2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Swims You Might Have Missed (Day 2)

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

Day 2 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials is over. We saw the convergence of a lot of story lines: Carson Foster’s redemption arc, Gretchen Walsh’s coronation, and a nail-biting swim-off. But once again, let’s settle in and take a look at some of the swims that flew under the radar.

Owen McDonald, who announced his transfer to Indiana after NCAAs, put together a nearly-two second drop in the 200 freestyle as he won his prelims heat (1:48.05). The crowd, 17,697-strong this morning, gave him a warm welcome. In his sophomore season with ASU, McDonald was the Sun Devils’ third-highest scorer. It’s a promising result for his 200 IM later this meet, an event where he is the defending NCAA runner-up.

Cal freshman Keaton Jones also had a strong swim in the 200 free, getting under 1:50 for the first time (1:48.23). That finish bodes well for his 200 back, where he has great momentum behind him this season.

Josh Parent is another freshman who broke a time barrier. He cut just about a second off his best 400 IM time to dip under 4:20 for the first time (4:19.98).

Levi Sandidge just missed out on finals of the 400 IM, but his 9th-place finish represented a 2.85-second drop from his previous best from 2022 (4:17.35). The Kentucky sophomore is better known for his mile in the NCAA format.

Jennah Fadely, the 2022 and 2023 D3 NCAA champion in the 100 breast, clocked a personal best in prelims (1:09.10) to place 19th overall. Fadely has one year left at Kenyon College, a perennial D3 powerhouse.

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1978wzlyrah
8 days ago

Keep highlighting these under-the-radar swims!!! While the marquis/headliner stories are who’s making the Paris Olympic team, there’s always so much more–PBs & barrier breaking swims, Gabrielle Rose — OMG SHE MADE TOP 10!!! — & all those swimmers who have their own crazy, wonderful lights-out best swims of their careers. Thank you for these stories.

Goehring
8 days ago

Gretchen Walsh fly. Her arms are so high on recovery?

Jennifer
Reply to  Goehring
8 days ago

There are many things about her stroke that we would never teach an age grouper, including the very deep knee bend on her kick and the hands almost touching at the front of her stroke, but she can swim it that way because she has a wingspan of 6’4″ and an incredible amount of strength put together with impeccable timing. Clearly it works for her.

Awsi Dooger
8 days ago

NBC did a really good job with the China piece, including Rowdy emphasizing that the story wasn’t going away.

I would have preferred it to be a bit more biting, which was deserved. But I understand that networks have legal departments that shy away from that type of thing.

Overall it was impressive that NBC aired it at all. Tim Hutchings on the European Athletics Championships coverage last week was saying that American telecasts are far more conservative than what he deals with in Europe. He said producers in the United States are always telling him to stay away from controversial topics and not to speculate on injuries.

Danny
9 days ago

MA dies in the last 25 of his hundred. And Casas comes 9th and misses A final.
Doing what they do best

IU Swammer
Reply to  Danny
9 days ago

I don’t think many people missed those results.

cynthia curran
Reply to  Danny
9 days ago

Well, MA might get at least third in 50 free. Last year he won 50 fly. So, something like that is to happen. Anway, if he doesn’t do any better his swim school has less people attending it and he said he wanted to buy a 1.3 million tract house in San Diego.