2022 U.S. Open Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2022 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • November 30-December 3, 2022
  • Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Long Course Meters (50 meters)
  • Start Times:
    • Prelims: 9 AM (ET)
    • Finals: 6PM (ET)
  • Psych Sheets
  • Live Results

THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

The first prelims session of the 2022 US Open is underway. This morning’s prelims session features heats of the 400 free, 200 IM, and 50 free.

Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh are expected to go head-to-head tonight in the final of the women’s 400 free. However, the pair will be in different heats this morning, so we’ll have to wait for tonight to see them race each other.

Meet record holder Chase Kalisz is the top seed in the men’s 200 IM this morning, where he’ll have a shot to lower his record mark.

Rising American IM star Leah Hayes is the top seed in the women’s 200 IM. Hayes comes in just under the meet record mark in the event.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 3:56.40 – Ariarne Titmus (2022)
  • American Record: 3:56.46 – Katie Ledecky (2018)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 4:00.51 – Katie Ledecky (2021)
  • U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94 – Katie Ledecky (2018)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) – 4:02.51
  2. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 4:06.68
  3. Michaela Mattes (SYS) – 4:12.49
  4. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) – 4:12.57
  5. Emma Weyant (UN-FL) – 4:13.59
  6. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC) – 4:14.55
  7. Katrina Bellio (UCLA) – 4:15.62
  8. Kate Hurst (SCAR) – 4:17.28

Katie Ledecky led the field this morning with a 4:02.51, touching exactly two seconds off her own US Open meet record in the event. She nearly even-split the race this morning, swimming a 2:00.82 on the first 200m, then came home in 2:01.69 on the second half.

Summer McIntosh was second this morning, clocking a relaxed 4:06.68. As we saw at the World Cup stop in Indianapolis a few weeks ago, McIntosh is now at a point where she can not only push, but beat Ledecky head-to-head, so tonight should be a really fun race to watch.

Some of the up-and-coming young American freestylers also made it through to the ‘A’ final tonight, including Michaela Mattes, Erin Gemmell, Cavan Gormsen, and Kate Hurst.

MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann (2009)
  • American Record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen (2008)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 3:45.63 – Zane Grothe (2016)
  • U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen (2008)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Guilherme Costa (BRA) – 3:52.13
  2. Ross Dant (NCS) – 3:52.56
  3. Stephan Steverink (BRA) – 3:52.78
  4. Zane Grothe (BCH) – 3:53.97
  5. Jake Mitchell (FLOR) – 3:54.30
  6. Norvin Clontz (MAC) – 3:54.62
  7. Alfonso Mestre (FLOR) – 3:54.81
  8. Ivan Puskovitch (TSM) – 3:55.20

Brazil’s Guilherme Costa led a tight pack in prelims this morning, finishing in 3:52.13. Costa came home fast this morning, splitting 27.85 on the final 50.

Ross Dant was right behind Costa, swimming a 2:52.56, while 18-year-old Brazilian Stephan Steverink came in third with a 3:52.78.

Notably, 15-year-old Norvin Clontz made the final tonight, finishing sixth this morning with a 3:54.62. Watch out for Clontz tonight, as he went 3:50.82 over the summer in the 400 free.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu (2015)
  • American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (2009)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 2:08.84 – Melanie Margalis (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 2:07.84 – Alex Walsh (2022)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Regan Smith (SUN) – 2:11.66
  2. Leah Hayes (TIDE) – 2:11.91
  3. Camille Spink (NCAP) – 2:13.96
  4. Zoe Dixon (FLOR) – 2:16.59
  5. Miranda Tucker (TFA) – 2:17.00
  6. Erin Gemmell (NCAP) – 2:17.03
  7. Josephine Fuller (TENN) – 2:17.18
  8. Alexis Yager (TNAQ) – 2:17.19

Regan Smith clocked a personal best this morning to take the top seed for tonight’s final. The personal best is a good sign for Smith’s training with Bob Bowman, who is well known as an IM coach. She used her fly and back speed to her advantage this morning, splitting 27.91 on fly and 31.94 on back for a 59.85 on the opening 100 of the race.

World Champs bronze medalist Leah Hayes was second this morning, swimming a 2:11.91. Hayes was excellent on the breast leg this morning, where she split 38.06. Hayes swam a 2:08.81 over the summer, so we’ll be looking for her to be faster than 2:11 tonight.

Miranda Tucker didn’t swim at a major meet this summer, but she’s back on the national scene and made the ‘A’ final tonight with a fifth place finish this morning.

MEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
  • American Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 1:57.28 – Chase Kalisz (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Baylor Nelson (TA&M) – 2:00.38
  2. Daniel Diehl (CUY) – 2:00.50
  3. Chase Kalisz (SUN) – 2:00.68
  4. Daniel Sos (CARD) – 2:01.31
  5. Landon Driggers (TENN) – 2:02.77
  6. Danny Berlitz (UN-WV) – 2:02.81
  7. Mark Szaranek (GSC) – 2:03.05
  8. Gabriel Gorgas (NSW) – 2:03.09

Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson led prelims of the men’s 200 IM with a 2:00.38, touching about one second off his personal best.

17-year-old Daniel Diehl swam a huge new personal best of 2:00.50 to take second this morning, clearing his previous best by a whopping 2.55 seconds. Diehl got out to a fast start this morning, splitting 25.45 on fly and 29.83 on back for a 55.28 on the first 100.

Meet record holder Chase Kalisz was third this morning, clocking a 2:00.68.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 23.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
  • American Record: 23.97 – Simone Manuel (2017)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 24.43 – Simone Manuel (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 24.08 – Pernille Blume (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Gabi Albiero (LOU) – 25.26
  2. Kaitlyn Johnson (UN-WV) – 25.44
  3. Camille Spink (NCAP) – 25.45
  4. Lily King (MPAC) – 25.50
  5. Beata Nelson (WA) – 25.64
  6. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 25.75
  7. Lorrane Ferreira (SESI) – 25.81
  8. Danielle Hill (IRL) – 25.86

After the fantastic fall Gabi Albiero had for the Louisville Cardinals, she led prelims of the women’s 50 free this morning with a 25.26. She was just a bit off her personal best of 24.89, which she swam this past summer at U.S. Nationals.

33-year-old Kaitlyn Johnson came in second this morning, swimming a 25.44.

A pair of junior swimmers made the ‘A’ final for tonight. Lily King, 15, and Erika Pelaez, 16, both made it back tonight.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

  • World Record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (2009)
  • American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
  • U.S. Open Meet Record: 21.59 – Bruno Fratus (2019)
  • U.S. Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. David Curtiss (NCS) – 22.07
  2. Victor Alcara (BRA) – 22.10
  3. Josh Liendo (FLOR) – 22.23
  4. Ali Khalafalla (EA) – 22.34
  5. Alberto Mestre (FLOR) – 22.40
  6. Matt King (UVA) – 22.42
  7. Justin Ress (MVN) – 22.48
  8. Andrej Barna (CARD) – 22.53

NC State’s David Curtiss swam a 22.07 to lead the field this morning, marking a solid morning swim. Curtiss’ personal best sits at 21.76, a time which he swam in June of this year.

Brazil’s Victor Alcara was right behind, swimming a 22.10 for second place.

Florida star Josh Liendo, the top seed coming into the meet, was third this morning at 22.23.

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swim
2 years ago

I didn’t know grothe was still swimming thats epic

Swim2win
2 years ago

Daniel Diehl is going to be an incredible advantage to have on a college team. Dude can slot into every single relay and has about 6 individual events he can do.

James Beam
Reply to  Swim2win
2 years ago

and he will actually have people to push him in practice! He’s a one-man band at a 25-yard pool with his current team.

FLORIDA 2025 NCAA CHAMPS
2 years ago

Does Summer McIntosh have NCAA eligibility? I might have missed this answer in the past but just curious.

Admin
Reply to  FLORIDA 2025 NCAA CHAMPS
2 years ago

Probably not. By swimming in ISL, she should be disqualified from the NCAA (even under new NIL rules).

Marsh
2 years ago

Saw Lily King and almost seized out

Swim2win
2 years ago

I think Diehl can get into the sub 2 range tonight. If Regan is able to develop a not terrible breaststroke at any point…watch out.

Swimfan27
Reply to  Swim2win
2 years ago

If Regan gets under 2:10 in the 200 IM with a 41 breaststroke split I’ll laugh.

nuotofan
2 years ago

The real Diehl also in the 200 IM. Great PB for him.

Negative Nora
2 years ago

Massive PB for Regan

nuotofan
Reply to  Negative Nora
2 years ago

2.11.66 northeless a 41.19 breaststroke split (Leah Hayes swam a 38.06 br. split for her final time of 2.11.91). Reagan Smith has already three legs on four of great level.

Last edited 2 years ago by nuotofan
Pool
Reply to  Negative Nora
2 years ago

She looked surprised and happy after her swim. So excited for her!

BigBoiJohnson
2 years ago

If I had to make an arbitrary judgment at face value, I’d say it looked like Ledecky expended 88% of her effort in that swim (4:02.51), whereas McIntosh expended about 76% of her effort (4:06.68). Should be a great race tonight!

Last edited 2 years ago by BigBoiJohnson
Big Chonkay
Reply to  BigBoiJohnson
2 years ago

Helpful – thanks!

REL
Reply to  BigBoiJohnson
2 years ago

Along that line, while Ledecky was 4:17 faster than McIntosh this morning, she was 4:48 faster than McIntosh in the prelims for the 400 free SC at the World Cup in Toronto.