2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II: Day 3 Finals Preview

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Tuesday Finals Heat Sheet

Tonight is going to be electric in Omaha, there will be FOUR finals tonight alongside three semifinals for tonight’s two-hour adrenaline-packed session. Here’s a quick rundown of tonight’s events:

  • Women’s 200 Free Semifinals
  • Men’s 200 Free Final
  • Women’s 100 Back Final
  • Men’s 100 Back Final
  • Women’s 100 Breast Final
  • Men’s 200 Fly Semifinals
  • Women’s 200 IM Semifinals

After a plethora of no-shows and last-minute scratches, the women’s 200 free semi-finals are now solidified to kick off the session. Leading each semifinal include No. 2 seed Katie Ledecky (1:57.58) and No. 1 seed Leah Smith (1:57.52). Be on the lookout for UVA star Paige Madden next to Ledecky, who placed 2nd in Sunday night’s 400 free final. Scratched into the second semifinal with a 1:59.48 morning effort out of lane seven will be newly-minted Olympian Torri Huske.

Then, the first relay event for Team USA will be contested, the men’s 200 free final. Highlighting the field includes another newly-minted Olympian, 400 free champion Kieran Smith, who is the top seed at 1:45.74. 2016 Olympians Townley Haas (1:46.30) and Blake Pieroni (1:46.84) will compete for their return to the Olympics while Zach Apple (1:46.22), Drew Kibler (1:46.70), Andrew Seliskar (1:46.95), Patrick Callan (1:47.00), and Carson Foster (1:47.03) will duke it out for first-time Olympic nominations.

The long-awaited women’s 100 back final will follow, featuring American and U.S. Open record-holder Regan Smith (57.92) and 2016 Olympian Olivia Smoliga (58.50) alongside the likes of all-time U.S. performers Katharine Berkoff (58.62) and Isabelle Stadden (58.99), Rhyan White (58.99) Phoebe Bacon (59.62), Catie DeLoof (59.90) and Lisa Bratton (1:00.18).

Defending Olympic champion Ryan Murphy of Cal will aim to defend his 2016 Trials title in the men’s 100 back, leading with his top seed 52.22. All aiming for first-time Olympic berths next to Murphy include Ohio State’s Hunter Armstrong (52.67), Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas (52.77), NC State’s Justin Ress (52.86) and Hunter Tapp (53.60), and Cal’s Bryce Mefford (52.86). Swimming side-by-side in the same final will be 2012 Olympic champion Matt Grevers (53.18) and newly-minted 2021 Olympian Michael Andrew (53.82).

The last adrenaline-filled final will be the women’s 100 breast, where world record-holder Lilly King will swim to be nominated for the 2021 U.S. Olympic team after nailing the top time in the world this season at 1:04.72. Behind King will be a tight race for the second nomination spot between 2019 Pan American champion Annie Lazor (1:05.37), talented 17-year-old Alaskan Lydia Jacoby (1:05.71), sub-1:06 breaststroker Bethany Galat (1:05.96), 2012 Olympian Micah Sumrall (1:07.03), 2019 U.S. Open champion Emily Escobedo (1:07.23), Michigan alum Miranda Tucker (1:07.26), and USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler (1:07.28). Joining the aforementioned octuplet to form a 9-woman final will be 2016 Olympian Molly Hannis, which you can read more about here.

Following the four finals will be two semi-finals; the men’s 200 fly and women’s 200 IM. Highlighting the men’s 200 fly include top seed Zach Harting (1:55.34), NCAA Champion Nicolas Albiero (1:56.13), NAG holder Luca Urlando (1:56.94), and 2016 Olympians Jay Litherland (1:57.67), Tom Shields (1:57.92), and Jack Conger (1:58.37). In the women’s 200 IM, NCAA champion Kate Douglass leads the field at 2:10.53 along with 2019 national champion Madisyn Cox (2:10.64), 2019 Pan American champion Meghan Small (2:11.48), and 2016 Olympian Melanie Margalis (2:11.33).

At the end of the session, be sure to watch the first of two men’s 400 free timed finals, where 9 swimmers will aim for the 3:46.78 FINA A cut, which will institute an U.S. Olympic roster nomination if achieved.

In This Story

19
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

19 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Deepblue
3 years ago

The Swimswam photo curse continues…

Stephen
3 years ago

At the end of the session, be sure to watch the first of two men’s 400 free timed finals, where 9 swimmers will aim for the 3:46.78 FINA A cut, which will institute an U.S. Olympic roster nomination if achieved.

Stephen
3 years ago

Talk to me about this 400m timed race after the main program

Swimfan
3 years ago

Smoligia and smith will break the world record tonight hopefully smoligia has been dropping big times in the finals

Bigfish For Life
3 years ago

Keep it rolling Paige Madden!!!!!! Incredible showing, and a true testament to many, many years of hard work, commitment, and determination.

Amazing the amount of high caliber swimmers a small team – City of Mobile Swim (or “CMSA”) – from Mobile, AL has produced over the years. There must be something to be said about 5 am workouts or 3pm drylands in 95 degree weather + humidity at a no frills 6 lane 50 meter pool facility in Mobile, AL.

Credit to both the past & present coaching staff for its commitment to LIFE LESSON’s on the Gulf Coast.

Marklewis
3 years ago

The men’s 200 free will be a thrill ride down to the last stroke.

Can Eddie Reese get his Texas boys on the Olympic team like in 2016.

Townley needs some good turns and a ferocious finish this time. Drew Kibler would be smart to draft off Zach Apple in the next lane over. Carson Foster will be trying to move up two spots from lane 8.

Oski55
3 years ago

Rooting for Mefford in the 100 back!!!!!

bobthebuilderrocks
3 years ago

King Cong getting ready to move up…

Marklewis
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
3 years ago

Pressure is on Jack. He used to be the top 200 flyer and now he just squeaking into the semis.

Pvdh
Reply to  Marklewis
3 years ago

He was the top 2 flyer for maybe 6 months lol in the time Phelps was gone.

About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

Read More »