Olympic Trials “Bethany Galat All Stars”

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

In This Story

12
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

12 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Someguy
8 years ago

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.

Chris
Reply to  Someguy
8 years ago

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.

gocard
8 years ago

Three Stanford swimmers, nice

Danjohnrob
8 years ago

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!

Riosoon
8 years ago

Yes – great job Beth and SwimSwam

Bud Man
Reply to  Riosoon
8 years ago

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!

Alamo
8 years ago

Good list! Will Licon deserves a shoutout too!

OldArmy
8 years ago

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!

25METER_IM
Reply to  OldArmy
8 years ago

I don’t even have any Aggie connections and I still did the same thing in front of my TV.

yangee
8 years ago

good job steve bultman

Murica
8 years ago

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!?