The marquee matchup of the day is Michael Phelps vs Ryan Lochte in the men’s 100 back, and prelims didn’t disappoint. Phelps, fresh of a big 100 fly swim a night ago, took the top seed in 54.86. Lochte is about a half-second back at 55.30, but the two will dual from the inside lanes tonight in an event that might be a nationals/Pan Pacs possibility for both (despite an already-crowded backstroking field in the U.S.).
Also in the hunt in that race will be Tyler Clary, the Olympic champ in the longer backstroke distance. Clary went 56.29 for the third seed this morning.
Clary is also the top seed in the 200 fly, where he’ll rekindle the ongoing rivalry with Georgia/NBAC swimmer Chase Kalisz. In the NCAA, Clary and Kalisz were each the best IMer of their generation, with Kalisz breaking Clary’s record earlier this year. Now the two extend their competition to the 200 fly, and sit just a tenth apart heading into finals, Clary at 2:01.14 and Kalisz at 2:01.28. NBAC’s Tom Luchsinger is just about a half-second back at 2:01.97 as well.
Olympian Cammile Adams is the top seed in the women’s 200 fly. She went 2:10.73 swimming for SwimMAC, but Georgia’s Hali Flickinger is just two tenths back.
SwimMAC also did well in the women’s 50 free, with Bahamian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace going 25.43. SwimAtlanta’s Amanda Weir is two tenths back, Madison Kennedy just a tenth back of that and Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga just one tenth behind Kennedy. Needless to say, it should be a great final tonight in the splash and dash.
Cullen Jones leads the men’s 50 at 22.56. He’s just up on Brazilian Auburn trainer Bruno Fratus (22.65), with Caleb Weir, younger brother to Amanda, third at 22.85. High school sensation Caeleb Dressel seems to be getting his feet under him a little more, going 23.10 for a spot in the A final.
SwimMAC youngster Kathleen Baker went 1:01.24 to lead the 100 back for women. She broke a minute for the first time in the 10 fly last night, and seems to be on a roll in Athens. She’ll have to fight off Michigan’s Ali DeLoof (1:01.49) and Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga (1:02.06).
Annie Lazor is the top seed in the women’s 200 breast, going 2:30.56. She’s followed by a whole pack of women at 2:32 including Melanie Margalis, Emma Reaney and Annie Zhu. Also keep an eye on Micah Lawrence, who was just 2:34.48 this morning for 5th, but has been one of the nation’s most dominant 200 breaststrokers this season.
In the men’s 200 breast, Nic Fink had a nice swim in his home pool, going 2:15.36 for the top seed over Kalisz (2:16.06).
Meet results are showing Maddie Locus as the top 400 free seed, but her time appears to be in error. Incoming Cal freshman Cierra Runge went 4:12.37 this morning, and is the next name after Locus. She’s followed by a pair of NBAC teammates, Becca Mann and Gillian Ryan.
The men’s 400 free looks to be a showdown between NBAC teammates. Conor Dwyer is the top seed in 3:52.42, with French Olympian Yannick Agnel behind at 3:53.18. Also in the hunt are Michael Klueh, Connor Jaeger, Charlie Houchin and Matt McLean.
Meet results available on Meet Mobile (“2014 Bulldog Grand Slam”).
Reading all of the comments and feeling the excitement, it is killing me that there is NO programming for the swim meet. I hope that the swim fans in the stands are prepared to video the 100 back as well as a few of the others and post here at SwimSwam.
David i think phelps is done with the IM
Rafael – I don’t know if he’s for sure done with the IM. I don’t think he’ll swim it this year, but he might reconsider after 2015 Worlds once he’s really back into his grove and training cycle.
nope, he’s not done with the 2IM yet.
dont know why but i have a feeling that Phelps will take on the challenge & swim it this year.
A lot of very interesting things to watch tonight!
MP in the 100 back
Caeleb Dressel in the 50 free
The battle between the NBAC girls in the 400 free
Emma Reaney in long course in the 200 breast
And Kathleen Baker in the 100 back. She was great yesterday in the 100 fly with a big new PB. I think she will not be far from the minute barrier tonight.
Well, Braden Keith, Phelps went the time you predicted……
In prelims. Sets him up well for that 54.3 I predicted later tonight! 🙂
Yeah, after the 51.6 in the fly…I suddenly got very nervous about that prediction.
It looks like I’ve missed something.
Where can we read your predictions? 🙂
bobo – I put it in a comment somewhere when start lists were out.
Tonight should be interesting in terms of times and placings. I hope that Nick Thoman can find some form eventually after his injury. Here’s hoping that Cullen Jones can pull off a win or a decent time ……finally.
Glad to see that so many people have turned out to watch this meet. Even though it is not being streamed live it seems to have a lot of people interested in the results.
Showdown between Chase Kalisz and Tyler Clary! There’s an interesting storyline that might possibly include a motivational whisper from a certain fellow NBAC team-mate.
Phelps goes 53.7 tonight, putting him 2nd fastest in the US this year, and top three in all five events he’s competed in.
love this… haha! 😀
54.86 for Michael in prelims !!! wowwwwwww i love what he is doing …… Go On Michael .