2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Swims You Might Have Missed (Day 3)

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

It was a light morning today with only three prelims events, but the night session was packed with five finals and one semi. Let’s take a look at some swims that flew under the radar.

Florida sophomore Zoe Dixon swam her fastest time since 2021 in the women’s 400 IM in prelims, clocking 4:43.30 to qualify 6th for the final. While all eyes were on the race in the center of the pool, Dixon quietly posted a new personal best, dropping almost a quarter of a second (4:42.01). She’s coming off an NCAA season that culminated in two A-finals appearances, and her swim here should give her confidence for not only the rest of the meet but also her last two years of collegiate swimming.

There was a lot of excitement at the top of the women’s 100 back, with barriers falling left and right. Sylvia Roy (Mount Lebanon Aquatic Club) is one of those swimmers who broke a milestone barrier. She punched 1:00.95 in prelims to drop 0.81-seconds from her previous best and venture into 1:00 territory for the first time. She is committed to the University of Virginia starting in the fall of 2025.

Las Vegas Swim Club’s Max Carlsen had a huge swim in the first heat of the men’s 800 free. There were only four swimmers in the heat, but the 17-year-old still managed to put together a six second drop from his entry time (8:02.98). His swim set the precedent for other youngsters to have big drops as the event went on. He is committed to swim at NC State, though he still has his senior year of high school ahead of him.

Lance Norris, a current member of the Wolfpack, also had a great 800 free. He dropped even more time off his entry time — 6.57-seconds to be exact — to dip under eight minutes for the first time in his career (7:59.84). The Wolfpack will have a formidable distance group in a few years, as Norris just completed his freshman year.

Another first sub-8:00 performance came from Carson Hick, who just wrapped up his freshman campaign at the University of Kentucky. Hick dropped over five and a half seconds in his swim, going head-to-head with Norris in heat four (7:59.62).

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NorCal Swim
4 months ago

Love these pieces and appreciate recognition of the notable efforts!