Several High Profile Scratches Give Dressel A Spot In The 100 Freestyle C Final

by Ben Dornan 27

June 27th, 2023 National, News

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The first night of finals at the 2023 US World Championships Trials only features six events in the men’s and women’s 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle, the women’s 800 freestyle, and the men’s 1500 freestyle. That means there are only four events on day one that run as prelims/finals.

In the 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle, none of the top 8 qualifiers have scratched out of the final. All of the swimmers who made it into the A final will race again and compete for a top two finish and a spot on the Worlds team.

That doesn’t mean, however, that there weren’t any notable scratches on the first day of racing. The men’s 100 freestyle saw several men drop out after qualifying to swim the B final. Among the men who decided not to race are Kieran Smith, Hunter Armstrong, Luke Hobson, Jack Aikins, and Shaine Casas. Smith, Armstrong, and Hobson placed 10th, 12th, and 16th, respectively, while Aikins was 17th and Casas 18th. Additionally, Adam Chaney scratched out of the C final after placing 23rd in prelims.

A notable result of the high number of scratches means that Caeleb Dressel, who placed 29th in prelims, will get a second swim. He originally didn’t qualify for the C final but will now swim in lane 6 of the C final. Dressel, who is one of history’s greatest 100 freestylers, hasn’t raced much since pulling out of the 2022 World Championships. He returned during prelims with a 49.42, which is a few seconds off his American record of 46.96.

Claire Curzan was the only top 16 finisher to scratch out of the B final in the women’s 100 freestyle. Curzan swam 54.50 for 15th place, trailing her best time of 53.55. Her absence means that co-16th place finishers Natalie Hinds and Amy Fulmer (54.52) will both get to race in the B final.

In the men’s 200 butterfly, Gabriel Jett scratched the 200 butterfly after his 11th-place finish (1:57.24), and in the women’s race, Katie Grimes (2:09.84) dropped out of the B final after placing 9th in the prelims.

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PACFAN
1 year ago

Hope he swims.

Last edited 1 year ago by PACFAN
Marcy Spann
1 year ago

just an fyi: Erika Brown also had to have scratched for Camille Spink to get into the C Final

Steve Nolan
1 year ago

He returned during prelims with a 49.42, which is a few seconds off his American record of 46.96.

But does just get under his 100 fly WR, so.

He’s got that going for him.

GatorGuy
1 year ago

man, Omega timing system sucks to look up results.

timtammachine
Reply to  GatorGuy
1 year ago

For real. It’s been like that for over a decade.

Jon
Reply to  GatorGuy
1 year ago

Highly underrated comment.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  GatorGuy
1 year ago

It’s annoying but okay on a computer, but on a phone it’s the worst possible way to do it.

Pool
1 year ago

So does this mean they will actually broadcast a C final for once?! 🤓

Ex-NC Lurker
1 year ago

Let’s say for qualification sake he swims a time from the C-Final that wins but doesn’t qualify individually elsewhere during the meet, which roster would he be on this summer?

thezwimmer
Reply to  Ex-NC Lurker
1 year ago

Priority still ultimately comes down to final standings, meaning somebody who swims doggy paddle in the b-final would still be ahead of Caeleb in the selection procedures. So even if Dressel miraculously swims a WR in tonights C-final, we would still be relegated to 17th place officially. This is to prevent top competitors (at all levels of competition) from sandbagging prelims and saving it all for a night swim.

Ex-NC Lurker
Reply to  thezwimmer
1 year ago

Thanks for clarifying. I can’t imagine Dressel not making the worlds team in some capacity. In my mind I’m thinking about relays. If he swims a mind-blowing time in the C-Final and makes the team in fly or the 50, does he bump anyone from the 4×100 FRR?

Last edited 1 year ago by Ex-NC Lurker
Jack
Reply to  Ex-NC Lurker
1 year ago

He will not bump anyone who is selected in the 100. They’ll take top 6 and the rule is everyone on the team has to have at least 1 swim unless they withdraw. So if places 3-6 swim relay prelims, the coaches could put Dressel, the individual qualifiers, and any 1 of the 4 from prelims on the final relay.

4 kick pullout
Reply to  Ex-NC Lurker
1 year ago

We don’t want a 49 mid on the relay and risk not making finals at worlds… There might be 6 47s by the end of the day like what r u on?

Jack
Reply to  4 kick pullout
1 year ago

He was saying if Dressel swims the C final and goes like a 47-low

Ex-NC Lurker
Reply to  4 kick pullout
1 year ago

I don’t know where I indicated I wanted a 49 on the relay as both of my comments were contingent on an otherworldly C-final swim. So wHAt R u On?

Zippo
Reply to  thezwimmer
1 year ago

While this is technically true, there is a coaches prerogative that can allow for changes. The coaches put Phelps in the 4×100 when he didn’t swim the 100. If Dressel makes the team in the 50 or 100 fly, the coaches could still put him on the relay at Worlds.

Ex-NC Lurker
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Thank you for bringing this up! I distinctly recall threads with hundreds of comments about poor relay choices coaches have made in the last couple of quads, so this question isn’t out of left field.

Chris
1 year ago

I would like to see him swim and at least get under 49. It would look good for him to show up for the C final whether he does well or. it.

mcswammerstein
1 year ago

Have we confirmed that he has not left the state yet?