There has been a ton of coverage of all the newly minted Olympians (and deservedly so), but there were many excellent performances at Trials that did not earn a spot on the team. I compiled a list of the top 26 time drops from seed by percentage (26 Olympic roster spots. Seems like the right number). By far, the biggest stand out in this category was Bethany Galat. She dropped almost 5 seconds in her 200 breast and almost 7 in her 400 IM. Those were the first and fourth biggest time drops of the meet for women. She was 3rd in both events.
The only Olympic qualifying performances to make the list were Abbey Weitzeil in the 50 free and Gunnar Bentz in the 200 free. Weitzeil dropped .44, the 13th biggest drop for women by percentage and Bentz dropped 2.52, the 14th biggest drop for men.
A few of these drops are a bit deceptive. Michael Klueh had been under 2:00 in the 200 fly several times this summer, but his entry time was 2:00.73.
A disproportionate number of big time drops came in breaststroke events. 5 of the top 6 men’s drops were in breaststroke events.
Women:
| Event | Time Change | Psych Place | Psych Time | Final Place | Best Time | ||
| 1 | Galat, Bethany | 200 Breast | -3.3% | 26 | 2:29.42 | 3 | 2:24.52 |
| 2 | Bilquist, Amy | 200 Back | -3.2% | 31 | 2:12.56 | 4 | 2:08.3 |
| 3 | Merrell, Eva | 200 Back | -2.5% | 48 | 2:13.55 | 9 | 2:10.21 |
| 4 | Galat, Bethany | 400 IM | -2.4% | 19 | 4:44.51 | 3 | 4:37.69 |
| 5 | Raab, Meaghan | 100 Breast | -2.1% | 82 | 1:10.89 | 26 | 1:09.39 |
| 6 | Moroney, Megan | 200 Back | -2.1% | 108 | 2:15.99 | 25 | 2:13.12 |
| 7 | Martin, Ruby | 200 Fly | -2.1% | 33 | 2:12.69 | 4 | 2:09.96 |
| 8 | Sanders, Amanda | 100 Breast | -2.1% | 121 | 1:11.48 | 37 | 1:10.01 |
| 9 | Alexander, Bridgette | 200 Back | -1.9% | 29 | 2:12.41 | 8 | 2:09.83 |
| 10 | Garcia, Taylor | 100 Back | -1.9% | 61 | 1:02.52 | 16 | 1:01.32 |
| 11 | Pitzer, Lauren | 400 Free | -1.8% | 77 | 4:16.89 | 16 | 4:12.14 |
| 12 | Bilquist, Amy | 100 Back | -1.8% | 10 | 1:00.45 | 3 | 59.37 |
| 13 | Weitzeil, Abbey | 50 Free | -1.8% | 6 | 24.72 | 1 | 24.28 |
| 14 | Konopka, Katrina | 50 Free | -1.8% | 15 | 25.12 | 5 | 24.68 |
| 15 | Krivokapic-Zhou, Sophie | 200 Back | -1.7% | 142 | 2:16.57 | 35 | 2:14.3 |
| 16 | Cooper, Caitlin | 50 Free | -1.6% | 59 | 25.84 | 15 | 25.42 |
| 17 | Moroney, Megan | 100 Back | -1.6% | 84 | 1:02.81 | 24 | 1:01.8 |
| 18 | Jones, Kaitlyn | 100 Fly | -1.6% | 29 | 59.84 | 10 | 58.88 |
| 19 | Williams, Kim | 100 Breast | -1.6% | 122 | 1:11.48 | 46 | 1:10.36 |
| 20 | Vose, Kirsten | 100 Free | -1.5% | 58 | 56.04 | 16 | 55.18 |
| 21 | Postoll, Melissa | 200 Back | -1.5% | 51 | 2:13.71 | 14 | 2:11.67 |
| 22 | Crew, Kendra | 100 Breast | -1.5% | 92 | 1:11.07 | 37 | 1:10.01 |
| 23 | Hespeler, Jessica | 400 Free | -1.5% | 87 | 4:17.18 | 19 | 4:13.37 |
| 24 | Smoliga, Olivia | 50 Free | -1.5% | 13 | 25.07 | 4 | 24.7 |
| 25 | Henry, Sarah | 200 Breast | -1.4% | 21 | 2:28.7 | 8 | 2:26.57 |
| 26 | Goeders, Anya | 50 Free | -1.4% | 24 | 25.52 | 9 | 25.16 |
Men:
| Event | Time Change | Psych Place | Psych Time | Final Place | Best Time | ||
| 1 | Fiala, Brandon | 100 Breast | -3.4% | 123 | 1:03.56 | 16 | 1:01.4 |
| 2 | Evdokimov, Alex | 100 Breast | -3.2% | 83 | 1:03.17 | 12 | 1:01.14 |
| 3 | Whitaker, Kyle | 100 Breast | -2.9% | 118 | 1:03.51 | 21 | 1:01.65 |
| 4 | Devine, Abrahm | 200 IM | -2.7% | 32 | 2:02.74 | 6 | 1:59.43 |
| 5 | Evdokimov, Alex | 200 Breast | -2.7% | 71 | 2:17.7 | 10 | 2:14 |
| 6 | Finnerty, Ian | 100 Breast | -2.7% | 51 | 1:02.63 | 11 | 1:00.96 |
| 7 | Klueh, Michael | 200 Fly | -2.6% | 44 | 2:00.73 | 12 | 1:57.59 |
| 8 | Pechmann, Luke | 50 Free | -2.5% | 114 | 23.18 | 20 | 22.59 |
| 9 | Higgins, Kyle | 200 Fly | -2.5% | 39 | 2:00.4 | 14 | 1:57.41 |
| 10 | Liang, Andrew | 100 Fly | -2.4% | 45 | 53.94 | 9 | 52.65 |
| 11 | Sorenson, Payton | 50 Free | -2.4% | 37 | 22.83 | 13 | 22.29 |
| 12 | Lile, Nathan | 100 Fly | -2.3% | 141 | 54.79 | 22 | 53.51 |
| 13 | Fiala, Brandon | 200 IM | -2.3% | 88 | 2:04.79 | 16 | 2:01.91 |
| 14 | Bentz, Gunnar | 200 Free | -2.3% | 32 | 1:49.85 | 5 | 1:47.33 |
| 15 | Tybur, Jonathan | 100 Breast | -2.2% | 65 | 1:02.96 | 17 | 1:01.55 |
| 16 | Virva, Dillon | 50 Free | -2.2% | 24 | 22.56 | 8 | 22.06 |
| 17 | Thorne, Nick | 200 IM | -2.1% | 66 | 2:04.28 | 15 | 2:01.61 |
| 18 | Miller, Michael | 100 Fly | -2.1% | 83 | 54.48 | 13 | 53.32 |
| 19 | Wieser, Chris | 1500 Free | -2.1% | 30 | 15:29.17 | 4 | 15:09.7 |
| 20 | Cosgarea, Drew | 200 Back | -2.1% | 68 | 2:02.6 | 14 | 2:00.04 |
| 21 | Mcglaughlin, Mark | 100 Back | -2.1% | 158 | 57.06 | 26 | 55.88 |
| 22 | Stubblefield, Seth | 100 Fly | -2.0% | 10 | 52.31 | 3 | 51.24 |
| 23 | Roberts, Jonathan | 200 Free | -2.0% | 38 | 1:50.02 | 8 | 1:47.84 |
| 24 | Mccurdy, Christian | 200 IM | -2.0% | 45 | 2:03.62 | 14 | 2:01.19 |
| 25 | Bone, Colin | 200 Free | -1.9% | 112 | 1:51.87 | 31 | 1:49.74 |
| 26 | Glass, Will | 100 Fly | -1.9% | 24 | 53.25 | 7 | 52.25 |
So glad Jonathan Roberts got recognition, those time drops to get into the final of the 200 were insane. Glad this article was made in general, one thing I like about this level of competition is seeing ALL the athletes perform. And I’m kind of a time statistics nut.
Loved this as well. He had a great NCAAs in the 200BK and 400IM, but his freestyle events were a bit off this spring. Great to see Ronny Joberts bust those huge swims…thought his prelim 1:48 was absurd until he followed it up with a 1:47. Texas will need him with some of the incoming talent at this year’s NCAA meet.
Three Stanford swimmers, nice
I’m so glad Swimswam gave recognition to these time drops, because even though deciding who should be on the Olympic Team was obviously the main objective of the meet, for 99% of the athletes who competed a time drop and the experience of participating was the best they could hope to achieve. Congratulations to all the athletes who were “winners” because they competed to the best of their ability!
Yes – great job Beth and SwimSwam
Chris Wieser’s twenty second drop in the 1500 over two days was amazing! Congrats to him, coach Steve Brown, and U of A. Go Cats!
Good list! Will Licon deserves a shoutout too!
I was shouting so loud for Bethany in the 200 Breast Final that I think everyone in the stands must have thought I was her dad. She sure excited Aggie fans throughout Trials!
I don’t even have any Aggie connections and I still did the same thing in front of my TV.
good job steve bultman
Lets get these guys in a room and do some tests on the powers of positive psyche and how to develop winning attitudes that foster success. Throw in the Olympic team also and thier coaches. Bet we could learn an a$$load if we do it group style: teams of 7 get down some bullet points, then whole class starts sharing, get some discussions going. Have groups brainstorm ideas for implimentation. USAS and YOU (and don’t forget the cheeeeldrin) could all benefit.
Now whos paying and wheres this going down!?