2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Wave II: Day 5 Finals Preview

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Day 5 Finals Heat Sheet

We are entering the back half of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials meet here in Omaha. Kicking off tonight’s session will be the first-ever men’s 800 free Trials final, followed by the men’s 200 breast final. Shortly after will be the women’s 100 free semifinals, sandwiched between the men’s 800 free and men’s 200 breast medal ceremonies. Then, the finals of the women’s 200 fly and men’s 100 free will be contested, followed closely by the women’s 200 breast semifinals. The evening will top off with the men’s 200 IM semifinals, again sandwiched between two medal ceremonies, the women’s 200 fly and men’s 100 free.

Starting off with the men’s 800 free final, 19-year-old Will Gallant leads a predominantly college-aged field alongside the likes of 27-year-old Olympian Jordan Wilimovsky. Also in the mix is 2019 national event champion Bobby Finke, who placed fourth in the competitive men’s 400 IM final.

Then, Matt Fallon, the lone teenager in the men’s 200 breast final, leads an experienced pack at an Olympic-promising 2:08.91, ahead of 100 breast 3rd-place finisher Nic Fink, 2016 Olympian Kevin Cordes, Texas alum Will Licon, 100 breast runner-up Andrew Wilson, and Stanford standout Daniel Roy.

Defending Trials champion Abbey Weitzeil will put in her semifinals bid this evening in the women’s 100 free, leading the second semifinal. Leading the first semifinal is Olivia Smoliga, who is seeded No. 2 after prelims in this event after placing 3rd in the women’s 100 back final. Into the men’s 200 back semifinals, prelims standouts Destin Lasco, Bryce Mefford, Jack Aikins, and Hunter Tapp lead over the Ryan Murphy-loaded field.

Following the first two semifinals rounds, Hali Flickinger and Regan Smith will headline the women’s 200 fly final over a talented 8-woman field, including the likes of 17-year-old Charlotte Hook. Then, world record-holder Caeleb Dressel and U.S. Open record-holder Ryan Held will swim for their return to the Olympic Games alongside 2016 Olympian Blake Pieroni in the men’s 100 free final.

The remaining two events will be a pair of semifinals, the women’s 200 breast and men’s 200 IM. Leading the women’s breast event include Annie Lazor and Ella Nelson while 100 breast champion Michael Andrew and Olympic champion Ryan Lochte headline the men’s IM event.

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Patrick
3 years ago

My TV is telling me this is the Track and Field Trial. Just guessing it’s wrong.

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. …

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