Ryan Held Re-Breaks U.S. Open Record in Finals at U.S. Nationals – 47.39

Dressel

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After going a lifetime best and U.S. Open record in the 100 free this morning at 47.43, Ryan Held lowered his time again in finals Wednesday night at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships.

Held became the No. 3 American in history in the event this morning (tied with Vladislav Grinev), and takes over solo possession of that spot after the night swim. Dave Walters owns the No. 2 American swim at 47.33, and Caeleb Dressel set the American record in 46.96 at the 2019 FINA World Championships last week. Held’s previous best time heading into the meet was just 48.26, which was 13th in American history.

Held’s time would have won the bronze medal at Worlds behind Dressel and Kyle Chalmers (47.08). The top five swimmers in the heat went lifetime bests, and top four (Held, Maxime Rooney, Tate Jackson and Dean Farris) would have made the Worlds final.

Top American 100 Freestylers In History

  1. Caeleb Dressel(2019) – 46.96
  2. Dave Walters (2009) – 47.33
  3. Ryan Held(2019) – 47.39
  4. Michael Phelps (2008) – 47.51
  5. Nathan Adrian (2012) – 47.52
  6. Jason Lezak (2008) – 47.58
  7. Maxime Rooney (2019) – 47.61
  8. Garrett Weber-Gale (2008) – 47.78
  9. Zach Apple (2019) – 47.79
  10. Jimmy Feigen (2013) – 47.82
  11. Blake Pieroni(2019) – 47.87

Maxime Rooney also cracked the top 10 this morning, going 47.75, then lowered that time to 476.61 in finals. Five of the top eleven U.S. swimmers in history have hit their best times this year alone, and six of the eleven are still active.

It’s also a bounce-back swim for Held after a rough outing last summer. Held was 48.26 at Olympic Trials in 2016, making the American Olympic team and ultimately winning gold as part of the finals 4×100 free relay. He split 47.79 (prelims) and 47.73 (finals) in Rio. But last summer, Held went just 48.65 and missed all the major U.S. travel teams.

The United States’ second individual Worlds entrant in the event, in addition to Dressel, was Blake Pieroniwho went 47.87.

Held moves up to #3 in the world ranks this year, behind only Dressel and Chalmers:

2018-2019 LCM MEN 100 FREE

2Kyle
CHALMERS
AUS47.0807/25
3Ryan
HELD
USA47.3907/31
4Vladislav
GRINEV
RUS47.4304/09
5Maxime
ROONEY
USA47.6107/31
View Top 27»

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THEO
4 years ago

Jeez. This is outta hand. Someone tell David Nolan he should ditch his plan to do sprints and focus on 2IM…

Verram
4 years ago

USA will be hot in Tokyo.. possibly going 3:07 in that sprint relay

Hmm....
4 years ago

That move to Indiana from NC State paid off

Mines
Reply to  Hmm....
4 years ago

I don’t have an opinion on whose coaching staff is better, or which of the two programs have a better training methodology. But Indiana has so many olympians that of course it’s going to help training there! That and sometimes a change of environment is always helpful for the mind. Nothing against either Indiana’s or NC State’s programs, they’re both clearly amazing. It’s nearly impossible in the swimming world to come into your own without a history, an amazing pool, or olympians to draw people to train with you. Something I wish was simpler to address so we could see more even chances at the NCAA level!

Mike
Reply to  Mines
4 years ago

Where is this “amazing pool” you refer to? US certainly have amazing swimmers and programs, but their pools are well behind other leading nations.

Joe
Reply to  Hmm....
4 years ago

Isn’t he at Alabama?

Swammer
Reply to  Hmm....
4 years ago

And now bama

ACC fan
Reply to  Hmm....
4 years ago

He’s at Alabama now.followed stickles there.

GrantJ
Reply to  Hmm....
4 years ago

Why is Ryan’s swim such a surprise? He trained w NC State in Raleigh prior to SC Worlds in Dec 2018 and crushed it (100 FR American record, several fast splits and medals on relays). He went to IU and swam fast then moved to Tuscaloosa and continues to swim fast. Give the guy some props. Wolfpack/#PBG Nation will always support him as will his new supporters that say Roll Tide! Keep it going, Ryan!

Jjran
Reply to  GrantJ
4 years ago

Bc he hadn’t gone a best time in 3 years long course. That’s why it is a surprise.

Leisurely1:29
Reply to  GrantJ
4 years ago

What is PBG?

Swimmer
Reply to  Leisurely1:29
4 years ago

Pack by God.

DRUKSTOP
4 years ago

I’m just glad to see Held get back to form! He showed so much promise over the last 4 years. I just love seeing PBs and the hard work paying off

M Palota
4 years ago

Eight guys now!!! Eight guys in one year – so far – from the United States under 48!! And 3 or 4 guys on the doorstep!!

I’ll say it now: 47.9 will miss the A Final at US Trials next year!

IM FAN
4 years ago
Swammer
Reply to  IM FAN
4 years ago

That had me dead.

Dcswim
Reply to  IM FAN
4 years ago

I’m glad someone else noticed 😉

IM FAN
4 years ago

Remember at world trials just 2 years ago when Dressel and Adrian barely broke 48. Tokyo gonna be dumb fast fam, like since Budapest nearly every event seems to be on steroids (some obviously aren’t, pray for the womens 200 fly)

Roch
Reply to  IM FAN
4 years ago

Regan Smith hears your prayers for the 2fly.

Philip Johnson
4 years ago

Dressel 46.96
Held 47.39
Rooney 47.61
Apple 47.79 (swam a 46.8 relay split)
Pieroni 47.87
Jackson 47.88
Farris 48.07 (swam a 47 flat relay split)

Battle for the individual spots will be a bloodbath. I’m not even confident in saying Dressel is a lock, he will have to be on his A game. If he is just a little off, someone will snatch up his spot

That relay is going to be killer though.

Justhereforfun
Reply to  Philip Johnson
4 years ago

And to think that 48.2 got an individual spot in the previous olympics…….damn times have changed (literally)

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Philip Johnson
4 years ago

Heresy, I say.

run-dmc
Reply to  Philip Johnson
4 years ago

The goal is for everybody to be under 47 in the relay in Tokyo. Let’s make it happen!

Leisurely1:29
Reply to  run-dmc
4 years ago

Only we, the swimswam comment sections, can make this happen

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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