Chris Guiliano, Blake Pieroni Close Indianapolis Spring Cup With 48-Point 100 Freestyles

2024 INDIANAPOLIS SPRING CUP

Chris Guiliano and Blake Pieroni made some waves on the final night in Indianapolis as they went 1-2 in the 100 free. Guiliano swam a 48.52 in prelims before swimming a 48.70 in finals while Pieroni swam a 48.74 in finals. Guiliano leads American men this year as he swam a 47.49 at the ACC Championships in a time trial.

TOP US MEN 100 FREE 2023-2024 SEASON

  1. Chris Guiliano, 47.49 ACC Time Trials
  2. Hunter Armstrong, 47.83 2024 Worlds
  3. Matt King, 48.02 2024 Worlds
  4. Jack Alexy, 48.24 Triton Invite
  5. Caeleb Dressel, 48.30 Atlanta Classic

In the men’s distance free, Luke Whitlock led the way winning in a 7:50.20 and was the only man under 8-minutes as Charlie Clark swam a 8:00.78. Whitlock dropped almost five seconds off his old best of a 7:55.00 that he swam at 2023 World Juniors last September. His time from today would have been 3rd at 2023 US Nationals and just over 2 seconds off of making the Worlds roster.

Kai Van Westering earned the win in the 200 back in a 2:00.00. His best time is a 1:56.91 from 2024 Worlds that was 7th in semifinals before he went on to finish 8th in finals.

Ryan Merani won the 200 IM in a 2:02.42 finishing ahead of Colin Geer who touched in a 2:02.79. Geer was slightly faster in prelims with a 2:02.70. Merani was just off his best time of a 2:01.72.

After swimming a best time in the 200 free, Ayla Spitz earned the win in the 200 back in a 2:11.64. Her old best time was a 2:13.66 from Wave II Trials. Spitz now represents Israel at the international level.

The 1500 free was a tight race as Kayla Han earned the win in a 16:26.13 just ahead of Gwen Woodbury who touched in a 16:26.34. Woodbury dropped over 15 seconds off her best time that she swam at this meet a year ago.

Devon Kitchel who won the 200 IM in a 2:16.38 finishing just ahead of Michigan teammate Hannah Bellard (2:16.91). Kitchel’s old lifetime best was a 2:17.04 from spring 2021. Kitchel just missed the Trials cut of a 2:16.09.

Amy Fulmer got under the 55-second mark once again in the 100 free as she swam a 54.87, about half a second off her lifetime best of a 54.27 that she swam to win the B final at 2023 US Summer Nationals. Kristina Paegle was 2nd in a 54.99 just off her best time of a 54.56.

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Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
5 months ago

26 days until the 2024 USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials, not one of the 28 USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials event previews have been published.

Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick!

John26
5 months ago

What do we think is the chance of the 4x100free WR going down this summer?

Even if the US team has the best flat start add up going into Paris, I’m still a bit hesitant to think they’ll win. They will likely have 3 members who are relatively inexperienced on the world stage, Alexy and Guiliano’s best swims last year certainly on their relay legs, Dressel also has a history of under swimming this leg as well. Meanwhile, each of the members of team GB has put up monster legs before, although GB has never had a full force team in the finals before.

Notanyswimmer
Reply to  John26
5 months ago

GB breaks WR. Just taking PBs:

Richards: 47.45
Whittle: 47.50
Dean: 46.70
Scott: 46.16

3:07.81, which beats WR of 3.08:24

Andy
5 months ago

Alexy , Dressel , Giuliano , King

Dan tm
Reply to  Andy
5 months ago

Based on current PB’s

USA
46.96 Dressel, Caeleb .
47.31 Alexy, Jack
47.93 King, Matt
47.98 Guiliano, Chris

3.10.18

Assuming Dressel back to “2019 Dressel”

Australia
47.08 Chalmers, Kyle
47.77 Southam, Flynn
47.84 Cartwright, Jack
48.01 Taylor, Kai

3.10.70

Assuming McEvoy doesnt swim (he has not confirmed either way)

Great Britain
47.45 Richards, Matthew
47.83 Dean, Thomas
47.87 Scott, Duncan
48.03 Whittle, Jacob

3.11.18

USA will probably be quicker with Held or Armstrong over King or Guliano.

Last edited 5 months ago by Dan tm
Riccardo
Reply to  Dan tm
5 months ago

Giuliano PB is 47.49

Dan tm
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

Miss that one Thanks..
Should be
USA
46.96 Dressel, Caeleb .
47.31 Alexy, Jack
47.93 King, Matt
47.49 Guiliano, Chris

3.09.69

Last edited 5 months ago by Dan tm
Swimz
Reply to  Dan tm
5 months ago

Yes, Guliano should anchor the free relay in Paris.. this time they could rest all 4 swimmers..there ll be plenty of 100 free sub 48 split holders for prelims..

swimswam comments enjoyer
Reply to  Dan tm
5 months ago

If this is supposed to look at the fastest possible relay rn, swap King for Hunter Armstrong – 47.83 PB

Swimmer.
Reply to  Dan tm
5 months ago

Dressel will not be that fast. He’s nowhere near that at this point in his career.

JJ jfhfjg
Reply to  Dan tm
5 months ago

You forgot hunter amstrong exists

ZThomas
Reply to  JJ jfhfjg
5 months ago

And ryan held went 47.7 last season.

Boxall's Railing
Reply to  Andy
5 months ago

I like King and Armstrong as prelim-only guys, Held for finals if he’s on, along with the first 3 above. But we’ll see what happens in June and July!

HeGetsItDoneAgain
5 months ago

Wow that’s an Olympic contender swim for Whitlock watch out.

coach
Reply to  HeGetsItDoneAgain
5 months ago

and he got his 200 flycut this weekend he is on a move he is going to be great in college too

Caleb
Reply to  HeGetsItDoneAgain
5 months ago

Faster every time he gets in the pool

Riccardo
5 months ago

I feel like Luke Whitlock going 7:50 is being majorly slept on here.

That puts him in serious contention to make the team.

fishersswimmer
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

You are right

Indianaboy
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

He trains hard, which shows he will be coming in OT, so do not sleep on him. He had no recovery into the meet and that is what he went GOD DANG. Training with him is an honor.

Indianaboy
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

Do not sleep on him

SwimMom
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

Luke Whitlock has been slept on for more than a year.

Jimmy
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

All time 3rd fastest time for the 17-18 age group.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

Now that would be something.

chickenlamp
Reply to  Riccardo
5 months ago

how much does he typically drop with taper? If he even drops only a few seconds he’s looking good for the second spot

BOBFROMTHEISLAND
5 months ago

48.5 should be good enough for 6th at trials. Pieroni has a big shot

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  BOBFROMTHEISLAND
5 months ago

No way 48.5 will be good enough for 6th at trials. 48.5 will be closer to making top 16. I believe 16 Americans have gone 48.5 or faster in the last 1.5 years.

Greg P
Reply to  BOBFROMTHEISLAND
5 months ago

48.5 will certainly *not* be good enough for 6th at the trials.

HeGetsItDoneAgain
Reply to  BOBFROMTHEISLAND
5 months ago

48.5 ain’t even gonnna get you to the finals lol.

Outside Smoke
Reply to  BOBFROMTHEISLAND
5 months ago

It’s not 2012 anymore lol

CELL
5 months ago

Alexy, Dressel, Held, and Guiliano for the 4×100?

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

I don’t think Held will get in the top 4 but the other 3 probably will.

Zeph
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
5 months ago

Helds a 47.3 PR and was 47.6 last year. Don’t count him out

CELL
Reply to  Zeph
5 months ago

I’ve got faith in him

Greg P
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

Held may make the relay team, but I wouldn’t put him in the final in Paris. Prelims is fine, but he’s too much a loose canon in the final.

Lisa
Reply to  Greg P
5 months ago

Last year he’s underperformed but two years ago he went 46.9 on the relay and depends on what his times on the prelims and like if he went 47 low then he could end up on the finals.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Lisa
5 months ago

The men’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay was cooked after the lead-off split of 48.16 by none than Ryan Held at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Zeph
5 months ago

Ryan Held was fifth in the men’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2023 Phillips 66 National Championships.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Zeph
5 months ago

Matt King – DOB 19 Feb 2002
Ryan Held – DOB 27 Jun 1995

Say goodbye to the old and say hello the new.

Swimmer.
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
5 months ago

Murphy and Dressel are not too far behind.

Lisa
Reply to  Zeph
5 months ago

Yeah he went 46.9 on relay two years ago so I wouldn’t count him out .

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

After the results in the final of the men’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, Ryan Held can no longer be trusted.

Last edited 5 months ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

Matt King posted a faster split than Alexy and Guiliano in the final of the men’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle at the 2023 World Aquatics Chsmpionships.

Mister-Man
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
5 months ago

Then Alexy went on to split 47.0 in the medley relay. Re 4×100 Let’s not forget about Destin and Brooks

Last edited 5 months ago by Mister-Man
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Mister-Man
5 months ago

Substitute Dressel for Held. Anyone but Held.

comment image

HeGetsItDoneAgain
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

Dressel Alexy Giuliano Williamson.

dg5301
Reply to  HeGetsItDoneAgain
5 months ago

I’m looking forward to Williamson being one of our best guys too, but he’ll need a pretty big drop if he’s going to compete with King, Held, Armstrong, Curry, and possibly Blake P if he’s all the way back.

HeGetsItDoneAgain
Reply to  dg5301
5 months ago

Dropping big is Something 17 year olds tend to do. Hes not that far out with his 48.3 and multiple 47 mid splits.

Swimmer.
Reply to  CELL
5 months ago

Dressel hasn’t done anything in 2 years yet everyone is giving him a free pass.

About Anya Pelshaw

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Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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