2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Start Lists
- Results
The USA men came through with a new Championship Record in the 400 Free Relay on the first night of finals at the 2019 FINA World Championships. Caeleb Dressel, who first broke the American Record as the leadoff member of this relay in 2017, swam his fastest time since the last Worlds meet with a 47.63 to start. He handed off to Blake Pieroni, who held the lead in 47.49.
Their 3rd leg man, however, really brought the thunder. Zach Apple pulled the Americans further ahead with a huge 46.86 split. Nathan Adrian, the anchor staple of this relay over the last several years, then sealed the deal with a 47.08 split.
American Relay Splits:
- Caeleb Dressel (leadoff)- 47.63
- Blake Pieroni– 47.49
- Zach Apple– 46.86
- Nathan Adrian– 47.08
- Final Time- 3:09.06
Their 3:09.06 cleared the USA’s former mark of 3:09.24 from 2009 Worlds and is within a second of the World Record. It’s also the fastest textile suit relay in history.
Apple’s split brings up an interesting possibility of whether he may be considered for the anchor position on the medley relay. With Dressel likely swimming the fly leg, he could be used on the prelims or finals relay in that spot. Pieroni is the other man slated to swim the individual 100 free here.
The coaches will have several men to choose from, as Adrian is also a possibility. He’s been consistently reliable as the USA’s anchor leg and was nearly sub-47 himself tonight. Apple, however, was over 6 tenths faster than Pieroni and had the fastest split of any man in the Worlds field tonight.
There is no way I’m benching the most reliable relay anchor in world swimming for 0.2 seconds.
Maybe you give him a shot in the prelims and see if he can atleast drop a 47.0 again, then you might consider it.
It’s entirely possible they time trial those two in the mixed free prelims
can you believe he only started swimming in 2013 competitively. Started out with a 44 and 20 point respectively. He’s truly an inspiration for college swimmers everywhere.
Given the circumstances, It’s amazing Nathan Adrian could throw down a 47.08 anchor. The guy never misses!
With Farris on that relay instead of Blake and Dressel at his best…. WR in trouble next year
Wasn’t Zapple a WKU commit before all of that went down?
He was! https://swimswam.com/western-kentuckys-former-top-commit-zach-apple-chooses-auburn-instead/
Wild to think how far he’s come given his circumstances. Like you said, Braden, “his potential is mouth-watering,” but now his times/splits are too!
Speaking of relays, which two male Americans do you put on the 4×100 MIXED FREE RELAY? Dressel and whom? With C1, C2, and Chalmers, the Aussies are going to be a very tough challenge in that event.
Dressel and Adrian in the mixed free
Dressel fly Apple free in medley
Seems good
Great swim for Apple. But did anyone else think Dressel was going to lead off in a 46?
After that 50 Fly I was certain.
He just didn’t look explosive, out in 22.8 home in 24.8. Had the back half but not the front half speed.
I didn’t, and I’m probably the only one on this site. He did look explosive in the 50 fly. I don’t think he’s rediscovered his 2017 level sprint free.
Are you going to spam every comment mentioning Dressel with your smug takes every time he doesn’t break a WR in a swim?
Pretty much. You don’t have to read them. It’s hilarious how this is the only pro sport for which disappointing swims of an overhyped pro have to be handled with age grouper kid gloves. Get over it.
lol. the fact that you classify a 47.6 leadoff as disappointing just shows how high the expectations are of him and how hard you want to hate him. get over yourself.
This is why the WC selection is too early. He clearly should have gotten the 100 individual spot over Dressel. lol
Relax, Jesus Christ, it’s been one day
Quite the compliment.
I get your take here, it’s in jest obviously, but I’m not opposed to what they did in terms of giving athletes two years of preparation where you know your schedule and what the plan is.
But I’d really think they would rather do that for the 1st cycle with worlds and panpacs and then give swimmers the year before Olympics a trials/worlds practice cycle.
I wonder how much swimmer/coach input they got on this.
Ok 47.6 was disappointing because his 50 fly time gave the indication that he was in even better shape them Budapest, where he went 47.2 leading off. 47.6 would still beat any other American, including zapple…