2022 U.S. Trials: Day 2 Finals Preview

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

It’s night 2 from the 2022 U.S. World Championship Trials in Greensboro, and we’ve got finals of the 200 free, 200 breast, 200 back, and 50 fly on tap tonight.

Collegiate swimmers continued to perform well after a strong start yesterday. Swimmers who swam at NCAAs last month occupy just under half of the lanes in finals tonight.

Katie Ledecky cruised to the top seed in the 200 free this morning, posting a 1:56.20. Paige Madden missed the ‘A’ final, so the race has opened up in a big way as three legs from the Tokyo 4×200 final are absent. Chasing relay spots will be four high schoolers, including three from the Sandpipers of Nevada.

It’s a Texas party on the men’s side, with the Longhorns putting four into the ‘A’ final. Leading the way is Carson Foster, who dropped a 1:45.57 in the prelims, a PB and the third-fastest time in the world this year. Along with his teammates, he’ll have Kieran Smith to contend with, as well as Luca Urlando and Trenton Julian, who went 1-2 in the 200 fly last night.

UVA and Indiana came up big in the women’s 200 breast, putting three swimmers each in the big heat. Lilly King, Kate Douglass, and Annie Lazor all dropped 2:24s this morning, so get set for a close race.

It’s a similar story in the men’s 200 breast, with Texas and Indiana each getting three swimmers in the final. Jake Foster swam a best time of 2:09.79, the only man to break 2:10 this morning. Nic Fink was two and a half seconds off his seed in the heats, but look for him to be faster as he tries to qualify for his first long-course Worlds team since 2017.

Many will be supporting Will Licon, who has had too many near-misses to count in this event at U.S. selection meets in the past. The Texas grad comes in after qualifying sixth out of the heats in 2:11.50.

We’re set for an extremely tight race in the women’s 200 back. Regan Smith looks to qualify here after missing an Olympic berth last summer. She’s sitting third behind the two women who beat her in Omaha, Rhyan White and Phoebe Bacon. Smith did beat both of them, however, last month at NCAAs. Bacon holds the top time of the morning in 2:06.78.

Shaine Casas popped a 1:55.57 in prelims, a new PB and the fastest time in the world this year. He’ll have to fend off Ryan Murphy, who is the reigning Olympic and World Championship silver medalist, and a bevy of NCAA stars, including this year’s champion Destin Lasco.

After a disappointing 100 free, Gretchen Walsh bounced back today in the 50 fly to qualify fourth in a tie with Torri Huske. Claire Curzan qualified first with a 25.60, closely followed by Kelsi Dahlia. Also in the mix is Natalie Hinds, who’s shown good form through the early sessions of the meet.

In the final race of the night, Caeleb Dressel and Michael Andrew will go head to head in the men’s 50 fly. Seven one-hundredths separate their times from the morning, so don’t turn off your stream before the end of the session. Only the winner will earn a qualifying spot at Worlds.

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aquajosh
1 year ago

Speaking of 50s, it sucks that World Trials are going on at the same time as the Jax50 this Saturday. Manaudou, Blume, Fratus, Toussaint, and Wasick are all gonna be there. Should be some FAST times!

https://jax50.com

Snarky
1 year ago

I’m rooting for Carson simply because he deserves a big breakthrough. I think we may see a 1:44 and a couple or three 1:45’s. Look out for Luca in lane 8.

Women’s 200 is a crap shoot after Ledecky. A Walsh looked devilishly easy this morning. Could be 1:56 low. Grimes could be there too.

Women’s 2 back could be interesting. Bacon looked commanding but not working too hard. Smith was all alone but she is definitely firing on the 2019 level. White cruised. The race will definitely be between those three. I think Bacon and White could duplicate last summer but in the opposite order and finishing times.

Men’s 2 back is Casas’s to lose. He… Read more »

Smith-Jacoby-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  Snarky
1 year ago

Katie Ledecky has been carrying the torch in the women’s 200 meter freestyle since the 2014 Pan Pacs in her weakest event. It would be nice if one of the female competitors could come within a second of Katie Ledecky.

casas 50.7 fly
Reply to  Snarky
1 year ago

i also think Andrew will take it because dressel has been poor on the touches and cos i think andrew is rested more

Unknown Swammer
Reply to  Snarky
1 year ago

I’m guessing no 1:44’s, but likely 3 1:45’s. Hot take would be that Walsh is going to give Ledecky everything she can handle tonight.

Yozhik
1 year ago

I am rooting for Haske and Curzan to be first two in 50BU final. Just to have two other swimmers going to Budapest.

Crack
1 year ago

Only 1 Worlds qualifier in the 50 fly? Thought it was top 2

Zanna
Reply to  Crack
1 year ago

The 2nd spot goes to whoever wins the 100fly. Should he/she chooses to swim the 50.

Crack
Reply to  Zanna
1 year ago

Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up!

Smith-Jacoby-Huske-Curzan
1 year ago

In the women’s 200 meter freestyle, it’s Katie and the teens.

casas 50.7 fly
Reply to  Smith-Jacoby-Huske-Curzan
1 year ago

don’t forgot a walsh

PFA
1 year ago

Im going to say who are the NEW additions to the team today some of these may be bold.

  1. Weinstein
  2. A. Walsh
  3. Sims
  4. K. Smith
  5. C. Foster
  6. Carozza
  7. King
  8. Lazor
  9. Licon
  10. J. Foster
  11. Bacon
  12. Murphy
  13. Casas
  14. Dhalia
  15. Andrew
Calvin
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Dahlia is NOT winning

Pisspooler
Reply to  Calvin
1 year ago

Dahlia is winning.

PFA
Reply to  Calvin
1 year ago

Never said she was winning just said she’ll be a new addition

Marklewis
1 year ago

Carson just needs to beat Kibler or Smith. Kibler and Smith are fast closers though.

Even if Carson got third, that would still be a good showing.

Relay Enthusiast
Reply to  Marklewis
1 year ago

Even though he obviously aims for getting an individual spot, I doubt he’d be that disappointed with sub 1:46 and top 4.

Big Mac #1
1 year ago

I’d love to see an all Texas relay

casas 50.7 fly
Reply to  Big Mac #1
1 year ago

just cos of Smith it isn’t happening

About Sophie Kaufman

Sophie Kaufman

Sophie grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, which means yes, she does root for the Bruins, but try not to hold that against her. At 9, she joined her local club team because her best friend convinced her it would be fun. Shoulder surgery ended her competitive swimming days long ago, …

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