The Top 10 (+2) Quotes from Day 6 Prelims (Video)

^{Reported by Mitch Bowmile.} 

MEN’S 50M FREESTYLE

Top seed: Nathan Adrian (21.37)
World record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo
American record: 21.37 – Nathan Adrian
U.S Open record: 21.14 – Cesar Cielo
U.S Nationals record: 21.47 – Nathan Adrian/Garret Weber-Gale
JR World record: 22.00 – Yu Hexin (China)
2012 Winning Time: 21.59 – Cullen Jones

Caeleb Dressel brought out the speed this morning to drop a 21.76 in the heats of the men’s 50m freestyle to lead the way into tonight’s semifinals. While his time was the fastest, he’s going to need a lot more in his tank if he wants to win this one.

Anthony Ervin was a 21.80 to win his heat, Cullen Jones was a 21.84 to finish second to Dressel, and Nathan Adrian was a 21.96. Although Adrian is seeded fourth he arguably looks the best heading into the semifinals.

After 35-meters Adrian completely shut things down turning his race into the easiest 21.96 we at SwimSwam have ever seen. Adrian’s on fire this week and if his prelims swim is any indication of his potential, he should be very fast in the 50.

All the members of the 4x100m freestyle relay who qualified last night will be present in the semifinals with the exception of 6th place Clark Smith who didn’t swim the 50 free.

TOP 16

1. Caeleb Dressel (21.76)
2. Anthony Ervin (21.80)
3. Cullen Jones (21.84)
4. Nathan Adrian (21.96)
5. Jimmy Feigen (22.11)
6. Paul Powers (22.22)
7. Michael Chadwick (22.24)
8. William Copeland (22.25)
9. Michael Andrew (22.27)
10. Payton Sorenson (22.29)
11. Josh Schneider (22.32)
12. John Murray (22.34)
13. Ryan Held (22.37)
14. Dillon Virva (22.40)
15. Bowen Becker (22.45)
16. David Williams (22.45)

For official results click here.

WOMEN’S 800M FREESTYLE

Top seed: Katie Ledecky – 8:06.68
World record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
American record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Open record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Nationals record: 8:17.12 – Janet Evans
JR World record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky
2012 Winning Time: 8:19.78 – Katie Ledecky

After the prelims of the women’s 800m freestyle Katie Ledecky now owns all 10 of the fastest performances in the history of the event. Ledecky swam an 8:10.91 to smash the U.S LC Nationals record held by Janet Evans and completely erase her from the record books.

With Ledecky’s performance, she has all major records in the 400, 800, and 1500m freestyles. This record was the last one that Evans’ held. Amazingly enough, Evans was on deck during Ledecky’s performance.

Ledecky hardly kicked for the first half of the race, then continued to descend heading into the final stretch. On the last 15-meters, Ledecky put her head down and swam the final few meters as if it were a 50, not breathing once. Her world record is in jeopardy tonight.

Leah Smith qualified second behind Ledecky in 8:21.65 and is the second seed by a wide margin. It appears as though tonight’s race will likely be between Ledecky and Smith.

Smith seems out of it now, but she made a case in the 400m freestyle that she can keep things closer to Ledecky than anyone else in the world.

TOP 8

1. Katie Ledecky (8:10.91)
2. Leah Smith (8:21.64)
3. Ashley Twichell (8:28.96)
4. Haley Anderson (8:30.96)
5. Lindsay Vrooman (8:31.53)
6. Cierra Runge (8:31.59)
7. Stephanie Peacock (8:31.81)
8. Sierra Schmidt (8:32.46)

For official results click here.

MEN’S 100M BUTTERFLY

Top seed: Michael Phelps (50.45)
World record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps
American record: 49.82 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 50.22 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 50.22 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 51.33 – Li Zhuhao (China)
2012 Winning Time: 51.14 – Michael Phelps

The men’s 100m butterfly looks to be in good shape as six swimmers were under 52-seconds this morning make the event one of the most competitive one’s in the United States.

The top six were all within 0.26 seconds of each other, remarkably close. Matthew Josa took the top overall seed with a 51.61 to top Tim Phillips 51.68.

Seth Stubblefield was third in 51.70, Tom Shields fourth in 51.72, and Jack Conger was fifth in 51.80.

Michael Phelps was surprisingly beaten by both Phillips and Stubblefield in his heat, clocking in at 51.87 to take sixth overall heading into finals.

Phelps had another poor turn at the halfway point, something that’s been a common occurrence for him here inOmaha. He was very close to the wall on his touch.

Caeleb Dressel took the seventh seed with a 52.22. Ryan Lochte was ninth in 52.66.

TOP 16

1. Matthew Josa (51.61)
2. Tim Phillips (51.68)
3. Seth Stubblefield (51.70)
4. Tom Shields (51.72)
5. Jack Conger (51.80)
6. Michael Phelps (51.87)
7. Caeleb Dressel (52.22)
8. Andrew Liang (52.65)
9. Ryan Lochte (52.66)
10. David Nolan (52.70)
11. Will Glass (52.74)
12. Giles Smith (52.83)
13. Carl Wiegley (52.24)
14. Michael Andrew (53.25)
15. Kyler Vanswol (52.26)
16. Andrew Sansoucie (53.28)

For official results click here.

WOMEN’S 200M BACKSTROKE

Top seed: Missy Franklin (2:06.34)
World record: 2:04.06 – Missy Franklin
American record: 2:04.06 – Missy Franklin
U.S Open record: 2:05.68 – Missy Franklin
U.S Nationals record: 2:05.68 – Missy Franklin
JR World record: 2:07.43 – Daria Ustinova
2012 Winning Time: 2:06.11 – Missy Franklin

Missy Franklin may be down this week, but she’s not out. Franklin is the top qualifier in the 200m backstroke after posting a 2:09.69 this morning.

Her 200 speed looks fine as she heads into tonight’s semifinals. Maya DiRado and Elizabeth Beisel, who are already on the team, qualified second and third. DiRado was a 2:09.76, Beisel a 2:10.01.

Beisel swam the race with a taped up pinky on her left hand after she injured it in warmup a few days prior. Beisel didn’t appear to be troubled by the injury during her swim.

Danielle Galyer was fourth overall in 2:10.35, Bridget Alexander was fifth in 2:10.90. All other qualifiers were above 2:11.

TOP 16

1. Missy Franklin (2:09.69)
2. Maya DiRado (2:09.76)
3. Elizabeth Beisel (2:10.01)
4. Danielle Galyer (2:10.35)
5. Bridgette Alexander (2:10.90)
6. Eva Merrell (2:11.02)
7. Tasija Karosas (2:11.23)
8. Erin Voss (2:11.24)
9. Melissa Postoll (2:11.67)
10. Alex Walsh (2:11.58)
11. Amy Bilquist (2:11.77)
12. Lisa Bratton (2:11.92)
13. Clara Smiddy (2:11.98)
14. Ally Howe (2:12.08)
15. Callie Dickinson (2:12.14)
16. Quinn Carrozza (2:12.19)

For official results click here.