Call Answered in Women’s 100 Free Prelims at U.S. Olympic Trials

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

There’s been a lot of concern over the state of sprinting in this country, and while through two rounds the men have left things a little fuzzy, the women have so far answered the call in prelims.

At this time in 2012, Dana Vollmer led the way after the morning heats with a 54.35, and only the top ten swimmers made it in under 55. Two months later in London, the women (Missy Franklin, Jessica Hardy, Lia Neal, and Allison Schmitt)  finished with a bronze medal 3:34.24.

This year, the top time posted in the women’s 100 free prelims is nearly three quarters of a second faster than this time last cycle; Abbey Weitzeil posted 53.58 today, which certainly foreshadows strong swims to come. Her time this morning (in prelims!) puts the 19-year-old at the 6th-fastest American in history.

However, the shadow of the Australian greats looms over the aquatic center here in Omaha. Dynamic sister act Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell hold the two fastest times in the world this year with 52.38 and 52.58 from the Australian Olympic Trials. As if that’s not scary enough for the Americans, the Aussies add in Emma McKeon, the fourth fastest woman in the world this year, who posted 52.80 at their Trials. Likely fourth-woman Brittany Elmslie ties for eighth in the world with 53.54.

But, the Americans are answering the call. To prove the success of the our sprinters, go back to this morning’s results. Today, behind Weitzeil, Amanda Weir (53.76), Dana Vollmer (53.80), and Simone Manuel (53.84) all came in under 54. In the finals of this event in 2012, only Jessica Hardy finished under 54, and just barely, with 53.96.

Furthermore, represented in the semifinals tonight, we will see nine of the top ten American 100 freestylers in history. Weir, Manuel, Vollmer, Franklin (9th this morning, 54.41), Natalie Coughlin (11th, 54.73), Katie Ledecky (6th, 54.04), Weitzeil, and Shannon Vreeland (tied for 12th, 54.87), represent nine of the top ten Americans in history, less only Dara Torres, the eighth-fastest American in history. Though many of us (myself included) spent months leading up to this event shaking with anticipation of the women’s 200 freestyle, the 100 free could end up being the more competitive final.

The Australians may prove unbeatable (although we certainly learned our lesson about calling any 4×100 relay invincible back in 2008), but it’s high time swimming fans stop writing the American women’s sprinting program’s obituary.

See the full results of the women’s 100 free prelims here.

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The Albino Dolphin
7 years ago

The men’s 100 free has been “fuzzy”? The men have been more impressive than the woman so far- Adrian posts the 2nd fastest time in the world this year in a VERY easy looking semi final swim, six men swim sub 49 and Ryan Held emerges as a serious relay contender at 48 low-mid.

The Albino Dolphin
Reply to  The Albino Dolphin
7 years ago

Seven men actually if you count Michael Chadwick’s time trial, and Lochte + Phelps would also likely have been sub 49 which brings the total to 9 men.

SUNY Cal
7 years ago

Poor Natalie, doesn’t look good for her making team. Thinking retirement???

Scott Morgan
7 years ago

Hello again, Amanda Weir!

Hswimmer
Reply to  Scott Morgan
7 years ago

She looked so thrilled after her race, I hope she continues this form in the semis and possibly finals:)

John haas
7 years ago

Abbey looks smooth and ready. I believe she is going to go 53 low 52 high.

Peggy Mulligan
7 years ago

Go girls ….you’re looking strong and fix!

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Too early to tell. Nothing has changed so far. We’ll know more after the semis.
The current problem of US women’s sprint is that, apart from Abbey and Simone who are pure sprinters and will carry US sprint at least until Tokyo 2020, the other contenders are:
– a veteran Weir who will probably retire after this summer
– a veteran Vollmer, butterflyer, who will probably retire after this summer
– Worrell, a butterflyer who swims 2 rounds of 200 fly the day before and has the 200 fly final tonight
– KL, a mid-distance/distance swimmer
– Missy Franklin who has never been a sprinter
There’s simply a lack of young super talents… Read more »

M Palota
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Confirm. I agree with everything Bobo has said. A bunch of 53’s is not “answering the call”. There’s lots of American women under 55 but nobody – so far – under 53. Tonnes of depth but no real superstar. And unfortunately for the Yanks, it’s the 4×100 not the 10×100.

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Well well who’s turned to write another obituary on the American’s womens sprinting.

Bobo, since you keep mentioning that only Weitzeil and Manuel are pure sprinters, let’s have a look at those other countries you keep comparing to, shall we?

Australia: only two pure sprinters – the Campbell sprinters. McKeon is more like Vollmer in her peak days, a mainly flyer and 200 freestyler that just happens to be very fast in 100 too (her 50 is nothing special)
The Netherlands: Only Kromowidjojo is pure sprinter. Heemskerk has always been 100-200 freestyler.
Canada: Only Chantal van Landeghem. Oleksiak is not a pure sprinter in the kind of Campbell sisters and Manuel/Weitzel. Oleksiak is more like Sarah Sjostrom a… Read more »

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

Good Call Attilla

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

BOBO has been nalied here – his knowledge is not the one of a real Swwimmer but by studying facts and watching races .

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

The problem is, Bobo’s conjectures are often not based on the full picture with accurate data. He would take some data here some number there, basically he only takes them only if they support his argument and discard the rest. Worse, he stubbornly cling to his opinions and repeatedly write it as if it’s the truth when others have shown him that it’s just baloney.

For example:
In the above, he said that USA needs an equivalent female star sprinters like Adrian (or maybe Dressel in the next few years) and claimed that the lack of female start sprinter is due to “structural problem” which he never define and describe what that is.
So here it is, this… Read more »

G.I.N.A.
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

It is worth mentioning that Sarah Cate Bronte & until recently Emma have been with the same coach since they were kids.

robbos
Reply to  Attila the Hunt
7 years ago

Attila, I think you too have nailed it, people talk as if 52s is easy, it’s not, it’s just that Australia happens to have 3 of them at present, likewise with distance swimming, Australia does have very good distance swimmer in Jessica Ashwood, it’s just that like the Campbell swimmers, Ledecky has taken this event even further (even Leah Smith).

Attila the Hunt
Reply to  robbos
7 years ago

Yea, the analogy with Australia distance swimmers is pretty good. Australia has produced great male distance swimmers almost non-stop, but the last of Australian great female distance swimmer is Hayley Lewis (and even then she was nowhere near Janet Evans). So the last true Australian female distance greats are actually Tracey Wickham and Michelle Ford from late 70s early 80s.
You know, if something nearly as bad as this happened in USA, Bobo Gigi would have called it “disaster”, “structural problem” and he would call for congressional hearing.

Talent like Cate and Katie L and Sarah is just once in a generation phenomenon. Cate was already a superstar at the age of 15-16 (50 free Olympics bronze medalist), same… Read more »

dude
7 years ago

Until there are some women that consistently drop 52s, then we will remain average at best. Doesn’t make sense that with the population base we draw from that we can’t do better than 53 mid – high. Maybe when more coaches stop worrying about ‘developing an aerobic base’ (whatever that means), we can be in the conversation with Australia

Justin Pollard
7 years ago

Shoulda learned the lesson that no relay is unbeatable in 2000 … But that 2008 relay comeback by Lezak brings tears to my eyes!

Rafael
Reply to  Justin Pollard
7 years ago

Justin, this 2008 story is a myth with no basis that everbody talked.. US top 4 times befoe OG were faster than Feance..

Also, this situation is a whole new level… Australia is probably 2 seconds or more faster than US.. the 4th Australian Girl as a 53 flat swimmer.. the top 3 are 52 swimmers.. and Cate can even break a 52 on a perfect race to come..

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Rafael
7 years ago

I agree, even Phelps mentioned in his book that the U.S had the most swimmers under 48 before the Olympic Games began. Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale, and himself.

About Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht

Hannah Hecht grew up in Kansas and spent most of her childhood trying to convince coaches to let her swim backstroke in freestyle sets. She took her passion to Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and swam at NAIA Nationals all four years. After graduating in 2015, she moved to …

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