2016 U.S. Olympic Trials: Day Seven Finals Preview

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

• Sunday June 26th-Sunday July 3rd, 2016
• Century Link Center – Omaha, Nebraska
• Friday-Sunday – Prelims – 11:00 am EDT   Finals – 7:45 pm EDT
• SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
• NBC Televison Coverage Schedule
• Psych Sheets
• Live results

FINALS

WOMEN’S 200 BACK

• Missy Franklin has had a rough meet, but much of the pressure is off now that she’s secured her spot on the team in the 200 free and 4×200 free relay. The world record holder will find staunch competition in Maya Dirado, who has been great all meet and put up the fastest time of 2:08.14 in semifinals. Elizabeth Beisel, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, is seeded 5th after semifinals behind NCAA stars Amy Bilquist and Lisa Bratton. U Kentucky has two into the final, 2016 NCAA Champ Danielle Galyer and Bridgette Alexander. 18-year-old Erin Voss is the 8th competitor tonight– her 2:10.06 was quick, but all others were under 2:10 in semifinals.

MEN’S 100 FLY

• Michael Phelps is only through to this final in sixth. Cal’s Seth Stubblefield and Tom Shields put up strong times in semis, as well as SwimMAC’s Tim Phillips and Matthew Josa. Those four were all under 51.8, as was Jack Conger, who has yet to make an individual event at this meet. Phelps will need to be at a 51 low (at least) to be top two tonight, because these boys will be out fast.

WOMEN’S 800 FREE

• World record watch for Miss Katie Ledecky, who said that her 8:10 felt “easy” in prelims. Leah Smith had a new best time in prelims, and is knocking on the 8:20 barrier for finals. Those two seem like locks for the final, but open water specialists Ashley Twichell and Haley Anderson are behind the two and could find themselves closer to the 8:25 range with better swims tonight.

MEN’S 50 FREE

• Anthony Ervin and Nathan Adrian look very good, especially after Caeleb Dressel slipped a little in semis and couldn’t get under 22. Cullen Jones is right there, and Josh Schneider popped a 21.8 to win the swim-off to make it into this final. The older Cal guys Ervin and Adrian, however, have all the momentum heading into tonight.

SEMIFINALS

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

• Six women were under 25 in prelims, with Madison Kennedy, Abbey Weitzeil, and Simone Manuel leading with 24.5’s. 100 back Trials Champion and 2016 NCAA Champion Olivia Smoliga went under 25 for the first time in her career to post a solid 24.78, and rising Arizona sophomore Katrina Konopka touched at 24.90 for her first time under 25 too. Dana Vollmer‘s 24.96 was the last sub-25 swim. Ivy Martin, who has a best of 24.62, was 25.05 this morning and is very capable of dropping at least a couple tenths to get into the final.