In Briefs: Prelims from Austin Elite Meet Day 1

A quick, two-hour prelims in Austin has wrapped up with some fairly good swims already, and a couple of great finals set up for the evening.

The women’s 100 free was probably the most interesting race on day 1, with Missy Franklin taking the top seed in 55.26. Amanda Weir was just behind her in 55.31, and Allison Schmitt was 4th in 55.41. Other interesting names in the final include Karlee Bispo, who is beginning her post-grad career, and Simone Manuel from First Colony, who is a 15-year old junior sprint star.

In the men’s race, Texas swimmer Jimmy Feigen was the only under 50-seconds with a 49.04. Michael Phelps was 3rd in 50.22.

There was no Breeja Larson in the women’s 200 breast prelim, which left Laura Sogar alone at the top of the pile in 2:30.00. North Baltimore’s Annie Zhu, a Georgia commit, had the 2nd seed in 2:32.50. Another Longhorn, Catherine Wagner, followed up her season-best from two weeks ago with another good swim – marking a 2:35.82 for the 3rd seed. Dipping back down to a 2:34 in finals – which is what she went at Nationals last year – will set her up well headed into trials.

In the men’s 200 breaststroke, Brendan Hansen took the top seed in 2:14.31, without much of a push. Nitro’s Will Licon, the defending Junior National Champ, is the 2nd seed in 2:16.48. North Baltimore’s Chase Kalisz should have a better swim in finals than his 2:17.26, but was safely through. There’s a few other good names in this final, inlcuding Jack Brown, Eric Friedland, and Nic Fink.

In the women’s 400 free prelims, there were a lot of good times, but no real starring times. Gillian Ryan is the top seed in 4:12.08, with Amber McDermott 2nd in 4:12.67. Texas A&M’s Sarah Henry, in her 3rd meet back after more ACL surgery, was a 4:12.89 – close to a lifetime best for her. Expect a much faster pace all-around in the final.

No Schmitt in the 400 free, strangely, but Missy Franklin swam her way to the B-Final in 4:16.53.

In the men’s 400, Michigan’s Connor Jaeger took the top seed in 3:52.13, followed by Club Wolverine training partner Matt Patton in 3:53.83.

Kathleen Hersey is the class of the 100 fly field with a 59.67; but the Hilltoppers’ Kelly Naze, headed to Cal next year, looked pretty good in 1:00.53.

And in his first ‘signature’ event of the meet, Michael Phelps swam a 53.41 to place atop the 100 fly. But there’s a big group chasing him – including China’s Peng Wu (54.24), Texas’ Neil Caskey (54.25), and Phelps’ training partner Chris Brady (54.41).

Full, Live Meet Results available here.