2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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Based on the results of last night’s women’s 200 free, the American women could be in world record hunting mode come Pan Pacs, with an aggregate 4×200 free relay time of 7:43.90 – and that’s without Katie Ledecky or Leah Smith swimming their best times.
We’ve tallied up aggregate relay times for all four freestyle relays below, with a brief look at what each means. Bear in mind that these are merely aggregate times, and that swimmers are likely to drop some tenths with relay exchanges, but also that there’s no guarantee anyone repeats these swims at Pan Pacs:
Women’s 4×200 free
| Swimmer | Time |
| Katie Ledecky | 1:54.60 |
| Allison Schmitt | 1:55.82 |
| Gabby Deloof | 1:56.55 |
| Leah Smith | 1:56.93 |
| 7:43.90 |
This time could be even faster with a fully-tapered Ledecky bettering her career-best (1:53.73) and Leah Smith getting back to her best (1:55.97). Throwing in those times, the U.S. goes 7:42.07. The world record – the last women’s relay holdover from the supersuit era – is 7:42.08. Since the fall of the suits, no team has been faster than 7:42.92. That was the American relay at the London Olympics.
The Americans won 2014 Pan Pacs with a 7:46.40 and last summer’s Worlds with a 7:43.39. So if everyone is close to their season-bests, the Americans should have no problem winning Pan Pacs gold at the very least.
Women’s 4×100 free
| Swimmer | Time |
| Simone Manuel | 52.54 |
| Mallory Comerford | 53.09 |
| Margo Geer | 53.44 |
| Abbey Weitzeil | 53.56 |
| 3:32.63 |
Manuel (52.27) and Comerford (52.59) weren’t yet at their lifetime-bests. Neither was Weitzeil (53.28), though this week was easily her best swim since the 2016 Olympic year. World record-holders Australia (3:30.05) are always hard to beat in this event, but without Bronte Campbell in the mix, it might actually be close. The Americans needed a 3:31.72 to win last summer’s worlds over Australia, which went 3:32.01 with Bronte but without Cate Campbell.
Men’s 4×200 free
| Swimmer | Time |
| Andrew Seliskar | 1:45.70 |
| Blake Pieroni | 1:45.93 |
| Conor Dwyer | 1:46.08 |
| Townley Haas | 1:46.15 |
| 7:03.86 |
On the Pan Pacs stage, this relay should be in relatively good shape, but the aggregate time is about seven tenths slower than the Americans went at Worlds last year while taking bronze. They’ll probably need Jack Conger and Haas back at their bests to have a shot at Worlds next summer.
Men’s 4×100 free
| Swimmer | Time |
| Blake Pieroni | 48.08 |
| Nathan Adrian | 48.25 |
| Townley Haas | 48.30 |
| Zach Apple | 48.34 |
| 3:12.97 |
This is an intriguing relay because it doesn’t yet feature world champ Caeleb Dressel, who was 47.17 flat start last summer. For now, the time is well out of medal contention at 2017 Worlds and the 2016 Olympics. But if you include Apple’s 48.06 prelims time and replace Haas with Dressel’s 47.17, you get an aggregate time of 3:11.56, good enough for bronze at Worlds last year. It only took a 3:12.80 to win the last edition of Pan Pacs, and Australia is without Cameron McEvoy and James Magnussen (both 47 splits in 2014) in this year’s meet. Perennial sprint powerhouse Brazil should also be in the mix at Pan Pacs.
DON’T sleep on Brazil 4×100 free relay. They are far more dangerous than the Aussies.
The following is a copy from another thread. But it is more appropriate place for it. If it is not allowed just remove it.
American 4×200 relay is getting closer and closer to the world record of 7:42.08 (China, 2009).
On paper they are 7:43.71
Ledecky – 1:54.56
Schmitt – 1:55.82
Deloof – 1:56.55
Smith. – 1:56.78
Ledecky and Smith can be expected to swim 0.5 sec faster each. Plus a safe and more or less standard relay exchange with reaction time 0.35sec can save another 1 sec.
So this team can be expected to show 7:41.7 that is ~ 0.4 sec under current world record.
There is some uncertainty with… Read more »
Usual approach to calculate “on paper” relay time is to use best in-season times.
In such case W4x200 is 7:43.71
I think the womens 4×2 goes down next year at world champs.
Having Schmitty back for the US is huge. Leah is continuing to improve. Katie is Katie and if she’s eyeing the WR in the 200 free that leg will obviously be huge. I feel like Margalis may be the 4th on that relay come world champs next year but Deloof may continue to improve as well. It could even be Comerford or Simone if they translate their 100 speed into putting an insane 200 together.
If it is at least some chance then it should be taken now. Don’t postpone it for possibly better conditions. Within 4 years period Americans had Schmitt (1:53.6), Franklin (1:54.8), Ledecky (1:53.7). What could one wish more. They were never even close to break the world record. Current team can show with high probability the result within 7:41.8 -7:42.3 interval. Just make it a target. And spend time training together to choose the optimal leg assignment. It kind of art for coaches too. Some swimmers perform better when they lead having clear water. Some needs moving target. Relay exchange depends on how swimmers are finishing and partners have to get to use to it.
But would be good to see the WR fall.. The men relays would be much harder..Maybe the medley is the most possible..
W 4×200, agree with one of the comment previously suggested the US attack it more aggressively in Pan Pacs this year.
Will be much better to risk it in Worlds or Olympics.
The RT last year were 0.71, 0.45, 0.50, 0.28
They need to practice it better this year at the training camp.
Australia is probably not the factor for the men 4×100.. Brazil is.. Agregate time of Trials of Brazil: 3:12:93
Spajari: 48:01 (Finals Time), Santos, 47:98, Marco Jr. 48:46, Chiereghini 48:48
If we use Lifetime Flat Start best it would change to Spajari 47:95 and Chiereghinni 48:11 which would add to 3:12:50
You forgot to factor in 3 relay starts…