2016 U.S. Olympic Trials: Men’s Race Videos

1. Townley Haas (1:45.66)
2. Conor Dwyer (1:45.67)
3. Jack Conger (1:45.77)
4. Ryan Lochte (1:46.62)
5. Gunnar Bentz (1:47.33)
6. Clark Smith (1:47.53)
7. Tyler Clary (1:47.78)
8. Jonathan Roberts (1:49.50)

 As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: Seth Stubblefield (51.26)
World record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps
American record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 50.22 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 50.22 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 51.33 – Li Zhuhao (China)
2012 Winning Time: 51.14 – Michael Phelps

The 100m butterfly has always been that one race that Michael Phelps gives everyone a heart attack. He leaves it until the last minute to come home with the win, and why would the last time he raced on U.S soil be any different?

Phelps was out in fourth with a 26.06, but on that final 50 he came home strong. It wasn’t until the last 20-meters that Phelps really began to edge out to the front of the field in order to establish himself as the leader.

At the touch, he clocked in a 51.00. He smacked the water. He spit water out of his mouth. And then he climbed out of the water at these trials for the last time after a race.

Right behind Phelps was Tom Shields who rocked a 51.20 to secure his second swim at these Olympic Games. Phelps and Shields will both be competing in the 100 and 200m butterflies in Rio.

Seth Stubblefield of Cal and Jack Conger of Texas just missed the Olympic team. Stubblefield was a 51.24, 0.04 seconds behind Shields, and Conger was a 51.26, 0.06 seconds behind Shields.

2012 Olympian Tim Phillips was third in 51.44.

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: David Plummer (52.12)
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

With all the buzz around the pool deck centered around the men’s 100m backstroke and the possibility of a world record, stakes were high. David Plummer‘s been amazing this year, Ryan Murphy has been amazing this year, Matt Grevers is the reigning Olympic champion.

Flying across the pool on the first 50 with the fastest turnover in the entire field, Plummer took the lead turning under world record pace. Right with him was Murphy who also turned under world record pace as the two churned for home.

Plummer and Murphy began to distance themselves in the final stretch from Grevers as Jacob Pebley began to creep up. Murphy got his hand on the wall first securing his spot on the Olympic roster  in 52.26 with Plummer second just two one-hundredths behind him in 52.28.

Grevers finished third in 52.76 with Jacob Pebley also dipping under 53-seconds in 52.95.

1. Ryan Murphy (52.26)
2. David Plummer (52.28)
3. Matt Grevers (52.76)
4. Jacob Pebley (52.95)
5. Michael Taylor (54.04)
6. John Shebat (54.20)
7. Sean Lehane (54.72) – TIE
8. Jake Taylor (54.72) – TIE

For official results click here.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE

https://youtu.be/pwmA7DQozc8

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: Ryan Murphy (1:55.04)
World record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol
American record: 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol
U.S Open record: 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol
U.S Nationals record: 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol
JR World record: 1:56.79 – Li Guangyuan
2012 Winning Time: 1:54.54 – Ryan Lochte

Just like Lilly King in the breaststroke, Cal’s Ryan Murphy took the sweep in the men’s backstroke events with a 1:53.95 performance that put him in first ahead of his teammate Jacob Pebley and reigning Olympic champion Tyler Clary.

Pebley was out first in 27.04 followed closely by both Ryan Murphy and Sean Lehane. At the halfway mark Murphy had overtaken the lead, turning first in 55.46 with Pebley on his heals and Clary not far behind him.

At the 150 Murphy still had the lead as they continued in the same order with 50-meters to go. Down the stretch, Clary made a charge, but ultimately couldn’t pass Pebley. Murphy got his hand on the wall first in 1:53.95, Pebley was second in 1:54.77, Clary was third in 1:55.33.

That was Clary’s last chance to make the Olympic team, he will not be going to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

1. Ryan Murphy (1:53.95)
2. Jacob Pebley (1:54.77)
3. Tyler Clary (1:55.33)
4. Sean Lehane (1:56.44)
5. Austin Katz (1:57.20)
6. Robert Owen (1:57.48)
7. Michael Taylor (1:57.86)
8. Hennessey Stuart (1:58.69)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE

https://youtu.be/iP8jkvcLJ38

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

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.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE

https://youtu.be/PoxN_P_f5FY

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: Kevin Cordes (2:07.81)
World record: 2:07.01 – Akhiro Yamaguchi (Japan)
American record: 2:07.42 – Eric Shanteau
U.S Open record: 2:07.86 – Kevin Cordes
U.S Nationals record: 2:07.86 – Kevin Cordes 
JR World record: 2:09.84 – Anton Chupkov (Russia)
2012 Winning Time: 2:09.01 – Scott Weltz

Move over Kevin Cordes, Josh Prenot is the new American record holder in the 200m breaststroke and the second fastest performer of all time in this event.

Prenot swam the most controlled 200m breaststroke of the field, waiting patiently until the last 50 to fully strike and take down both Cordes and Texas’ Will Licon.

After the first 50, it was Cordes ahead of the field with a 28.49 split, turning in under world record pace. Prenot turned fourth in 29.21 behind Cordes, Cody Miller and BJ Johnson.

At the 100-meter mark Cordes turned in a 1:00.77, well under world record pace and almost a full second faster than Prenot who turned in 1:01.47. Once again, he was fourth to the wall, this time behind Will Licon and Miller.

On the last wall Cordes was ahead and still well under world record pace with just 50-meters to go. Prenot moved up to second at the 150, passing both Licon and Miller in order to make his move.

Prenot began to fly, splitting a 32.98 on the last 50 (almost a full second faster than anyone else in the field), and heading hard into the wall. He passed Cordes with roughly 30-meters to go and charged to the wall, chasing the world record.

Cordes and Licon began to battle for the silver, trading the second place position back-and-forth.

Prenot touched in for gold in 2:07.17 to put up the second fastest performance only behind world record holder Akhiro Yamaguchi.

Cordes managed to get has hands on the wall ahead of Licon with a 2:08.00 to Licon’s 2:08.14.

1. Josh Prenot (2:07.17) AM
2. Kevin Cordes (2:08.00)
3. Will Licon (2:08.14)
4. Andrew Wilson (2:09.35)
5. Cody Miller (2:10.22)
6. BJ johnson (2:10.70)
7. Nic Fink (2:11.55)
8. Brendan McHugh (2:14.88)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 200 IM

https://youtu.be/4w8B-l4XSps

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: Ryan Lochte (1:56.71)
World record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte
American record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte
U.S Open record: 1:54.56 – Ryan Lochte
U.S Nationals record: 1:54.56 – Ryan Lochte
JR World record: 1:59.44 – Joseph Bentz
2012 Winning Time: 1:54.84 – Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte went head-to-head for the last time ever on U.S soil, and the results came up in favor of Phelps.

Phelps took things out in first following the fly leg, turning in 25.05. Andrew Seliskar turned second ahead of Lochte who turned just behind in 25.19.

At the 100-meter mark, Phelps and Lochte had established themselves as the leaders although Phelps’ teammateDavid Nolan was right in the mix.

At the 150, it was Phelps and Lochte way in front with just 50-meters to go. A big turn for Lochte put him at par with Phelps, but in the final stretch Phelps made sure to edge out in front and take the win in 1:55.91. Lochte was second in 1:56.22.

Nolan touched in for third in 1:59.09.

1. Michael Phelps (1:55.91)
2. Ryan Lochte (1:56.22)
3. David Nolan (1:59.09)
4. Gunnar Bentz (1:59.36)
5. Jay Litherland (1:59.91)
6. Abrahm Devine (2:00.15)
7. Andrew Seliskar (2:00.27)
8. Austin Surhoff (2:00.33)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 400 IM

https://youtu.be/S3tx0ODrNWA

As originally reported by Mitch Bowmile.

Top seed: Chase Kalisz (4:11.86)
World record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps
American record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 4:14.07 – Brandonn Almeida (Brazil)  4:14.00 – Sean Grieshop
2012 Winning Time: 4:07.06 – Ryan Lochte

Dethroned. For the first time since the 2000 Olympic Games, the 400m IM will not feature Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps.

Chase Kalisz claimed the 400m IM crown with a wicked breaststroke leg to push past 2012 Olympic champion Ryan Lochte before holding on for the freestyle and touching in to be the first swimmer on the U.S Olympic team.

It was all Lochte after the fly, leading with a 55.39 split. After the backstroke leg Lochte had opened up his lead significantly. Kalisz pushed past him on the breaststroke leg, and to everybody in the crowd it appeared that the race was between Lochte and Kalisz.

Kalisz turned in 3:10.07, Lochte turned in 3:11.46, and nobody paid attention to a charging Jay Litherland who turned over two seconds behind Lochte in 3:13.64.

Fifty-meters of freestyle to go and Kalisz was still in the lead, Lochte was still in second. With all eyes still on those two, Litherland’s 28.82 freestyle split went largely unnoticed.

Coming home Lochte began to fade, Litherland began to accelerate, and with 25-meters to go Litherland passed Lochte. Kalisz touched in 4:09.54, Litherland touched in at 4:11.02 to deny multi-time Olympic medallist Lochte a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.

Lochte was third in 4:12.02.

Gunnar Bentz finished fourth in 4:13.72 making him the third Georgia swimmer in the top four.

1. Chase Kalisz (4:09.54)
2. Jay Litherland (4:11.02)
3. Ryan Lochte (4:12.02)
4. Gunnar Bentz (4:13.72)
5. Sean Grieshop (4:14.08)
6. Abrahm DeVine (4:14.98)
7. Charlie Swanson (4:21.62)
8. Austin Snyder (4:22.81)

For official results click here.