 2:08.66 – Katinka Hosszu
U.S Nationals record: 2:09.34 – Julia Smit
JR World record: 2:11.03 – Viktoria Gunes
2012 Winning Time: 2:10.22 – Caitlin Leverenz

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.

Cal’s Caitlin Leverenz was right on that mark as well, sporting  2:11.89 at the touch to put her right up at the top with DiRado. Melanie Margalis will give Leverenz a run for her money in semifinals, and finals if they qualify. She was a 2:12.36 this morning.

Ella Eastin is in the mix as well after a 2:12.87 performance.

Both Elizabeth Beisel and Sarah Henry, who finaled in the 400m IM earlier in the meet, were no-shows this morning which opens up the field significantly.

TOP 16

  1. Maya DiRado (2:11.66)
  2. Caitlin Leverenz (2:11.89)
  3. Melanie Margalis (2:12.36)
  4. Ella Eastin (2:12.87)
  5. Madisyn Cox (2:13.48)
  6. Bethany Galat (2:13.65)
  7. Margaret Aroesty (2:13.99)
  8. Emily Cameron (2:14.21)
  9. Kaitlyn Jones (2:14.26)
  10. Kate Mills (2:14.53)
  11. Kristine Malone (2:15.06)
  12. Karlee Bispo (2:15.20)
  13. Meghan Small (2:15.22)
  14. Brooke Zeiger (2:15.50)
  15. Celina Li (2:15.60)
  16. Meaghan Raab (2:15.80)

For official results click here. 

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Dee
7 years ago

Any of those 16 men in the 200 fly ‘could’ have won British Trials…

Frank
7 years ago

Does anyone know where I can find time trial results?

shehulkswim
7 years ago

Thumbs up this comment if you want Misty to pull off a miracle and win the 100 back!

Question
7 years ago

Does anyone know what happened to Kylie Stewart? She isn’t entered in Omaha…

Answer
Reply to  Question
7 years ago

I believe she is done swimming and has a “mental” blockage. Also her new boyfriend might be the issue

Crawler
7 years ago

Phelps was great in the first 100 and tightened up at the end. He probably held back a bit in between. Whether he can be 5 sec faster in Rio, I don’t know. I still
think he should drop this event.

M L
Reply to  Crawler
7 years ago

What reason is there to think it’ll take 1:51.6 to win in Rio? Le Clos and Cseh haven’t been under 1:52 high.

Crawler
Reply to  M L
7 years ago

Cseh has been shown he can go 1.52 and I expect Le Clos can as well.

SUNY Cal
7 years ago

Poor Pelton!!!! Adding time in 200 free also. Hope she can show up for her 200bk better!!

shehulkswim
Reply to  SUNY Cal
7 years ago

terry mcguiver hasn’t helped those girls much

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  shehulkswim
7 years ago

Macgyver?

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

LOL

RUN-DMC
Reply to  shehulkswim
7 years ago

That’s understandable… all she has to work with is a match, a piece of string, and a stick of chewing gum!

Aflyer
7 years ago

Cannot see clearly, but MP’s last turn was sort of odd.

M L
Reply to  Aflyer
7 years ago

He pretty much always bends his arms like that on his last turn. I think it’s a way of resting up for the last lap.

Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

Today’s prelims were meh.
Tonight will surely be fireworks.

2Fat4Speed
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

I would expect that in 200s when there are prelims, semis and finals. The best swimmers that will impress us as fans do not have to do much to make it back. The big guns swim a moderate race and still have a cushion of two or more seconds.

About Mitch Bowmile

Mitch Bowmile

Mitch worked for 5-years with SwimSwam news as a web producer focusing on both Canadian and international content. He coached for Toronto Swim Club for four seasons as a senior coach focusing on the development of young swimmers. Mitch is an NCCP level 2 certified coach in Canada and an ASCA Level …

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