Erika Connolly (Brown) & Catie Deloof to Duel in 1Fr, Potential Paris Roster Spot at Stake

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

• June 15-23, 2024
• Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Session Start Times (ET):
  • 11 a.m. Prelims
  • 7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)
• Meet Central
• SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
• Prelims Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
• Finals Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

With a potential relay spot on the line and a trip to Paris, the tie between fellow Olympians Catie Deloof and Erika Connolly (nee Brown) has been scheduled for the end of Day 6’s Prelims, in what will be must see-tv.

Day 6 Schedule

• Women’s 200 Back
• Men’s 50 Free
• Men’s 200 IM
• Women’s 100 Free Swim-0ff

The time line for the session shows the men’s 200 IM concluding around 12:51, so one should expect Deloof and Connolly to race at or after that time. The pair tied for 6th in a time of 53.86.

This is not the first swim-off for Connolly this week, as she tied for 8th in the semifinals of the 100 free and raced Anna Moesch for a spot in the finals. The pair tied at 54.09, but Connolly got the better of Moesch in the swim-0ff, posting a time of 53.92 as compared to Moesch’s 54.28.

As to why there is a swim-0ff , The 5th and 6th-place finishers in the 100 and 200 freestyles are the lowest priority to be named to the team. The official Trials handbook necessitates a swim-off in this situation according to section 1.3.8.a:

If there is a tie in an Event at the Qualifying Competition between two or more athletes, and if it is necessary to break the tie to decide the finish order int hat Event for purposes of determining (i) who would qualify for Nomination to the Team under the Priorities in Section 1.3.4, or (ii) who would be given the opportunity to swim the Event at the Olympic Games, then a swim-off between the athletes involved in the applicable tie will be conducted to determine the finish order. For example, if there is a tie for second place in the 100-meter Freestyle, a swim-off will be conducted between the two Available Swimmers to determine second place and thus who would be given the opportunity to swim the corresponding Event at the Olympic Games. As another example, if there is a two-way tie for 4th place in the 200-meter Freestyle, a swim-off will be conducted between the two athletes to determine fourth and fifth places and thus who is included under Priority #1 and Priority #3.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• American Record: 52.04 – Simone Manuel, 2019
• U.S. Open Record: 52.54 – Simone Manuel (USA), 2018
• World Junior Record: 52.70 – Penny Oleksiak (CAN), 2016
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Abbey Weitzeil – 53.53
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 53.61

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) – 52.56
2. Torri Huske (AAC) – 52.93
3. Gretchen Walsh (NAC) – 53.13
4. Simone Manuel (SUN) – 53.25
5. Abbey Weitzeil (CAL) – 53.70
6. Catie Deloof (NYAC)/ Erika Connolly (TNAQ) – 53.86
8. Beata Nelson (UN-WI) – 54.00

With Eminem’s 8 Mile and tens of thousands of cell phone lights waving, I didn’t think the 100 free could be hyped up anymore. AND THEN THE RACE HAPPENED.

It was an electric atmosphere over the first 50 and got more intense on the backhalf. Gretchen Walsh, known for her speed, was out fast in 25.00 and was just .19 off Simone Manuel‘s American record of 52.04. Manuel herself was right with Walsh as she flipped at the halfway point in 25.16. Torri Huske, who last night became the 4th fastest American ever in the event, was third at turn just .04 back.

However, it was Kate Douglass, who despite being the American record holder in the 50 free used her back half speed to pull herself from fourth at the turn (25.39) into first with 15 meters remaining. Douglass had the fastest split coming home and was the only swimmer under 27.5, as she surged home in 27.17. For Douglass, the swim represents a new personal best by .01 and makes her the 5th fastest swimmer this season.

Huske, who also closed under 28.00, passed Walsh and claimed 2nd in 52.93, just .03 off her PB from yesterday. Manuel tried to run down Walsh as well but fell short with Walsh touching 3rd and Manuel 4th. Manuel, who has been open with her overtraining syndrome and mental health will return to the Olympics for the 3rd time.

In a surprise twist, Erika Connolly may have to swim a second swim off in the 100 free as she and Catie Deloof dead-tied for 6th in 53.86, and if roster spots allow, up to six swimmers are eligible to go to Paris in the 4×100 free relay.