2016 U.S Olympic Trials: Day Two Finals Live Recap

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
• Monday heat sheets
• Live results

After last night’s twists, turns, and upsets, the anticipation leading up to day two finals has been huge, and with it brings a storm of talent in the women’s 100m butterfly, men’s 100m breaststroke, and women’s 400m freestyle.

Kelsi Worrell will be looking to take down 2012 Olympic gold medallist Dana Vollmer in the 100m butterfly. In Vollmer’s absence, Worrell has stepped into the spotlight, but Vollmer is hungry to get back to the number one spot on the American roster. The two have been toying with sub 57-second swims in both prelims and finals, which puts the U.S Open record at jeopardy tonight.

Last night in semifinals Kevin Cordes broke the American record in the 100m breaststroke with a 58.94 performance. That time ranks him third in the world, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. If Cordes can hold on, the real race will be for that second spot. Cody Miller‘s got a target on his back with a ton of hungry young talent looking to take him down.

After 200 meters this morning, Katie Ledecky turned off the jets in her 400m freestyle. Tonight, Ledecky is likely going to take the crowd for a ride down world record lane. Every time Ledecky swims this race close to taper, the world record is threatened. Tonight will be no different. Look for Leah Smith and Allison Schmitt to fight for that second roster spot.

Along with the six roster spots on the line, there will be plenty of semifinal action that will set the tone for tomorrow’s finals.

WOMEN’S 100m BUTTERFLY FINALS

Top seed: Dana Vollmer (56.90)
World record: 55.64 – Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden)
American record: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer
U.S Open record: 56.38 – Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden)
U.S Nationals record: 56.42 – Dana Vollmer
JR World record: 56.99 – Penny Oleksiak (Canada)
2012 Winning Time: 56.50 – Dana Vollmer 

Although there was plenty hype leading up to the women’s 100m butterfly, it undersold the actual hype that was featured during the women’s 100m butterfly showdown between 2012 Olympic gold medallist Dana Vollmer and Kelsi Worrell.

Out fast as she usually is, Vollmer turned first at the 50-meter wall with both her and Worrell already establishing themselves as the clear leaders. Coming off the wall Worrell began to slowly but surely close in on Vollmer.

In the last 15-meters, Vollmer began to tighten up slightly and Worrell flew past her, putting almost a body-length between the two as she stretched out to the wall to punch in her ticket to Rio with a time of 56.48.

Worrell’s last 50 was fast, in fact she split under 30-seconds coming home with a swift 29.97 split to secure her first place position.

Although Vollmer finished behind Worrell, she still managed to touch in for second and will also likely be heading to the Rio Games.

Vollmer was a 57.21 at the touch, still over a full second ahead of third place Kendyl Stewart who grabbed third in 58.22.

Worrell’s time now vaults her to second in the world behind only world record holder Sarah Sjostrom.

1. Kelsi Worrell (56.48)
2. Dana Vollmer (57.21)
3. Kendyl Stewart (58.22)
4. Cassidy Bayer (58.35)
5. Sarah Gibson (58.79)
6. Claire Donahue (58.81)
7. Hellen Moffitt (59.23)
8. Hali Flickinger (59.31)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 200m FREESTYLE SEMIFINALS

Top seed: Conor Dwyer (1:46.65)
World record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann
American record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 1:44.10 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 1:47.10 – Maxime Rooney
2012 Winning Time: 1:45.70 – Michael Phelps

Carrying their winning ways from the 2016 NCAA Championships, the Texas men will be heavily represented in tomorrow’s championship final of the men’s 200m freestyle.

In heat number one, it was all Jack Conger who rocked a swift 1:47.15 to give him the second seed overall heading into tomorrow’s final. Conger just out-touched a charging Townley Haas who rocked a 1:47.18 at the wall for third overall.

The second heat pinned Conor Dwyer against Ryan Lochte, but Clark Smith found his way into the mix and the three battled it out ahead of the rest of the field.

Dwyer was strong and controlled, Lochte was milking every little bit out of his incredible underwaters, popping up ahead and playing cat-and-mouse with both Dwyer and Smith in the middle of the pool.

On the final turn, the three were fairly even, but even Lochte’s underwater speed couldn’t hold off Dwyer and Smith. Dwyer ended up taking the final in 1:46.96 followed by Smith in 1:47.49 and Lochte in 1:47.58.

Tyler Clary, Gunnar Bentz, and Jonathan Roberts rounded out the remainder of the top eight.

Interestingly enough, four Texas swimmers will be featured in tomorrow night’s final. The only swimmers who are not from Texas are Lochte, Bentz, Dwyer and Clary.

TOP 8

1. Conor Dwyer (1:46.96)
2. Jack Conger (1:47.15)
3. Townley Haas (1:47.18)
4. Clark Smith (1:47.49)
5. Ryan Lochte (1:47.58)
6. Tyler Clary (1:47.66)
7. Gunnar Bentz (1:47.80)
8. Jonathan Roberts (1:47.84)

For official results click here.

WOMEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Top seed: Lilly King (1:06.45)
World record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania)
American record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy
U.S Open record: 1:04.45 – Jessica Hardy
U.S Nationals record: 1:05.34 – Rebecca Soni
JR World record: 1:05.39 – Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania)
2012 Winning Time: 1:05.92 – Breeja Larson

Lilly King wanted to make a statement during these semifinals, and a statement she made. During the second semifinal, it was all King on the second 50 as she trudged to the wall in a sub-1:06, 1:05.94 performance.

Molly Hannis won the first semifinal to finish second overall and secure her spot in the final. Hannis was a 1:06.24 to take down Katie Meili‘s 1:06.37 and Jessica Hardy‘s 1:06.73.

It appears as though the four swimmers will battle it out for the top two spots tomorrow night.

Regardless of tomorrow’s result, the United States will send a new group of 100m breaststrokers to the Olympic Games. Defending 2012 Trials champion Breeja Larson failed to make the final tonight, finishing ninth, and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Rebecca Soni retired following the London Games.

Sarah Haase, Andee Cottrell, Melanie Margalis, and Miranda Tucker make up the remaining finalists.

TOP 8

1. Lilly King (1:05.94)
2. Molly Hannis (1:06.24)
3. Katie Meili (1:06.37)
4. Jessica Hardy (1:06.73)
5. Sarah Haase (1:07.15)
6. Andee Cottrell (1:07.44)
7. Melanie Margalis (1:07.49)
8. Miranda Tucker (1:07.60)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE FINAL

2016 Top seed: Kevin Cordes (58.94)
World record: 57.92 – Adam Peaty (Britain)
American record: 58.96 – Eric Shanteau  58.94 – Kevin Cordes
U.S Open record: 59.01 – Mark Gangloff 58.94 – Kevin Cordes
U.S Nationals record: 59.01 – Mark Gangloff  58.94 – Kevin Cordes
JR World record: 59.64 Wang Lizhou
2012 Winning Time: 59.68 – Brendan Hansen

As expected based on their impressive prelim and semifinal swims, both Kevin Cordes and Cody Miller touched the wall ahead of the rest of the field in order to secure their spot on the American Olympic team.

Out first at the wall, Cordes turned in 27.49 with Andrew Wilson, Marcus Titus, and Cody Miller hot on his heels. As he advanced forward to the 75, he began to separate himself from them as did Miller.

With 10 meters to go, Miller creeped right up on Cordes’ shoulder, but didn’t have enough to overtake him as Cordes clocked in at 59.18 to Miller’s 59.26.

Josh Prenot passed both Wilson and Titus in order to claim the third spot. Michael Andrew was fourth in a new national age group record time of 59.81.

1. Kevin Cordes (59.18)
2. Cody Miller (59.26)
3. Josh Prenot (59.81)
4. Michael Andrew (59.82)
5. Andrew Wilson (59.97)
6. Marcus Titus (1:00.38)
7. Nic Fink (1:00.39)
8. Will Licon (1:00.61)

For official results click here.

WOMEN’S 400m FREESTYLE FINAL

Top seed: Katie Ledecky (4:02.62)
World record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
American record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Open record: 3:58.86 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Nationals record: 3:58.86 – Katie Ledecky
JR World record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
2012 Winning Time: 4:02.84 – Allison Schmitt

Katie Ledecky is going to be the headline of every article related to swim trials tonight. It’s going to talk about how Ledecky went out over two-seconds under world record pace at the 100, and how she held on to finish within roughly half-a-second of her own world record.

The real story, is that Katie Ledecky is beatable. And the woman who proved that Ledecky is in fact human: Leah Smith.

Smith went out fast, although Ledecky was about a body-length and a half ahead of Smith at the first 100, Smith maintained that position for the remainder of the race. Towards the end, she even chased down Ledecky towards the wall.

At the touch, Ledecky was 3:58.98, Smith was a 4:00.65. In major meets, Ledecky has never won by a shorter margin in the 400m freestyle.

Smith actually split a faster second 200 than Ledecky, putting up splits of 1:58.16 and 2:02.49 compared to Ledecky’s 1:56.28 and 2:02.70.

Smith’s performance now makes her the fourth fastest performer of all time in the 400m freestyle, and the second fastest (only behind Ledecky) in a textile suit.

1. Katie Ledecky (3:58.98)
2. Leah Smith (4:00.65)
3. Cierra Runge (4:07.04)
4. Lindsey Vrooman (4:08.99)
5. Allison Schmitt (4:09.25)
6. Stephanie Peacock (4:09.53)
7. Hannah Moore (4:09.54)
8. Hannah Cox (4:09.72)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 100m BACKSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Top seed: David Plummer (53.22)
World record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol
American record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol
U.S Open record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol
U.S Nationals record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol
JR World record: 53.67 – Javier Acevedo (Canada)
2012 Winning Time: 52.08 – Matt Grevers

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

Indicative of the absolute depth that the United States has in the 100m backstroke, in the second semifinal, David Plummer bettered that time with a 52.12 in order to become the fastest swimmer this season in the event.

Plummer’s time also ranks as the fifth fastest 100m backstroke ever, ranks him as the fifth fastest backstroker of all time, and sets him up nicely for tomorrow’s final.

Riding Plummer’s hip in the second semifinal was 2012 Olympic gold medallist Matt Grevers. Grevers took the third seed overall with a 52.64.

While the way Murphy and Plummer are swimming, Aaron Perisol’s 100m backstroke world record looks to be in jeopardy tomorrow night.

TOP 8

1. David Plummer (52.12)
2. Ryan Murphy (52.28)
3. Matt Grevers (52.64)
4. Jacob Pebley (53.10)
5. Michael Taylor (54.07)
6. Sean Lehane (54.08)
7. John Shebat (54.52)
8. Jake Taylor (54.63)

For official results click here.

WOMEN’S 100m BACKSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Top seed: Olivia Smoliga (59.65)
World record: 58.12 – Gemma Spofforth (Britain)
American record: 58.33 – Missy Franklin
U.S Open record: 58.67 – Missy Franklin
U.S Nationals record: 58.67 – Missy Franklin
JR World record: 59.37 – Minna Atherton (Australia)
2012 Winning Time: 58.85 – Missy Franklin

It’s not often that you say Missy Franklin and Natalie Coughlin just squeaked their way into the final, but thats exactly what happened tonight as Olivia Smoliga ran the show.

In the first semifinal Amy Bilquist came out on top with the only sub one-minute performance. Her 59.85 paved the way to give her the third seed overall.

Olivia Smoliga took absolute ownership of the second semifinal, rocketing to the wall for a 59.16 swim that puts her at the top of the list heading into tomorrow’s final. Keeping pace with Smoliga was Kathleen Baker who also posted a low 59. She was a 59.36 which gives her the other middle lane beside Smoliga tomorrow night.

Hannah Stevens was fourth overall in 1:00.07.

Missy Franklin was seventh in 1:00.45, Natalie Coughlin was eighth in 1:00.46. Grace Ariola was ninth in 1:00.49, and just three one-hundredths away from sending Natalie Coughlin’s backstroke career packing.

Smoliga and Baker have edged their way to the front of the pack for tomorrow’s final where Franklin and Coughlin will need to be significantly faster if either Olympic gold medallist has hopes of taking home another title in the 100 back.

TOP 8

1. Olivia Smoliga (59.16)
2. Kathleen Baker (59.36)
3. Amy Bilquist (59.85)
4. Hannah Stevens (1:00.07)
5. Ali DeLoof (1:00.11)
6. Clara Smiddy (1:00.29)
7. Missy Franklin (1:00.45)
8. Natalie Coughlin (100.46)

For official results click here.