2022 U.S. World Championship Trials: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2022 U.S. World Championship Trials

• April 26-30, 2022
• Greensboro, NC
• Greensboro Aquatic Center
• LCM (50m)
• Start Times: Prelims – 9 am ET / Finals – 6 pm ET
• Worlds Qualifying Criteria
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• SwimSwam Pick ‘Em Contest
• How To Watch
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

THURSDAY EVENING HEAT SHEETS

Eight more swimmers will be added to the United States squads for this summer’s FINA World Championships at the end of finals tonight; some will be first-time individual qualifiers, others will be adding a second -or third- event.

16-year-old Leah Hayes threw down a stunning performance in prelims of the 400 IM this morning, and leads the qualifiers by 1.5 seconds into the final with 4:39.65. She and fellow teenager Katie Grimes both qualified ahead of Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant, who will be seeking to represent Team USA again in her signature event. In the 100 fly, Torri Huske and Claire Curzan, both of whom represented the US in this event in Tokyo, are seeded 1-2 for the final. Lilly King is looking to add the 50 breast to the 200 breast for which she qualified yesterday; Kaitlyn Dobler, who won the 100 breast at NCAAs, is seeded second. Regan Smith, who broke the U.S. Open record in heats of the 50 back, will be challenged by NCAA 100 back champion Katharine Berkoff in tonight’s final.

On the men’s side, top-seeded Carson Foster will need to defeat Olympic gold medalist Chase Kalisz to earn the top berth in the men’s 400 IM. World Record-holder Caeleb Dressel was just over half a second off his best time when he led the morning’s qualifiers in the 100 fly. Trenton Julian, runner-up in the 200 fly, qualified second with a big PB. Michael Andrew was third, about eight-tenths off his best time. He will swim in three finals tonight with quick turnaround. His best event -the 50 breast- is in the middle, and he’ll come into tonight’s final with the fastest qualifying time. Nic Fink, who tied for first place in the 200 breast, will challenge him from lane 5. Andrew will also swim in the final of the 50 back, but all eyes will be on the middle two lanes, where Hunter Armstrong, who broke the American and U.S. Open Record this morning, will be challenged by Justin Ress, who was also faster than the two previous marks.

Thursday, April 28

Women’s 400 Meter Individual Medley – Finals

• World Record: 4:26.36 – Katinka Hosszu (2016)
• American Record: 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• US Open Record: 4:31.07 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• Jr World Record: 4:38.53 – Alba Vazquez (2019)
• FINA “A” Cut: 4:43.06
• SwimSwam Preview – W400 IM

Podium:

1. Katie Grimes, Sandpipers of Nevada – 4:36.17
2. Emma Weyant, Unattached – 4:37.72
3. Hali Flickinger, Sun Devils – 4:39.50
4. Leah Hayes, Fox Valley – 4:40.70
5. Mackenzie Looze, Indiana University – 4:44.95
6. Julia Podkoscielny, Pine Crest – 4:47.57
7. Justina Kozan, The Swim Team – 4:48.04
8. Alexis Yager, Tennessee – 4:50.63

Katie Grimes from Sandpipers of Nevada dropped more than 5 seconds from her seeding with a winning time of 4:36.17 in the championship final of the 400 IM. Grimes posted the third-fastest time in the world so far this season, behind only Canada’s Summer McIntosh (4:29.12) and Australia’s Kaylee McKeown (4:34.96).

Leah Hayes led at the first wall, followed by Hali Flickinger and Grimes. Grimes took over the lead at the 100 and held on through the first 50 of the breaststroke. Flickinger moved past Hayes and was about nine-tenths behind Grimes after the backstroke.

The breaststroke saw big moves from Hayes and Emma Weyant, who turned 1-2 into the freestyle, with Grimes in third place.

But Grimes, who placed fourth in the 800 free at the 2020 Olympic Games and won U.S. Open Water Nationals earlier this month, turned on the jets over the final 100 meters, powering home in 1:00.9 to win by 1.6 seconds ahead of Weyant.

Men’s 400 Meter Individual Medley – Finals

• World Record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• American Record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• US Open Record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• Jr World Record: 4:11.17 – Ilia Borodin (2021)
• FINA “A” Cut: 4:17.48
• SwimSwam Preview – M400 IM

Podium:

1. Carson Foster, Texas – 4:09.33
2. Chase Kalisz, Athens Bulldog Swim Club – 4:10.50
3. Bobby Finke, Florida – 4:10.57
4. David Johnston, Texas – 4:13.24
5. Jake Foster, Texas – 4:13.76
6. Jay Litherland, Dynamo – 4:14.44
7. Sean Grieshop, Cal – 4:21.22
8. Jason Louser, Long Island Aquatic Club – 4:21.75

Carson Foster from the University of Texas pulled together the race he needed, in the final that counted, to win the 400 IM with 4:09.33. Foster and his older brother Jake Foster were first out of the gates, leading the field at the 50 wall, with Jay Litherland in third place.

Chase Kalisz moved past the Foster brothers on the second 50 to take over the lead heading into the second 100. Carson Foster moved back into first place on the backstroke but Kalisz bumped him into second placed on the breaststroke leg.

The pair sprinted to the finish on the freestyle, with Foster getting the early edge on Kalisz. Meanwhile, inching up on the leaders was Olympic gold medalist Bobby Finke, who has a reputation as a come-from-behind threat in distance freestyle. Foster was able to increase his lead over the final 50 meters and win by 1.17 seconds, while Kalisz just held off Finke, 4:10.50 to 4:10.57, for second place.

Women’s 100 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 55.48 – Sarah Sjostrom (2016)
• American Record: 55.66 – Torri Huske (2021)
• US Open Record: 55.66 – Torri Huske (2021)
• Jr World Record: 56.46 – Penny Oleksiak (2016)
• FINA “A” Cut: 58.33
• SwimSwam Preview – W100 Fly

Podium:

1. Torri Huske, Unattached – 56.28
2. Claire Curzan, TAC Titans – 56.35
3. Kelsi Dahlia, Cardinal Aquatics – 57.58
4. Kate Douglass, Virginia – 58.14
5. Gabi Albiero, University of Louisville – 58.25
6. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin Aquatics – 58.34
7. Natalie Hinds, Unattached – 58.45
8. Emma Sticklen, Texas – 58.86

In a repeat of the 2020 Olympic Trials final, Torri Huske and Claire Curzan went 1-2 in the 100 fly to qualify for the U.S. squad in their signature event. This year’s finish was much closer than at Trials last summer, with Huske winning by a mere .07 with 56.28.

Curzan led at the halfway mark, turning in 26.24, sixteen-hundredths ahead of Huske. Huske finished in 29.88, though, outsplitting Curzan by .23 over the second half of the race.

Splits:

Huske – 26.40/29.88
Curzan – 26.24/30.11

Kelsi Dahlia led the next wave of finishers, running about a body length behind the leaders. Dahlia stopped the clock at 57.58, finishing half a second in front of Kate Douglass (58.14).

At this point in the 2021-22 season, Huske and Curzan rank second and third in the world, with only Zhang Yufei going faster – a 56.24 from September.

Men’s 100 Meter Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• American Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• US Open Record: 49.76 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• Jr World Record: 50.62 – Kristof Milak (2017)
• FINA “A” Cut: 51.96
• SwimSwam Preview – M100 Fly

Podium:

1. Caeleb Dressel, Gator Swim Club – 50.20
2. Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy – 50.88
3. Trenton Julian, Unattached – 51.10
4. Dare Rose, Cal – 51.40
5. Luca Urlando, DART – 51.76
6. Zach Harting, Cardinal Aquatics – 52.23
7. Drew Kibler, Texas – 52.39
8. Maxime Rooney, Pleasanton Seahawks – 52.69

Caeleb Dressel added .19 from his morning swim but it was still enough to win the men’s 100 fly final by nearly half a body length. Dressel came to the wall in 50.20, .66 ahead of Michael Andrew (50.88). Andrew was right with Dressel at the 50, trailing by only .09 (23.58 to 23.67), but Dressel’s underwater off the wall put him way in front of the field and he came home sixth-tenths faster.

Splits:

Dressel – 23.58/26.62
Andrew – 23.67/27.21

Trenton Julian had a stunning second 50, matching Dressel’s 26.6, but it wasn’t enough to catch Andrew for second place given Julian’s .8-second deficit at the 50.

Dressel’s 50.01 from prelims remains the top swim in the world so far this season, while Andrew moves up to tie for third place.

Women’s 50 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 29.30 – Benedetta Pilato (2021 – unratified)
• American Record: 29.40 – Lilly King (2017)
• US Open Record: 29.62 – Lilly King (2018)
• Jr World Record: 29.61 – Benedetta Pilato (2020)
• FINA “A” Cut: 31.22
• SwimSwam Preview – W50 Breast

Podium:

1. Lilly King, Indiana Swim Club – 29.76
2. Kaitlyn Dobler, Unattached – 30.34
3. Lydia Jacoby, Seward Tsunami – 30.35
4. Danielle Herrmann, Clovis – 31.06
5. Hannah Bach, Ohio State – 31.15
6. Andrea Perttula, Texas A&M / Lucy Thomas, Elmsbrook – 31.67
7. –
8. Jessey Li, Mason Manta Rays – 31.82

Lilly King cracked the 30-second barrier in the 50 breast for the first time this year, winning by half a body length with 29.76. She put up the second-fastest time in the world for the season behind only World Record-holder Benedetta Pilato of Italy, who went 29.58 at Italian Trials earlier this month.

2022 NCAA 100 breast gold medalist Kaitlyn Dobler eked out a second place victory over 2020 Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby, 30.34 to 30.35.

Men’s 50 Meter Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (2017)
• American Record: 26.76 – Kevin Cordes (2015)
• US Open Record: 26.60 – Joao Gomez (2019)
• Jr World Record: 26.97 – Nicolo Martinenghi (2017)
• FINA “A” Cut: 27.33
• SwimSwam Preview – M50 Breast

Podium:

1. Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy – 26.52
2. Nic Fink, MAAC – 26.55
3. Kevin Houseman, Northwestern – 27.24
4. Brandon Fischer, Unattached – 27.59
5. Liam Bell, Unattached – 27.64
6. Reid Mikuta, Auburn – 27.72
7. Tommy Cope, Indiana Swim Club – 27.89
8. Dillon Hillis, Florida – 28.50

Michael Andrew and Nic Fink traded stroke for stroke in a sprint to the finish of the men’s 50 breast and, when it was all said and done, they both came in under the American Record and U.S. Open Record. The two marks now belong to Andrew, who touched out Fink, 26.52 to 26.55. They moved to second and third in the world for the current season, trailing only Nicolo Martinenghi (26.49).

Kevin Houseman was running about half a body length behind and finished third with 27.24, while Brandon Fischer edged Liam Bell, 27.59 to 27.64, for fourth place.

Women’s 50 Meter Backstroke – Finals

• World Record: 26.98 – Xiang Liu (2018)
• American Record: 27.33 – Olivia Smoliga (2019)
• US Open Record: 27.40 – Regan Smith (2022)
• Jr World Record: 27.49 – Minna Atherton (2016)
• FINA “A” Cut: 28.22
• SwimSwam Preview – W50 Back

Podium:

1. Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 27.12
2. Regan Smith, Unattached – 27.25
3. Olivia Smoliga, Sun Devils – 27.33
4. Rhyan White, Alabama – 27.45
5. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 27.78
6. Kylee Alons, NCA State – 28.16
7. Erika Brown, Tennessee Aquatics – 28.24
8. Berit Berglund, Carmel Swim Club – 28.44

The ink had barely dried on the new U.S. Open Record that Regan Smith set in prelims when the championship final of the 50 back started. Smith, in lane 4, and Katharine Berkoff in lane 5, traded stroke for stroke in the middle lanes, with Olivia Smoliga and Rhyan White just a tick behind.

When the waves settled at the finish, both Berkoff and Smith eclipsed Smith’s prelims mark of 27.40. Berkoff went 27.12 to claim the American Record and the U.S. Open Record and become the first- and third-ranked 50 backstrokers in the world for the current season.

Olivia Smoliga, who had set the American Record with 27.33 in 2019, tied her old mark with a third-place finish. Rhyan White came in fourth with 27.45. Smoliga and White currently rank fourth and sixth in the world.

Men’s 50 Meter Backstroke – Finals

• World Record: 23.80 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2021)
• American Record: 24.01 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• US Open Record: 24.01 – Hunter Armstrong (2022)
• Jr World Record: 24.00 – Kliment Kolesnikov (2018)
• FINA “A” Cut: 25.17
• SwimSwam Preview – M50 Back

Podium:

1. Hunter Armstrong, Ohio State – 23.71
2. Justin Ress, Mission Viejo – 23.92
3. Shaine Casas, Unattached – 24.00
4. Ryan Murphy, Cal – 24.57
5. Michael Andrew, MA Swim Academy – 24.80
6. Adam Chaney, Florida – 24.82
7. Jack Aikins, Virginia – 25.04
8. Daniel Carr, Unattached – 25.10

In an explosive ending to the meet, Hunter Armstrong broke the World Record in the 50 back with a massive 23.71. After taking down the American and U.S. Open Records in prelims with 24.01, Armstrong took another three-tenths off his new PB to beat Kliment Kolesnikov’s 23.80 from European Championships last summer.

Justin Ress came in second in 23.92, becoming only the third swimmer in history to dip under the 24-second barrier. Third-place Shaine Casas almost did it as well, stopping the clock at 24.00.

Armstrong and Ress now lead the world rankings for the 2021-22 season. Kolesnikov is third. Casas is fourth, with nearly a half-second between him and fifth-place Robert Glinta of Roumania.