2019 US National Championships: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

Wednesday Morning Heat Sheets.

Today’s morning session begins with heats of the 200 fly and 100 free, and timed finals of the women’s 800 free and men’s 1500 free. The fastest heats of the distance events will swim with finals tonight. Swimmers need to finish in the top 24 in order to get a second swim this evening, though there will be an under-18 ‘D’ final for all 18-and-under swimmers that qualify that have not already made it into the ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’ final.

We probably won’t see any new World Records in Palo Alto today, but Team USA will still showcase some firepower with Regan Smith, Katie Drabot, and Dakota Luther in the women’s 200 butterfly. Luca Urlando will swim the men’s 200 butterfly, alongside veteran Tom Shields and a handful of other high-caliber 2-flyers, including Jack Levant, 2018 U.S. National Champion Justin Wright, and Australia’s Matthew Temple.

Dean Farris, Tate Jackson, and Jack Conger will race the 100 freestyle. Without Caeleb Dressel or 2018 National Champion Blake Pieroni, this race is wide open. France’s Jordan Pothain will also race the men’s 100, as will 2016 Olympic relay gold medalist Ryan Held. The women’s 100 free will be headlined by Allison Schmitt, Gabby DeLoof, Amy Bilquist, Abbey Weitzeil, Gretchen Walsh, and Erika Brown. Weitzeil, DeLoof, and Schmitt all just returned from Korea.

The session will wrap up with timed finals of the women’s 800 freestyle and men’s 1500 freestyle. The women’s 800 will feature Sierra Schmidt, Paige Madden, Hannah Moore, and Emma Weyant for this morning’s heats. The heats of the men’s 1500 will showcase Ross Dant, Christian Imbus, Eric Knowles, and Matthew Hirschberger.

The fastest heat of the women’s 800 and men’s 1500 will swim in the evening session with the rest of the finals.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: Liu Zige (China), 2009, 2:01.81
• World Junior Record: Suzuka Hasegawa (Japan), 2017, 2:06.29
• U.S. Open Record: Hali Flickinger (USA), 2018, 2:05.07
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:14.59

Hannah Miley from Scotland dropped a 2:11.19 in heat 6 to win the heat as well as post the fastest time going into the circle-seeded heats.

Heat 7 saw Dakota Luther charge over the final 50 meters to take the lead and touch 1st in 2:09.49. Megan Kingsley touched 2nd in 2:09.73, the only other swimmer so far under 2:10.

Cassidy Bayer blasted out to an early lead in heat 8, but by 100 meters Regan Smith had taken the lead, turning in 1:01.54. By 150 meters Smith had conceded her lead to Charlotte Hook by .02, but Smith charged down the final 50 to touch first in 2:09.04. Taylor Pike finished 2nd in 2:10.34, and Hook 3rd in 2:10.36.

Katie Drabot led at 100 meters, touching in 1:01.53, .01 faster than Smith was in the heat before. Lillie Nordmann passed Drabot over the next lap to touch .70 ahead of Drabot at 150, and then extended her lead over the final stretch to touch 1st in the heat in 2:09.21, the second-fastest time of the morning behind Smith. Drabot finished 2nd in the final heat in 2:09.53. Five women finished under 2:10 in this morning’s prelims of the women’s 200 fly: Smith, Nordmann, Luther, Drabot, and Kingsley.

Championship Finalists (Top-8):

1. Regan Smith, 2:09.04
2. Lillie Nordman, 2:09.21
3. Dakota Luther, 2:09.49
4. Katie Drabot, 2:09.53
5. Megan Kingsley, 2:09.73
6. Olivia Carter, 2:10.12
7. Emily Large, 2:10.13
8. Taylor Pike, 2:10.34

18-And-Under Final:

1. Abby Harter, 2:12.64
2. Allie Piccirillo, 2:13.57
3. Justina Kozan, 2:13.77
4. Amanda Ray, 2:14.18
5. Ashlyn Fiorilli, 2:14.21
6. Tess Howley, 2:14.31
7. Lucy Bell/Tristan Ulett, 2:14.39
8. —

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: Kristof Milak (Hungary), 2019, 1:50.73
• World Junior Record: Kristof Milak (Hungary), 2017, 1:53.79
• U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps (USA), 2008, 1:52.20
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:01.19

Tom Shields was out fast in the first of the circle-seeded heats, rounding the 100 at 54.41. By 150, Shields was at 1:24.72, more than a body length ahead of the field. Shields posted a 1:56.12 to take the top time of the morning. Brooks Fail came 2nd in the heat in 1:57.42.

Trenton Julian led a the half-way point in 54.59, but Nicolas Albiero and Justin Wright started to make up the ground on the third 50. Albiero ended up touching first in 1:56.91 to Julian’s 1:57.18. Wright, the 2018 U.S. National Champion, finished 3rd in the heat in 1:57.40.

Miles Smachlo of Michigan took the race out just ahead of Luca Urlando at 50 meters, but Urlando turned 54.77 at 100 meters, making him the first to the wall there. Urlando was 1:24.36 at 150 and pulling away from the field. Urlando touched 1st in in 1:55.55. Smachlo finished 2nd in the heat in 1:56.95. Dare Rose was disqualified for a non-simultaneous touch.

Barring a scratch, Justin Wright will race out of lane 1 in tonight’s final. In the finals last year Wright came on strong in the final 50 from an outside lane to win the title. It’s unlikely anybody will upset Urlando, but there could be a show from the outside lanes.

Championship Finalists (Top-8):

1. Luca Urlando, 1:55.55
2. Tom Shields, 1:56.12
3. Nicolas Albiero, 1:56.91
4. Miles Smachlo, 1:56.95
5. Trenton Julian, 1:57.18
6. Bowen Gough, 1:57.23 (Australia)
7. Justin Wright, 1:57.40
8. Brooks Fail, 1:57.42

18-And-Under Final:

1. Ben Miller, 1:59.83
2. Preston Forst,2:00.04
3. Jake Foster, 2:00.18
4. Coby Carrozza, 2:00.20
5. Jason Louser, 2:00.23
6. Noah Henderson, 2:00.27
7. Dillon Hillis, 2:00.82
8. Alex Colson, 2:01.31

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 51.71
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 52.70
• U.S. Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA), 2018, 52.54
• Olympic Trials Cut: 56.29

Veteran Amanda Weir of Swim Atlanta took heat 5 in 55.38, well ahead of Isabella Garofalo who touched 2nd in 55.99. Claire Curzan was 3rd in heat 5 in 56.22.

Beata Nelson took heat 7 in 55.90, just ahead of Erin Gemmell of Nation’s Capitol, who touched 2nd in 56.05.

Aly Tetzloff of Auburn won heat 8 with the first sub-55 swim of the day, hitting in 54.93. Wolfpack Elite’s Kylee Alons was 2nd in the heat in 55.32. Allison Schmitt answered Tetzloff with a 54.91 in heat 9, while Gabby DeLoof, who swam at the World Championships in South Korea and World University Games in Italy before that, touched in 55.19.

Abbey Weitzeil dominated the 11th and final heat of the women’s 100 freestyle. At 50 meters, Weitzeil was already a body length in front of the field, flipping in 25.45. She delivered a 28.02 over the second 50 to win the heat with the only sub-54 swim of the morning in 53.47.

Championship Finalists (Top-8):

1. Abbey Weitzeil, 53.47
2. Catie DeLoof, 54.67
3. Erika Brown, 54.75
4. Gretchen Walsh/Natalie Hinds/Linnea Mack, 54.78
5. —
6. —
7. Allison Schmitt, 54.91
8. Isabel Ivey, 54.97

18-And-Under Final:

1. Maxine Parker, 55.97
2. Micayla Cronk, 56.01
3. Erin Gemmell, 56.05
4. Kelly Pash, 56.08
5. Julia Cook, 56.13
6. Zoie Hartman, 56.18
7. Janelle Rudolph, 56.21
8. Claire Curzan/Christiana Regenauer, 56.22 — SWIM-OFF REQUIRED

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 46.91
• World Junior Record: Kyle Chalmers, 2016, 47.58
• U.S. Open Record: Jason Lezak (USA), 2008, 47.58
• Olympic Trials Cut: 50.49

Bowen Becker won heat 10 in a new personal best time of 49.21.

Dean Farris took it out fast in heat 23.19 for an overall time of 48.21, a new lifetime best by a quarter-second. Jack Conger finished 2nd in the heat in 48.47.

Maxime Rooney won heat 10 with a massive best time of 47.75, easily the fastest time of the morning to that point.

In the 11th and final heat, Ryan Held put up a huge 47.43 to lower both the U.S. Open Record and National Championships Meet Record in the event. The former U.S. Open Record was held by Jason Lezak at 47.58. Tate Jackson touched 2nd in the heat in 48.12, and Daniel Krueger 2rd in 48.66.

Championship Finalists (Top-8):

1. Ryan Held, 47.43
2. Maxime Rooney, 47.75
3. Tate Jackson, 48.12
4. Dean Farris, 48.21
5. Robert Howard, 48.37
6. Jack Conger, 48.47
7. Daniel Krueger, 48.66
8. Bowe Becker, 49.21

18-And-Under Final:

1. Jake Magahey, 49.94
2. Matt Brownstead, 50.02
3. Jack Dolan, 50.11
4. Hunter Tapp, 50.20
5. Colton Paulson, 50.22
6. Jack Alexy, 50.41
7. Hunter Armstrong, 50.47
8. Jack Armstrong, 50.55

Men’s 200 IM – Time Trial

• World Record: Ryan Lochte (United States), 2011, 1:54.00
• World Junior Record: Qin Haiyang, 2017, 1:57.06
• U.S. Open Record: Ryan Lochte (United States), 2009, 1:54.56
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:04.09

In a time trial of the 200 IM, World Record holder Ryan Lochte, in his first swim since completing a 14-month suspension, blasted off a time of 1:57.88. Official splits have yet to be posted. Lochte’s best time since Rio before today was 1:58.90. The swim qualifies Lochte for the 2020 Olympic Trials, though to officially make the National Team in the 200 IM he will still have to race it–and produce a fast enough time–on Sunday. Lochte is now the 4th-fastest American man this year in the 200 IM behind only Chase Kalisz, Michael Andrew, and Abrahm DeVine.

Women’s 800 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• World Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016, 8:04.79
• World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2014, 8:11.00
• U.S. Open Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016, 8:06.68
• Olympic Trials Cut: 8:48.09

Men’s 1500 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• World Record: Sun Yang (China), 2012, 14:31.02
• World Junior Record: Mack Horton (Australia), 2014, 14:51.55
• U.S. Open Record: Peter Vanderkaay (USA), 2008, 14:45.54
• Olympic Trials Cut: 15:44.89