2017 U.S. NATIONALS/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS
- Tuesday, June 27th-Saturday, July 1st
- 50-Meter Course
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Meet Info
- Prelims timelines
- Broadcast schedule
- Event-by-event previews
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Stream (U.S. viewers)
- Live Stream (International viewers)
- Friday Prelims Heat Sheet
The competition in Indy continues this morning as swimmers are gearing up for day 4 of the 2017 U.S. Nationals/World Championships Trials. Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky (400 free), Lilly King (100 breast) and Ryan Murphy (100 back) will each take on one of their signature events today. Olympic silver medalist Kathleen Baker will go head-to-head with Olivia Smoliga, Hannah Stevens, and Ali Deloof in the women’s 100 back. A stacked field in the men’s 100 breast includes Kevin Cordes, Cody Miller, Josh Prenot, Will Licon, Nic Fink, Andrew Wilson, and Michael Andrew.
WOMEN’S 400 FREE:
- American Record: Katie Ledecky, 3:56.46, 2016
- U.S. Open Record: Katie Ledecky, 3:58.86, 2014
- LC National Meet Record: Katie Ledecky, 3:58.86, 2014
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 4:10.57
Top 8:
- Katie Ledecky– 4:02.59
- Leah Smith– 4:05.98
- Sierra Schmidt– 4:08.88
- Cierra Runge– 4:09.22
- Kaersten Meitz– 4:09.30
- Hannah Moore– 4:09.35
- Ashley Neidigh– 4:11.63
- Katie Drabot– 4:12.61
As expected, Katie Ledecky cruised to the top spot in prelims with a 4:02.59. Leah Smith was also seconds ahead of the field in her heat to qualify 2nd with a smooth 4:05.98. Smith, who won the 400 IM last night, has been having a great meet so far, and will look to join Ledecky under the 4:00 barrier this summer. If she hits her stride tonight, we could see 2 women under the barrier in the final.
Kaersten Meitz knocked a few tenths off her best time, bringing it to a 4:09,30 to qualify 5th. Also swimming a best time was Ashley Neidigh, who dropped 2 seconds to win heat 8 and land 7th overall in 4:11.63.
200 fly champ Hali Flickinger was initially slated to swim in heat 10 but declared a false start.
MEN’S 400 FREE:
- American Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:42.78, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:43.53, 2008
- LC National Meet Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:43.53, 2008
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 3:48.15
Top 8:
- Clark Smith– 3:49.81
- Townley Haas– 3:50.01
- Grant Shoults– 3:50.19
- Kevin Litherland– 3:50.24
- Andrew Abruzzo– 3:50.69
- Mitch D’Arrigo– 3:50.70
- Zane Grothe– 3:50.76
- Trey Freeman– 3:50.91
The race between teammates Clark Smith and Townley Haas came down to the wire in the final heat. Smith was slightly faster down the stretch, taking top seed in 3:49.81 to Haas’ 3:50.01. The entire top 8 was separated by just over a second. Grant Shoults (3:50.19) qualified 3rd with his heat 8 win, while Zane Grothe (3:50.76), who took 2nd in that heat, qualified 7th for the final.
Trey Freeman made a big drop, taking over 3 seconds off his former best time to qualify 8th in 3:50.91. Fellow age group star Drew Kibler was slated to swim in heat 9 but declared a false start.
1500 free champ True Sweetser just missed out on the final with a 3:51.14, as did Jay Litherland with a 3:41.17 for 10th place.
WOMEN’S 100 BREAST:
- American Record: Jessica Hardy, 1:04.45, 2009
- U.S. Open Record: Jessica Hardy, 1:04.45, 2009
- LC National Meet Record: Lilly King, 1:05.20, 2016
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 1:07.58
Top 8:
- Lilly King– 1:06.06
- Katie Meili– 1:06.10
- Breeja Larson– 1:07.43
- Miranda Tucker– 1:07.62
- Bethany Galat– 1:07.77
- Molly Hannis– 1:07.86
- Zoe Bartel– 1:08.08
- Andee Cottrell– 1:08.20
Olympic medalists Lilly King (1:06.06) and Katie Meili (1:06.10) were the only women to break 1:07 this morning with a pair of 1:06-lows. They’ll be joined in the final by fellow U.S. Olympic breaststroker Breeja Larson (1:07.43), who took 3rd behind them.
200 breast Olympian Molly Hannis bounced back again today to take a spot in the final with a 1:07.86 for 6th place. Junior swimmer Zoe Bartel was just a few tenths off her best to land a spot in the final, taking 7th in 1:08.08.
MEN’S 100 BREAST:
- American Record: Cody Miller, 58.87, 2016
- U.S. Open Record: Adam Peaty, 58.86, 2017
- LC National Meet Record: Kevin Cordes, 58.94, 2016
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 1:00.35
Top 8:
- Kevin Cordes– 59.16
- Nic Fink– 59.80
- Cody Miller– 1:00.02
- Andrew Wilson– 1:00.15
- Will Licon– 1:00.34
- Josh Prenot– 1:00.55
- Jacob Montague– 1:00.71
- Michael Andrew– 1:00.75
Kevin Cordes is in good position to potentially sweep the breaststrokes tonight after taking top seed in 59.16. The only other man to break 1:00 this morning was Nic Fink, who qualified for Worlds alongside Cordes in the 200 breast, in 59.80. Olympic bronze medalist Cody Miller wasn’t far behind, however, as he nearly broke 1:00 this morning as well with his 1:00.02.
Will Licon (1:00.34) and Josh Prenot (1:00.55) will be in the hunt tonight after narrowly missing out on a Worlds spot in the 200 breast. Also looking to grab a roster spot are age group star Michael Andrew, who snuck into the final at 8th in 1:00.75, and 2015 Nationals winner Andrew Wilson (1:00.15).
WOMEN’S 100 BACK:
- American Record: Missy Franklin, 58.33, 2012
- U.S. Open Record: Missy Franklin, 58.67, 2013
- LC National Meet Record: Missy Franklin, 58.67, 2013
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 1:00.61
Top 8:
- Kathleen Baker– 59.49
- Regan Smith– 59.70
- Olivia Smoliga– 59.93
- Ali Deloof– 59.97
- Hannah Stevens– 1:00.06
- Caroline Baldwin– 1:00.34
- Claire Adams– 1:00.42
- Bridgette Alexander– 1:00.50
There were 4 women under 1:00 this morning, led by Oltmpic silver medalist Kathleen Baker in 59.49. Tonight’s race is shaping up to be a great one, as 6 of the 8 women have best times in the 59-range. Baker and Olivia Smoliga (59.93) are the only 2 women to have broken 59 so far, but Hannah Stevens is looking especially dangerous since she busted out a Championship Record to win the 50 back last night.
The sky is the limit for 15-year-old phenom Regan Smith (59.70), who qualified 2nd this morning, and former Junior World Record holder Claire Adams (1:00.42) probably hasn’t shown all of her cards yet.
Caroline Baldwin had another big swim this morning, dropping almost a second from her time to take 6th in 1:00.34, while Bridgette Alexander knocked a few tenths off her best to take 8th in 1:00.50. It was a tight squeeze to get the last couple of spots for the final. Lisa Bratton (1:00.62) just missed out at 9th place and there was a tie for 10th between Amy Bilquist and Elise Haan just a hundredth back in 1:00.63.
MEN’S 100 BACK:
- American Record: Ryan Murphy, 51.85, 2016
- U.S. Open Record: Aaron Peirsol, 51.94, 2009
- LC National Meet Record: Aaron Peirsol, 51.94, 2009
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 54.06
Top 8:
- Justin Ress– 53.27
- Ryan Murphy– 53.56
- (T-3) Jacob Pebley– 53.72
- (T-3) Matt Grevers– 53.72
- Sean Lehane– 54.21
- Taylor Dale– 54.33
- Daniel Carr– 54.80
- Bob Glover– 54.92
Justin Ress was already in the conversation thanks to his great in-season performances, but he’s been on fire here. Ress, who held a personal best of 54 before this season, lowered his best time to a 53.27 to lead prelims, and is now one of the top contenders for another spot at the World Championships. If he wants to win it, though, he’ll have to get by World Record holder Ryan Murphy, who took 2nd this morning with a 53.56.
The next 2 frontrunners for a roster spot, Jacob Pebley and Matt Grevers, tied for 3rd this morning out of separate heats, as each touched in 53.72 to win their respective heats.
Daniel Carr knocked almost a second off his best time to earn another backstroke championship final spot, as he was 7th this morning in 54.80. Carr and Bob Glover, who swam off for the 8th spot in the 50 back final, will both be in this time, as Glover qualified 8th in 54.92.
*Editor’s Note: Auburn’s Ashley Neidigh is the sister of author Lauren Neidigh.*
Wow – Justin Ress looks like the heir apparent to Murphy at NCAAs
Shebat fits that profile more, in SCY anyway
You can’t say that. SCY backstroke is mostly about turns and underwaters. It’s a totally different race. You’ll have to wait and see.
USA backstroke is deeeepppppp.
Where are all the texas fans who said on the preview of the men’s backstroke events that Shabbat is the new king? Didnt even make the A final in the 100 and didnt even swim the 200. When will you stop be delusional about texas swimmers and start see the reality. The only swimmer who really stand out to the ocassion is Townley
Wow someone is delusional. Texas has so many guys who have stood out and stand out now
Texas haters like to ignore the fact that Jack is a national champion
Haas, Smith, Schooling, Conger…
Townly haas 200 free champion and Clark smith 800 free relay member Conger 200 fly champ Andrew Wilson who trains with Texas also made the 50 breast and just wait till tonight when Haas and Smith make that 400 free you’ll be thinking differently then, plus smith hasn’t even come to his best event yet the 800
Andrew Wilson did not make the 50
but will make it in the 100
Some of them are Olympic champions since 2016 …….Hum hum
Well let’s see… there was the time Texas got 6 guys into the 100 fly NCAA A-Final and I believe swept 1 through 6 that evening. But please, continue with your argument…
I just read through every comment on all our three of our men’s backstroke previews. Not a single person used the word “Shebat” and king” in the same sentence. Perhaps you were looking at previews somewhere else?
Ummm, so can they Ress guy beat Murphy?
Very unlikely. Reds did well in the 50, but can’t match Murphy’s endurance.
He swam distance in high school. I wouldn’t be so sure the endurance isn’t there…
Murphy is on a league of his own …..even after the Olympics he had . Impressive dude
Random question/thought…
How certain is anyone that the photo tag above for Kevin Litherland is actually Kevin?
Yea that’s kev
Wow. Ress beats Murphy again. new back star?
It’s a prelim swim, but he’s certainly brought his A game. High class problem to have for the US that there is so much depth.
Murphy looked like he was barely giving more effort on that last 25m than I am right now, and I am lying on a couch.
Good swim for Ress though! Sorta surprised we didn’t see a 52.high this morning.
Ha ha! Best comment!
haha did anyone just hear the guy on the phone over the live feed?
“yea can i call you back, i am kind of in the middle of a live braodcast”
Yes, I heard that as well.
What the hell happened to Shebat on that second 50?! And what’s happened to him since NCAAs? Obviously yards doesn’t correspond to metres completely but he was well off there.
29.36 to bring it home. Makes you wonder if he screwed up the turn or something else happened.
I did wonder that, since within 10 metres of the turn Pebley was about 3 metres ahead.
He was on the rope the whole 50. May have clipped it a couple times.
Good thing Rowdy wasn’t commentating. He would have had an aneurysm.
i watched him…he just PIGGED….no lane rope.
Shebat is not use to swimming LCM. It will take time.
True but he was 54.2 last summer before the big NCAA drops so it’s not like he’s a short-course swimmer only…