2017 U.S. Worlds Trials: Day 5 Distance Heats Live Updates

2017 U.S. NATIONALS/WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS

This afternoon, the heats of the women’s 1500 free and men’s 800 will be contested, with all but the fastest heat of each event. Those top heats will be featured in tonight’s finals session in Indianapolis.

Saturday Distance Heat Sheet

Leah Smith is the big name in the early heats. Because she’s seeded with a yards time (albeit an incredibly fast one– 15:28.89 for the 1650 free), she’s not swimming in the final heat with the top 8. She’ll be in lane 7, heat 9. Note that while this is heat 9 overall, it’s the 4th of 5 heats for the women’s 1500, as USA Swimming is having the women’s 1500 and men’s 800 switch off during this afternoon’s distance session.

In total, there are 5 heats of the women’s 1500 and 7 of the men’s 800, with heat 5 for women and heat 7 for men being contested tonight during the finals session. While Smith is the name to watch on the women’s side, and she is favored to actually end up winning the entire thing, Scottsdale Aquatics’ Aaron Apel is the top seed this afternoon for the men (8:04.75) in the less-fast heats.

We’ll update how the top 8 is looking for both events, heat-by-heat.

MEN’S 800 FREE

  • American Record: Michael McBroom, 7:43.60, 2013
  • U.S. Open Record: Connor Jaeger, 7:46.78, 2013
  • LC National Meet Record: Connor Jaeger, 7:46.78, 2013
  • FINA ‘A’ Standard: 7:54.31

TOP 8 SO FAR (updated through all pre-finals heats)

  1. Grant Shoults, Stanford 7:57.84
  2. Chris Wieser, DART 8:00.40
  3. Chris Yeager, Nitro 8:01.21
  4. Cody Bekemeyer, Gamecock Aquatics 8:02.24
  5. Trey Freeman, Baylor 8:02.43
  6. Zach Yeadon, Alamo Area 8:02.52
  7. Ben Lawless, Central Chesapeake 8:02.66
  8. Ross Dant, Hickory Foundation YMCA 8:02.90
  9. Kevin Litherland, Dynamo 8:03.19

WOMEN’S 1500 FREE

  • American Record: Katie Ledecky, 15:25.48, 2015
  • U.S. Open Record: Katie Ledecky, 15:34.23, 2014
  • LC National Meet Record: Katie Ledecky, 15:47.15, 2013
  • FINA ‘A’ Standard: 16:32.04

TOP 8 SO FAR (updated through all pre-finals heats)

  1. Leah Smith, Cavalier Swimming 16:01.02
  2. Ashley Twichell, NCAC 16:10.63
  3. Ally McHugh, Unattached 16:16.20
  4. Summer Finke, SPA 16:22.94
  5. Gabby Kopenski, Texas Ford Aquatics, 16:29.10
  6. Ashley Neidigh, Auburn 16:32.76
  7. Cierra Runge, Wisconsin Aquatics 16:34.45
  8. Chase Travis, NCAP 16:35.81

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Wahooswimfan
6 years ago

So the fastest American (800 and 1500), Ledexky is not swimming, the 3rd fastest American in the 800 (by best time – she skipped 800 inthis meet) Twitchel, was in hear 2, the 2nd and 4th place finishers (and 2nd by best time) from the 800 (Smith, Runge) are in heat 4, the 7th place finisher in the 800 was in heat 1, so everyone, including those in the final heat is really racing fortime as much as anything – not good for viewers on TV – by mid race Rowdy could be talking about the race for 5th – there needs to be a better way to seed this event.

lilaswimmer
Reply to  Wahooswimfan
6 years ago

do they have show it on tv ? they should stick with the 800m 200 IM and 50 free..

bobo gigi
Reply to  lilaswimmer
6 years ago

Considering all commercials a 1500 free is a 300 or at best a 400 free on American TV.

Reilly
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

And the 800 is more like a 200. But we will televise baseball players scratching themselves in the genital region while they stand around for minutes.

AAA
6 years ago

Is Clark Smith not swimming the 800 free anymore?

huge rowdy gaines fan
6 years ago

“The slow heats” nice

Leonardmatt
6 years ago

So how does this work? Can she still make the team in this event out of prelims?

Todd Kramer
Reply to  Leonardmatt
6 years ago

It’s timed finals, not prelims/finals so yes, she can make the team out of a morning swim.

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

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.

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