2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

• June 15-23, 2024
• Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Session Start Times (ET):
  • 11 a.m. Prelims
  • 7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)
• Meet Central
• Broadcast Info
• SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Prelims Live Stream
• Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

The second of nine days of U.S. Olympic Trials action from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis gets underway this morning with preliminary heats in five events: the men’s 200 free, 400 IM and 100 back, and the women’s 100 breast and 200 free.

Both 200 free events will hold a little bit of extra weight this morning with up to six swimmers earning Olympic relay berths come the final, and any slip-up could result in someone missing the top 16—we saw two favorites for the relay, Bella Sims and Claire Weinstein, miss the 400 free final on Saturday, so all eyes will be on them.

Carson Foster is scheduled to take on a daunting double, with the men’s 200 free and 400 IM back-to-back this morning. Foster will be looking to solidify a spot on the 800 free relay in the 200 free, and he should be able to comfortably cruise to the 400 IM final, so we shouldn’t be surprised to see him racing both this morning.

• Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet
• Day 2 Prelims Live Stream

Tonight, the 400 IM will be first on the schedule, with the 200 free semis two events later with the women’s 100 fly final sandwiched in between.

The men’s 200 free will be headlined by Luke Hobson, who won bronze in this event at the 2024 World Championships, while Aaron Shackell and Kieran Smith will be back in the water after earning Olympic qualifying spots (Smith not locked in officially) last night in the 400 free.

In the 400 IM it will be Foster and Chase Kalisz as the big favorites, with Jay Litherland seeded 3rd and looking to make his third straight Olympic team (alongside Kalisz) in the event. Another top contender, David Johnston, will be looking to rebound after narrowly missing a top-two spot last night in the 400 free.

The women’s 100 breast will give us a look at the last two Olympic champions in the event, Lilly King and Lydia Jacoby. Those are the two favorites to nab roster spots in the final, with Kaitlyn Dobler the only swimmer on paper with a realistic chance of an upset.

There’s a similar scenario in the men’s 100 back, where it’s Ryan Murphy and Hunter Armstrong coming in as massive favorites, though Justin Ress and Destin Lasco have both been sub-53 recently and Shaine Casas is always someone to watch.

This will be the first swim of the meet for Casas, who has better qualifying opportunities later in the meet in the 100 fly and 200 IM…but could he surprise here?

Closing the morning will be the women’s 200 free, and as mentioned at the top, Sims and Weinstein will be under a bit of pressure to smoothly advance after rough outings in the 400 free prelims.

Katie Ledecky might end up scratching the event at some point, but for now, she’s the top seed.

• Read the full Day 2 prelims preview here.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE — PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:42.00 — Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
• American Record: 1:42.96 — Michael Phelps, 2008
• U.S. Open Record: 1:44.10 — Michael Phelps (USA), 2008
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 — David Popovici (ROU), 2022
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion:  Kieran Smith, 1:45.29
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:47.06

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Luke Hobson (LAKE), 1:45.95
2. Blake Pieroni (ISC), 1:46.09
3. Drew Kibler (NYAC), 1:46.39
4. Brooks Curry (CAL), 1:46.49
5. Patrick Sammon (SUN), 1:46.72
6. Kieran Smith (RAC), 1:46.77
7. Coby Carrozza (TXLA), 1:46.81
8. Daniel Diehl (WOLF), 1:46.83
9. Jake Mitchell (FLOR), 1:47.01
10. Chris Guiliano (ND) / Aaron Shackell (CSC), 1:47.05
11. –
12. Jake Magahey (SA), 1:47.06
13. Zhang Wen (AFA), 1:47.24
14. Baylor Nelson (TAMU), 1:47.25
15. Grant House (SUN), 1:47.35
16. Rex Maurer (TXLA), 1:47.39

Luke Hobson made sure to let his presence be known in the heats of the men’s 200 freestyle, controlling the seventh and final heat en route to touching 1st and qualifying for tonight’s semis with the top seed in 1:45.95.

Hobson has been as fast as 1:45.26 this season, done leading off the men’s 800 free relay at the 2024 World Championships (where he won individual bronze in the 200 free).

Drew Kibler (1:46.39) and Brooks Curry (1:46.49) also had impressive sub-1:47 showings from the final heat to smoothly advance to the semis, while Heat 5 saw a blistering performance from Indiana’s Blake Pieroni.

Pieroni, a three-time Olympic relay gold medalist and longtime Indiana-based swimmer, briefly retired from the sport before coming back last year, and it all came to a head this morning as he showed his best form in six years.

The 28-year-old clocked 1:46.09 to win Heat 5 of the 200 free and qualify 2nd for the final, with the time marking the second-fastest of his career, only trailing his PB of 1:45.93 set back in 2018.

Pieroni and Patrick Sammon (1:46.72) went 1-2 in the first circle-seeded heat in the absence of Carson Foster, who was seeded 3rd coming in but opted to no show with the 400 IM next on the schedule. Sammon knocked just over a tenth off his PB.

Kieran Smith was the lone swimmer from Heat 6 to earn a spot in the top eight this morning, clocking 1:46.77 to improve his season-best time. Smith is the 3rd-fastest American of all-time with his PB of 1:44.74 from the Tokyo Olympics.

In Heat 3, Daniel Diehl had a monster swim, lowering his best time by more than two and a half seconds in 1:46.83 to climb to #5 all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group. Diehl, currently training at NC State, held a previous PB of 1:49.53 from last summer.

U.S. 17-18 Boys’ Age Group Rankings, 200-Meter Freestyle:

1. Michael Phelps — 1:45.99 (2003)
2. Jack Levant — 1:46.39 (2018)
3. Luca Urlando – 1:46.51 (2019)
4. Henry McFadden — 1:46.80 (2023)
5. Daniel Diehl — 1:46.83 (2024)

Diehl ended up comfortably advancing in 8th.

One of the favorites later in the meet in the 100 free, Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano dropped 1.70 seconds from his lifetime best in 1:47.05 to top Heat 4 and ultimately advanced to the final in 10th.

Notably missing the final was Jersey Wahoos’ Henry McFadden, who was a member of the American 800 free relay at last summer’s World Championships.

McFadden finished in 1:47.40, .01 back of 16th-place Rex Maurer, while Luca Urlando also missed out after a promising first 150, fading to 7th in the bunched-up sixth heat and finishing 19th overall in 1:47.63.

Pleasanton Seahawk stud Luka Mijatovic continued his impressive meet after a near National Age Group Record in the 400 free on Saturday, setting a new personal best of 1:48.98 out of Heat 2 to rank #7 all-time for 15-16 boys in the 200 free.

U.S. 15-16 Boys’ Age Group Rankings, 200-Meter Freestyle:

1. Maximus Williamson — 1:47.29 (2023)
2. Luca Urlando — 1:47.73 (2019)
3. Carson Foster — 1:48.57 (2018)
4. Jason Zhao — 1:48.60 (2023)
5. Caeleb Dressel — 1:48.64 (2013)
6. Jake Magahey — 1:48.65 (2018)
7. Luka Mijatovic — 1:48.98 (2024)

The 15-year-old’s previous best time of 1:49.63 stands as the current 13-14 NAG record.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY— PRELIMS

• World Record: 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand (FRA), 2023
• World Junior Record: 4:10.02 – Ilya Borodin (RUS), 2021
• American Record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps (USA), 2008
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Chase Kalisz, 4:09.09
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 4:12.50

Final Qualifiers:

1. Carson Foster (RAYS), 4:11.02
2. Chase Kalisz (TXLA), 4:13.78
3. Jay Litherland (TXLA), 4:14.46
4. Tommy Bried (UOFL), 4:15.01
5. Danny Berlitz (CM), 4:15.98
6. Ian Grum (DYNA), 4:16.25
7. Gregg Enoch (CSC), 4:17.27
8. Kyle Ponsler (WOLF), 4:17.35

After no-showing his first two entries of the meet, Carson Foster made his first appearance of these Trials in the prelims of the men’s 400 IM, cruising to a dominant victory in the 11th and final heat.

Foster opened up a sizeable lead early and cruised his way home, touching in 4:11.02 to advance 1st into the final by more than two and a half seconds.

Foster’s heat ended up being significantly faster than the other circle-seeded heat, as six of the eight finals qualifiers came out of it.

Tokyo silver medalist Jay Litherland was 2nd to Foster in 4:14.46, qualifying 3rd overall, while Louisville’s Tommy Bried dropped more than three seconds off his lifetime best to advance 4th in 4:15.01. Bried set his previous PB of 4:18.72 at the U.S. Open in November.

Bried has the fastest breaststroke split in the field by a decent margin at 1:09.88.

Club Mountaineer Aquatics’ Danny Berlitz also had a big drop to make the final, dipping well under his previous mark of 4:17.46 in4 :15.98 to advance in 5th.

In the first circle-seeded heat it, it was smooth sailing for defending Olympic champion Chase Kalisz, as, similar to Foster, he opened up a big gap early and cruised home for a final time of 4:13.78.

With #4 seed David Johnston DFS’ing, Kalisz was the only swimmer to advance to the final from Heat 10.

Wolfpack Elite’s Kyle Ponsler did some damage from the non-circle-seeded Heat 9, dropping a second to sneak into the final in 8th (4:17.35).

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE — PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King (USA), 2017
• American Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King, 2017
• U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45 — Jessica Hardy (USA), 2009
• World Junior Record: 1:04.35 — Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Lilly King, 1:04.79
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:06.79

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Lilly King (ISC), 1:06.05
2. Emma Weber (CA-Y), 1:06.67
3. Kaelyn Gridley (DUKE), 1:06.80
4. Lydia Jacoby (STSC), 1:07.25
5. Kaitlyn Dobler (TPDS), 1:07.26
6. Ella Nelson (NAC), 1:07.66
7. McKenzie Siroky (UN-MI), 1:07.80
8. Alex Walsh (NAC), 1:07.82
9. Hannah Bach (OSU), 1:08.05
10. Zoie Hartman (ABSC), 1:08.31
11. Gabrielle Rose (ALPH), 1:08.43
12. Skyler Smith (UNC), 1:08.48
13. Piper Enge (BC) / Raya Mellott (CROW), 1:08.50
14. –
15. Abby Arens (WOLF), 1:08.67
16. Lucy Thomas (EBSC), 1:08.81

The record-setting (prelim) crowd had a lot to cheer about in the heats of the women’s 100 breast, as local Indiana product Lilly King claimed the top seed and 46-year-old Gabrielle Rose produced a very impressive swim to advance to tonight’s session.

King, the 2016 Olympic champion and current 100 breast world record holder, powered to a time of 1:06.05 in the 10th and final heat, advancing 1st into the semis by over six-tenths of a second.

King is the fastest American this season with her 1:05.67 clocking from the Knoxville Pro Swim.

Cavalier Aquatics’ Emma Weber was within two-tenths of her best time to touch 2nd to King and advance into the semis in the same position in 1:06.67, while her Virginia training mates Ella Nelson (1:07.66) and Alex Walsh (1:07.82) also qualified in the top eight—Nelson in a new PB.

One heat earlier, it was defending Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby expected to cruise to victory, but Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley upset those plans by dropping more than a full second off her personal best to touch 1st in 1:06.80 and qualify 3rd into the semis. Jacoby was next up at 1:07.25, good for 4th overall.

Kaitlyn Dobler did what she had to do to smoothly win in the first circle-seeded heat and advance 5th overall into tonight, while hockey player turned swimmer McKenzie Siroky chipped a tenth off her best time to qualify in 7th.

Rose, the former Brazilian and U.S. Olympian in the early 2000s, broke 1:09 for the first time in 1:08.43 to bring the crowd to its feet, giving an emotional wave to the 17,000-plus fans after winning Heat 7. She ultimately advanced 11th into tonight’s semis.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — PRELIMS

• World Record: 51.60 — Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
• American Record: 51.85 — Ryan Murphy, 2016
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94 — Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009
• World Junior Record: 52.53 — Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Ryan Murphy, 52.33
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time — 53.74

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Hunter Armstrong (NYAC), 52.95
2. Ryan Murphy (CAL), 53.18
3. Jack Aikins (SA), 53.24
4. Adam Chaney (FLOR), 53.45
5. Will Modglin (ZSC), 53.59
6. Jack Wilkening (MICH), 53.89
7. Justin Ress (MVN), 53.91
8. Shaine Casas (TXLA), 53.97
9. Tommy Janton (ND), 54.03
10. Nate Stoffle (AU), 54.04
11. Destin Lasco (CAL), 54.23
12. Jacob Molacek (TFA), 54.32
13. Tanner Filion (UN-IN), 54.40
14. Grant Bochenski (UMIZ), 54.48
15. Hunter Tapp (WOLF), 54.52
16. Jack Dolan (SUN), 54.59

The two best American 100 backstrokers of the last three years did as expected in the prelims this morning, as Hunter Armstrong rolled to the top time of the session and Ryan Murphy wasn’t far behind as they advance 1-2 into tonight’s semis.

Armstrong, the 7th-fastest performer in history with his lifetime best of 51.98, clocked in at 52.95 from the penultimate heat to advance 1st into the semis, showing off his speed with the quickest front half in the field (25.48).

In the last heat, Murphy dropped the hammer on the second 50, storming home in 26.89—after opening in 26.29—to finish in a time of 53.18 to claim the #2 seed.

Murphy is the 2016 Olympic champion in the event, having represented the U.S. in the 100 back at every major international meet dating back to the Rio Olympics.

In addition to Murphy, five other men were in the 53-second range, led by SwimAtlanta’s Jack Aikins who dropped two-tenths from his best time to qualify 3rd into the semis in 53.24.

Will Modglin and Jack Wilkening also set new lifetime bests to qualify in 5th and 6th, with Wilkneing dropping nearly eight-tenths and breaking 54 for the first time in 53.89.

Two men with 52-point swims on their resume, Justin Ress and Shaine Casas, rounded out the top eight with a pair of 53.9s, but will likely need to be faster tonight to lock in a lane in the final.

After his very impressive swim in the 200 free, Daniel Diehl opted to drop this event despite coming as the #5 seed and being the boys’ 17-18 NAG Record holder (53.07). Given the presence of Murphy and Armstrong, Diehl will have a better opportunity at an Olympic berth in the 200 free with up to six men being selected for the relay.

There was a tie for 17th between Cavalier Aquatics’ David King and Auburn’s Aidan Stoffle in 54.67, meaning we’ll see a swim-off for the first alternate position in tonight’s session.

The swim for King marked a big best time, dropping from his previous PB of 55.51 to move into 16th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE — PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:52.23 — Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2024
• American Record: 1:53.61 — Allison Schmitt, 2012
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.13 — Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 — Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky, 1:55.11
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 1:57.26

Semi-Final Qualifiers:

1. Katie Ledecky (FLOR), 1:56.18
2. Paige Madden (NYAC), 1:57.04
3. Claire Weinstein (SAND), 1:57.22
4. Anna Peplowski (ISC), 1:57.37
5. Erin Gemmell (NCAP), 1:57.48
6. Aurora Roghair (ALTO), 1:57.84
7. Katie Grimes (SAND), 1:58.28
8. Madi Mintenko (PPA), 1:58.40
9. Alex Shackell (CSC-IN), 1:58.52
10. Katie Crom (MICH), 1:58.55
11. Chloe Stepanek (LIAC), 1:59.17
12. Gabby Deloof (NYAC), 1:59.32
13. Micayla Cronk (FLOR) / Abby Carlson (UW) / Simone Manuel (SUN), 1:59.55
14. –
15. –
16. Camille Spink (TENN), 1:59.66

Katie Ledecky kept her positive momentum from last night’s 400 free victory rolling through the heats of the women’s 200 free, dominating the seventh and final heat in a time of 1:56.18.

It’s unknown if Ledecky, who has been as fast as 1:54.97 this year, will swim this race through to the final with an event conflict with the 1500 coming at the Olympics.

Paige Madden, who claimed the runner-up spot and a likely Olympic berth alongside Ledecky in last night’s 400, topped the penultimate heat in 1:57.04 to advance in 2nd, just shy of her season-best 1:57.00 set at the Speedo Grand Challenge.

Closely behind Madden in that heat was Claire Weinstein, who rebounded from a tough back half of the 400 free yesterday morning with a very sound 1:57.22 clocking to advance 3rd overall into the final.

In Ledecky’s heat, Anna Peplowski, Erin Gemmell and Aurora Roghair all broke 1:58 to qualify 4-5-6 into the semis, with Roghair doing so for the first time and setting a lifetime best of 1:57.84.

Roghair’s swim comes off her breakout last night in the 400 free when she finished 5th.

Another 400 free finalist from Day 1, Madi Mintenko topped Heat 5 in 1:58.40, just over three-tenths shy of her best, to advance 8th into the final, while Michigan’s Katie Crom broke 1:59 for the first time in 1:58.55 for 10th.

Mintenko’s lifetime best of 1:58.07 from last summer ranks her 7th all-time in the girls’ 15-16 age group.

In her first swim of the meet, Simone Manuel qualified for the semis in a three-way tie for 13th (1:59.55), while Bella Sims, after missing the 400 free final yesterday, touched in 1:59.66 which was only good for 17th and out of tonight’s session, barring a scratch.

Anna Moesch and Kayla Wilson also tied for 18th in 1:59.77, meaning there could be a potential swim-off, as 25 total swimmers went sub-2:00.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE — SWIM-OFF

• World Record: 51.60 — Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
• American Record: 51.85 — Ryan Murphy, 2016
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94 — Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009
• World Junior Record: 52.53 — Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Ryan Murphy, 52.33
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time — 53.74

1. David King (CA-Y), 55.03
2. Aidan Stoffle (AU), 55.13

In a race for first alternate, Cavalier Aquatics’ David King held off Auburn’s Aidan Stoffle to win the swim-off in the men’s 100 back.

King, 18, touched in 55.03, with Stoffle a tenth back in 55.13. King set a new best time of 54.67 in the prelims, ranking him 16th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group.