2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Previews Index
- TV Schedule
- Pick ‘Em Contest
- Omega Results
- Live Stream
- Friday Finals Heat Sheet
Day 3 finals of the 2018 U.S. Nationals in Irvine, California will see swimmers compete in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 50 breast, and 50 back. Swimmers will battle for a Pan Pacs roster spot in the 400 IM and 100 fly. In the stroke 50s, however, there are no Pan Pacs spots up for grabs. The winner of each stroke 50 punches their ticket to the 2019 World Championships.
Michael Andrew has already qualified for Worlds in the 50 fly, but he’s loaded up his schedule tonight to try and qualify for Pan Pacs and add to his Worlds schedule. Andrew will be swimming the 100 fly, 50 breast, and 50 back. In the 100 fly, he’ll be up against World Champion Caeleb Dressel again after their close 1-2 in the 50 fly. Dressel is still looking for his spot on the Pan Pacs team. Andrew tied Adam Peaty’s 50 breast U.S. Open Record this morning and will face Ian Finnerty, who joined him under 27, and American Record holder Kevin Cordes tonight. The 50 back will be stacked with Andrew, defending champion Justin Ress, and Olympic champions Matt Grevers, Ryan Held, and Ryan Murphy all chasing the American Record.
Leah Smith, who became the top American women’s 400 IM prospect last summer, headlines the 400 IM with Olympic IMer Melanie Margalis. In the 100 fly, Kelsi Dahlia has a shot at breaking the U.S. Open Record after tying her own American Record in the 50 fly. American Record holder Olivia Smoliga is in the 50 back, while World Record holder Lilly King is in the 50 breast.
WOMEN’S 400 IM:
- World Record: Katinka Hosszu, 4:26.36, 2016
- American Record: Katie Hoff, 4:31.12, 2008
- Championship Record: Katie Hoff, 4:31.12, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Katinka Hosszu, 4:31.07, 2015
- GOLD: Ally McHugh– 4:34.80
- SILVER: Brooke Forde– 4:35.09
- BRONZE: Melanie Margalis– 4:35.50
- FOURTH: Leah Smith– 4:35.68
Penn State’s Ally McHugh had arguably the swim of her life tonight. McHugh, who represented the U.S. at WUGs last summer, used a monster freestyle leg to run down 2017 champion Leah Smith and Stanford’s Brooke Forde (4:35.09), winning in 4:34.80. That’s a best for McHugh by almost 5 seconds. She’s now the 4th fastest in the world this year and the 6th fastest American in history.
Forde, who led the race until the final stretch, also put up a big best in 4:35.09. That’s a best by 4 seconds and ranks her #5 in the world. She’s now the 8th fastest American ever. Olympic IMer Melanie Margalis dropped a second off her lifetime best from earlier this season for 3rd in 4:35.50, holding off fellow Olympic gold medalist Leah Smith (4:35.68). Margalis is the 10th fastest American 400 IMer ever, while Smith remains at #4 with her 4:33.86 from last summer.
Texas’ Evie Pfeifer followed up a good morning swim with her first ever sub-4:40. She was just out of the top 4 in 4:38.68. She’s now dropped almost 10 seconds throughout the season. Kay Sargent, a transfer to NC State, dropped another second for 6th in 4:40.24.
15-year-old Mariah Denigan dropped nearly 3 more seconds tonight, just running out of room to chase down Emma Barksdale (4:40.20), becoming the 7th fastest American ever in her age group in 4:40.62. Barksdale made almost a 2-second drop.
MEN’S 400 IM:
- World Record: Michael Phelps, 4:03.84, 2008
- American Record: Michael Phelps, 4:03.84, 2008
- Championship Record: Michael Phelps, 4:05.25, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps, 4:05.25, 2008
- GOLD: Chase Kalisz– 4:08.25
- SILVER: Jay Litherland– 4:10.21
- BRONZE: Sean Grieshop– 4:12.72
- FOURTH: Sam Stewart– 4:13.65
It was all Chase Kalisz again tonight. Though Stanford’s Abrahm DeVine, the 2018 NCAA champ in the 400 IM, took it out hard, Kalisz broke away on the back half to win by body lengths in 4:08.25. That’s the fastest time in the world and his season best by about 7 tenths. The Georgia duo will represent the U.S. again this summer as teammate Jay Litherland was about a second shy of his best to take a comfortable 2nd in 4:10.21. The 3rd Bulldog in the heat, Gunnar Bentz, finished 7th in 4:15.48.
Cal’s Sean Grieshop had a breakthrough swim. He hadn’t swum a best time since setting the World Junior Record at 4:14.00 at 2016 Trials. Tonight, he hammered home on the freestyle leg to take 3rd in 4:12.72. Texas’ Sam Stewart made a huge 6-second drop in prelims. He shave a couple more tenths off tonight for 4th in 4:13.65.
DeVine, who took it out with the lead, faded to 5th in 4:13.77. He dropped a second off his best tonight. DeVine has a good shot at qualifying in the 200 IM later on. He swam that event for the U.S. at Worlds last summer.
Robert Finke made a big drop of almost 3 seconds, turning in a 4:15.79 in the B final to become the 7th fastest American ever in the 17-18 age group. Finke is likely on the Pan Pacs squad after taking 2nd in the mile and represented the U.S. in that event in Budapest.
WOMEN’S 100 FLY:
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, 55.48, 2016
- American Record: Dana Vollmer, 55.98, 2012
- Championship Record: Dana Vollmer, 56.42, 2012
- U.S. Open Record: Sarah Sjostrom, 56.38, 2016
- GOLD: Kelsi Dahlia– 56.83
- SILVER: Katie McLaughlin– 57.51
- BRONZE: Kendyl Stewart– 57.70
- FOURTH: Mallory Comerford– 57.95
As expected, Louisville’s Kelsi Dahlia took the win, posting a 56.86. Kendyl Stewart was out with the lead, but Dahlia used a strong kick out and ripped through the back half to distance herself from the field. She’s now secured her spot at both Pan Pacs and Worlds, since she landed a Worlds spot as she tied the 50 fly American Record last night. Teammate Mallory Comerford clipped her best by .02 for a lifetime best 57.95, finishing 4th.
Cal’s Katie McLaughlin finally had her breakthrough. She hadn’t broken 58 since 2015, but she hit the mark tonight with a lifetime best 57.51 to likely secure a spot at Pan Pacs. She’s now the 7th fastest American in history. Stewart held on for 3rd in 57.70, marking her first best time in the event since 2014.
MEN’S 100 FLY:
- World Record: Michael Phelps, 49.82, 2009
- American Record: Michael Phelps, 49.82, 2009
- Championship Record: Michael Phelps, 50.22, 2009
- U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps, 50.22, 2009
- GOLD: Caeleb Dressel– 50.50
- SILVER: Jack Conger– 51.11
- BRONZE: Michael Andrew– 51.68
- FOURTH: Jack Saunderson– 51.88
If there were any questions about Caeleb Dressel at this meet, he put them to rest tonight. Dressel, who finished 6th in the 100 free earlier in the meet and took a narrow loss to Michael Andrew in the 50 fly, busted through the back half here to get the job done. Dressel is now on the Pan Pacs team, winning with the 10th fastest American performance ever in 50.50. That’s 3 tenths faster than he was last summer, and give how litte he seems to have rested for this, that Phelps World Record is in danger at Pan Pacs.
Jack Conger also finally secured his Pan Pacs spot. He was just a tenth off his lifetime best from march. After tying for 3rd in the 200 fly, Conger can have rest assured that he should make the Pan Pacs squad. After qualifying for Worlds last night with a win in the 50 fly, Andrew may have picked up a Pan Pacs spot here. We cant be 100% sure yet, but he’s in good shape with his lifetime best 51.68 for 3rd place.
Towson’s Jack Saunderson, who swam his lifetime best 51.48 this morning to qualify 1st, was a few tenths shy of that tonight in 51.88 for 4th. Cal’s Tom Shields, who swam both butterflies in Rio, was also sub-52 tonight in 51.94. Shields is out of Pan Pacs after placing 5th in both the 200 fly and 100 fly. Zach Harting, who qualified for Pan Pacs with a 2nd place finish in the 200 fly, clipped his best again tonight for 6th in 52.00.
WOMEN’S 50 BREAST:
- World Record: Lilly King, 29.40, 2017
- American Record: Lilly King, 29.40, 2017
- Championship Record: Lilly King, 29.66, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: Lilly King, 29.62, 2018
- GOLD: Lilly King– 29.82
- SILVER: Molly Hannis– 30.07
- BRONZE: Katie Meili– 30.72
- FOURTH: Jorie Caneta- 30.86
Defending world champ Lilly King touched out Molly Hannis for the national 50 breast title, redemption after missing the Pan Pacs team in the 200 breast last night. The win tonight won’t put King onto the Pan Pacs squad (she’ll have to wait for the 100 breast for her last shot at that), but it does essentially clinch her a berth on the World Championships team next summer, where she’ll have a chance to defend her 2017 world title and challenge her own world record.
Hannis fought hard but dropped off the lead pace over the final 10 meters or so and just missed the 30 second barrier. King wound up going 29.82 (two tenths off her season-best) and Hannis 30.07. Those two sit 1st and 2nd in the world this year, though neither bettered their top-ranked times tonight.
Katie Meili was 30.72 for third, and will have to wait for the 100 to fight for her World Champs berth as well. Texas A&M’s Jorie Caneta (30.86) and Minnesota’s Lindsay Kozelsky (30.87) started an NCAA-heavy run, with the latter tying pro Breeja Larson for fifth. Future Indiana Hoosier Emily Weiss was seventh (30.88) and A&M grad Bethany Galat rounded out the heat in 31.19.
Women’s 50 breast reported by Jared Anderson.
MEN’S 50 BREAST:
- World Record: Adam Peaty, 25.95, 2017
- American Record: Kevin Cordes, 26.76, 2017
- Championship Record:
Michael Andrew, 26.86, 2018 - U.S. Open Record:
Michael Andrew, 26.86, 2018/Adam Peaty, 26.86, 2017
- GOLD: Michael Andrew– 26.86
- SILVER: Devon Nowicki– 27.12
- BRONZE: Ian Finnerty– 27.19
- FOURTH: Kevin Cordes– 27.21
23 minutes after his lifetime best 100 fly, Michael Andrew broke the U.S. Open Record in the 50 breast, breaking the tie he shared with World Record holder Adam Peaty to touch 1st in 26.84. He was just 8 hundredths shy of Kevin Cordes‘ American Record and put up the 4th fastest American performance ever. He’s also now the lone 2nd fastest American performer ever, breaking his tie with Olympian Mark Gangloff.
American Record holder Cordes was back in 4th tonight, swimming a 27.21. Cordes, who swam all 3 breaststroke events at 2017 Worlds, was slightly off his prelims time, as were most of the top guys in this heat. He and Ian Finnerty will look to make the Pan Pacs squad in the 100 breast later on. Finnerty, who broke 27 this morning to become the 4th fastest American ever, placed 3rd in 27.19, a few hundredths behind Devon Nowicki. Finnerty is here to make a statement in long course after becoming the first man to ever break 50 seconds in the 100 yard breast at 2018 NCAAs.
Also looking to secure a Pan Pacs spot is 2017 Worlds breaststroker Nic Fink the 10th fastest American ever in this race. Fink finished 6th tonight in 27.49. He has a shot at making Pan Pacs already, but isn’t a sure thing since he placed 4th in his signature 200 breast earlier in the meet.
WOMEN’S 50 BACK:
- World Record: Jing Zhao, 27.06, 2009
- American Record: Olivia Smoliga, 27.43, 2018
- Championship Record: Hannah Stevens, 27.63, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: Olivia Smoliga, 27.43, 2018
- GOLD: Olivia Smoliga– 27.70
- SILVER: Ali Deloof– 27.88
- BRONZE: Elise Haan– 27.90
- FOURTH: Keaton Blovad- 28.05
Ali Deloof charged hard late, but it was American record-holder Olivia Smoliga who held on for the win in the women’s 50 back, booking a return trip to the World Championships. Her 27.70 wasn’t quite as fast as the 27.43 she blasted a few months ago in Mesa, but it was plenty enough to beat the field, with Deloof going 27.88 for runner-up honors.
NC State’s Elise Haan also cracked 28, closing in on Deloof for second in 27.90. It was a run of youngsters after that. 19-year-old Keaton Blovad of Cal took fourth in 28.05, with 16-year-old Isabelle Stadden and 17-year-old Katharine Berkoff tying for fifth in 28.13 and 16-year-old Alex Walsh going 28.25 for seventh.
Caroline Baldwin was just a tick behind in eighth, going 28.26 to round out the heat. In the B final, 15-year-old Phoebe Bacon continued the Americans strong run of youth in this event, going 28.44 to win the consolation heat.
Women’s 50 back reported by Jared Anderson.
MEN’S 50 BACK:
- World Record: Liam Tancock, 24.04, 2009
- American Record:
Randall Bal, 24.33, 2008 - Championship Record:
Justin Ress, 24.41, 2017 - U.S. Open Record:
Junya Koga, 24.36, 2015
- GOLD: Ryan Murphy– 24.24
- SILVER: Justin Ress– 24.31
- BRONZE: Ryan Held– 24.60
- FOURTH: Michael Andrew– 24.62
Olympic backstroke champion Ryan Murphy had an off year in 2017, but he’s back. After a very good 200 back, Murphy brought in another title tonight with a new American Record. He’s well on his way to sweeping the backstrokes at this meet. Murphy broke the 10-year-old mark in 24.24, crushing his former best time by 4 tenths. He also cleared the U.S. Open Record and Meet Record.
2017 national champ Justin Ress was also under the former record, clipping his best by a tenth in 24.31. Ress has a good chance of qualifying in the 100 back later on, as does Matt Grevers. Olympic champ Grevers took 5th tonight in 24.63. Grevers, the bronze medalist in the 50 back at 2017 Worlds, was about a tenth shy of his best ever. Since Murphy is already swimming the 50 back, he could still qualify to swim the 50 back at Worlds if he either has the fastest or 2nd fastest time in the 100 back between Worlds and Pan Pacs.
In his 3rd race of the night and 6th race of the day, Michael Andrew was just .03 off his best time from prelims, touching in 24.62 for 4th place. Ryan Held was just a hundredth off his best from prelims, out-touching Andrew for 3rd in 24.60.
In defense of Flula Borg, you’re probably just having trouble unseeing him as his character from PP2, so you’ll always think he’s mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7NTV-KuU50
NAG for Luca Urlando?
OOOOH YES that’s also him! I had forgotten that!
They were using a scam WiFi network to upload their app onto everyone’s phone at the tech convention.
Day 3 quick thoughts
WOMEN’S 400 IM
Very hard to predict that result before the meet but after the 800 free it’s not surprising at all to see Ally McHugh perform so well. She had a big time drop the other day in 8.24 so it was clear that she was in the shape of her life. Smith is not fully tapered. Like Margalis who is by the way more a 200 IM swimmer. Eastin was not there. So she had good winning chances. Cool to see new faces. As a huge IM fan I’m looking for the next American IM star who could be a gold medal contender in 2020. Right now let’s be clear, it looks unlikely… Read more »
To be fair, Bentz broke his collarbone late last year.
1. Ryan Murphy is the man 2. Katie Mc is back and better than ever… try destroying your neck in Hawaii and then coming back… she is the girl on fire…
The 11 PM replay on NBCSN has the opening segment minus the technical issue that screwed up the Olympic Channel coverage. Included is an interview with Elizabeth Beisel.
I’m normally can’t stand Rowdy, but I really enjoyed the post-meet race analysis with Chase. That was really great insight getting to go through it with him, the questions were good. Credit where credit is due. I wish they’d do more of this kind of thing!
NC State new backstroke capital Held and Ress didn’t even swim it at ncaas
I believe Held swam 50 back in Europe
And they had the 1st and 3rd place finishers at ncaa’s in the 100. Looking forward to Stewarts 100 Back after that 100 fly today actually now that you bring that to mind.
How is a school the backstroke capital when it hasn’t had a backstroke qualifier while another school has the fastest 50/200 guy, the second placer in the 200, a few other guys in the 200 finals, and the overwhelming favorite in the 100
Coleman Stewart winner of 100 back at ncaas Wolfpack domination
You mean the guy that was hilariously far behind Murphy record? The guy that has shown squat so far in lcm?
Too bad there isnt a backstroke relay NC State would dominate the free and back relays.
Yeah, I remember being stunned last year when Ress won the 50. The guy does the 50/100/200 free at college. He even did the 200 IM instead of the 50 a few times if memory serves me. For him to pull a fast 50 back out of nowhere was surprised me. It would have happened again with Held had SwimSwam not posted that tweet about it
also MA not warming down after 50 breast, after the 100 fly, and getting 4th in 50 back…..for those with a knowledge of lactate……one of the greatest swims ever
He was impressive today for sure.
i could only think of MP winning a double as topping this…..having said that a 400 IM 100 fly double win would surely be the goat
did you by any chance miss Dressels day 7 at Budapest last year?
you mean the guy who lost to MA yesterday? must have missed it
Yea the guy who smoked him today and swam a textile world record in the 50, a textile world record in the 100 fly, and a near textile world record in the 100 free on the same night. That’s the guy you missed.
thank you for being apart of my studying of completely random people getting mad online over someone probably half their age and defending their glory online on their behalf…..thank you for your service sir!
“Jokes on them, i was only pretending to be an idiot”
HAHAHHAHA! I WAS ONLY PRETENDING TO BE UPSET ABOUT YOU PRETENDING TO DEFEND SOMEONE I DONT LIKE HAHHAHAH GOT YOU (and have this real up to date and relevant jennifer lawrence gif to help yourself sleep at night, loser!)*
* you #boomroasted
Ok. Well played.
You are beginning to sound like the Buono of Dressel fans.
Nah. I dont make disses a time other swimmers. I make them at trolls. I’m a huge Dressel fan. A fanboy even. I’m not gonna shy away from that. As I am a fan of many other American swimmers. I do not make serious disparaging remarks about other swimmers like the user you mentioned and pretend it’s bit because I’m a fanboy of another swimmer.
I also am fan of several other foreign swimmer as my name should give away. But think what you want, I simply do not care either way.
And he got out of the pool without any help
So did Finnerty after the 200 breast, and that was MUCH more impressive.
still nothing on 21.15/49.86/47.22
same dude who says caleb’s tattoo’s and subsequent tattoo removal is a form of artistic expression
Oh we’re just making stuff up now? Well I just swam a 200 free/400 IM/1500 free/50 fly and broke the world record in each. That’s gotta be the greatest swims ever.
And to be only 0.03 off his lifetime best after all that. The kid is doing something right. If he can figure his 100s out he’s going to be a big threat for the team in 2020.
He’s a big threat, if not a lock, for the team in the 50 free already.
So if Murphy goes the fastest American 100 back this summer (which after that 50 he totally will), then he is entitled to swim the 50 back at worlds. Can he then give up the spot he just earned in the 50 back, letting Justin Ress make the worlds team? If not, I question these dominant 100 swimmers doing the 50 of their stroke. Since worlds wont take 3 in any event they’re just cutting someone off the team, and giving USA one less fast 50 stroker.
Murphy is already now eligible to swim the 50 back next year. I asked this question yesterday, and Braden said that the second 50 spot goes to the second placer in the 100 backstroke in the case of the 50 and 100 winner being the same. I think Ress has a great shot to get that.
Assuming that Murphy wins the 100, as seems likely, then the second 50 spot goes to whoever gets the second WC spot in the 100. That’s likely either his friend Pebley, Grevers, or Ress. Giving Pebley a chance to get the spot is enough reason for Murphy not to act, on top of the fact that ‘declining the spot via 50 back win but accepting it via 100 back win’ is weird enough/who knows if you can do that. Also, who knows whether Ress would want/appreciate his charity. (If the other WC 100 backstroker doesn’t want to swim the 50, then literally anyone else on the team, say Michael Andrew, can. Basically, the 50 spots should never go unused)
I think I was confusing. What I mean is, say Murphy wins the 100 back, and Grevers comes 2nd. Then, assuming they stay the top 2 Americans following Pan Pacs, the two of them will swim both the 50 and 100 at Worlds in 2019.
But, if Murphy had skipped the 50 back at this meet(or if he is allowed to decline the spot via 50 back win), Ress would make the team for the 50, and Murphy would still get to swim it by winning the 100 back. Thus, Murphy gets his two swims, and the USA gets 3 elite backstrokers on the worlds roster as opposed to 2.
DMacNCheez – I don’t think Murphy gets to decline his spot for winning the 50, and then accept his spot in the 50 for winning the 100. He either swims or he doesn’t.
If he declines his spot, it’s actually not Ress’ to take if Ress doesn’t win the 100. It goes to some weird math about a short window next year, best time takes it.
I get what you mean. But why would you not swim an event on the off chance it benefits some random other person? From a team perspective, the US will still have all of its event spots filled. Plus, Murphy is a pro now and probably has a financial stake in swimming the 50.