2016 USA Swimming Trials: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Everything you need to follow along live with day three finals of the 2016 USA Swimming Trials. Hit refresh for latest coverage.

Click here to view the heat sheets.

Schedule of Events:

Women’s 200 Free Semi-Finals
Men’s 200 Free FINAL
Women’s 100 Back FINAL
Men’s 100 Back FINAL
Women’s 100 Breast FINAL
Men’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals
Women’s 200 IM Semi-Finals

Women’s 200 Free Semi-Finals:

Unsurprisingly Katie Ledecky jumped to the lead early in the second heat of semi-finals, splitting a time of 56.73 before cruising to a final time of 1:55.10. Ledecky, who flirted with a new world record in the 400 free last night, has been as fast as 1:54.43 this year.

Leah Smith, who earned her first Olympic berth last night in the 400 free with Ledecky, added slightly to her prelims time of 1:56.47, finishing with a 1:56.73 to maintain her spot as the second seed.

The gold medalist from London, Allison Schmitt, cruised to a time of 1:57.05 in the first heat of semi-finals, good for third going into tomorrow night’s final.

Missy Franklin clocked a 1:57.33 to grab the fourth-place seed going into tomorrow night’s final. Franklin will also be looking to defend her 100 back Olympic title in a tight 100 back field later tonight.

Melanie Margalis, who scratched out of the final heat of the 100 breast, grabbed a spot in the finals with a time of 1:57.35, good for fifth.

Simone Manuel jumped to an early lead in the first head of semi-finals before being overtaken by Smith, Schmitt and Franklin. The sprint superstar clocked a 1:57.82 to join tomorrow’s final heat.

Cierra Runge (1:58.10) and Katie McLaughlin (1:58.43) round out the top eight qualifiers.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Men’s 200 Free FINAL:

The men’s 200 freestyle final was highlighted by a trio of Texans, two members of SwimMAC’s elite team, and one Trojan. The crowd roared as the men raced to a tight finish as Townley Haas, Jack Conger, and Conor Dwyer battling to the finish.

It came down to the touch with the young Texan freshman stopping the clock at a 1:45.66. Haas turned heads at the NCAA Men’s Championships when he downed the short course American Record in the 200 free.

Dwyer, who has already punched his ticket to Rio in the 400 free, finished a shy second with a time of 1:45.67. Dwyer led throughout the majority of the race while the Texans fought to catch him.

Jack Conger joined teammate Haas as a member of the relay in Rio with a final 1:45.77. Not to be left behind was Ryan Lochte with a time of 1:46.62, good for a spot on the men’s 4×200 free relay.

Gunnar Bentz grabbed fifth with a time of 1:47.33, while fellow Texan Clark Smith finished sixth overall with a 1:47.53.

Tyler Clary (1:47.78) and Jonathan Roberts (1:49.50) were seventh and eighth respectively.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Women’s 100 Back FINAL:

The women’s 100 back was a star-studded event with Natalie Coughlin, the most decorate female Olympic swimmer of all time, and Missy Franklin, the defending Olympic gold medalist, dueling for a spot on the Rio Olympic team among collegiate stars Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker.

After a quick disqualification scare following her prelims swim Smoliga has recovered, rebounded, and blown the competition away. The Georgia Bulldawg cranked out a 59.02 to earn her first Olympic berth and move to fourth in the world rankings for 2016.

Baker, who led at the 50, battled Smoliga until the very finish before stopping the clock at a 59.29 to join Smoliga on the Olympic team.

Amy Bilquist tried to get into the mix, finishing a close 59.37 for third.

Ali Deloof improved upon her semi-finals time of 59.85 to finish fourth with a 59.69.

Hannah Stevens squeezed under the one-minute mark with a final 59.97, good for fifth overall.

Clara Smiddy (1:00.12), Missy Franklin (1:00.24), and Natalie Coughlin (1:00.48) were sixth through eighth.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Men’s 100 Back FINAL:

The U.S. men have continually thrown down the gauntlet in the 100 back throughout the last month. It began with David Plummer’s 52.40 at the Arena Pro Series stop in Indianapolis—a time that upset then world leader Mitch Larkin’s 52.48. Fast forward to last night’s semi-finals where Cal superstar Ryan Murphy led the first heat of semi-finals to a world best of 52.28.

Plummer, who finished third in the 100 back in 2012 and sixth in 2008, accepted Murphy’s time as a challenge and turned up the heat, battling the world record line and turning in a new world leading time of 52.12.

Cruising right alongside Plummer, however, was Matt Grevers, the reigning Olympic gold medalist. Grevers’ strong and smooth swim of 52.64 moved him to fourth in the world rankings and showed the world that the U.S. will head to the Olympics ready to defend the gold medal.

At the 50 it was Plummer in the lead battling, yet again, the World Record line, but laying in wait was Murphy, ready to turn on the heat. Murphy and Plummer dueled the whole way to the finish to post times a slim .02 seconds apart. Murphy got his hand to the wall first, stopping the clock at a 52.26 over Plummer’s 52.28.

Matt Grevers delivered a valiant fight staying in the mix until the very end. Grevers posted a third-place finish of 52.76, adding just slightly to his semi-finals time of 52.64.

Cal bear Jacob Pebley turned in a fourth place finish of 52.95, just ahead of Michael Taylor’s 54.04.

John Shebat grabbed sixth with a time of 54.20, while Sean Lehane and Jake Taylor tied for seventh with a 54.72.

Photo Courtesy: Omega timing

Women’s 100 Breast FINAL:

Short Course American Record holder Lilly King continued her domination of the 100 breaststroke with a strong finish in finals, stopping the clock at a 1:05.20 improving upon her semi-finals time of 1:05.94 and setting a new national meet record.

Hanging right there with King was SwimMAC’s Katie Meili who delivered a 1:06.07 finish for second and a ticket to Rio. Meili’s time moves her up to fourth in the world rankings for 2016.

Finishing third overall was Molly Hannis with a time of 1:06.65 to be the only other athlete under the 1:07 mark.

A scratch from Melanie Margalis put Olympian Breeja Larson back in the mix where she finished fourth, overall, with a 1:07.53.

Andee Cottrell was right on Larson’s heels, stopping the clock at a 1:07.59.

Jessica Hardy (1:07.73), Sarah Haase (1:08.01), and Miranda Tucker (1:08.19) completed the heat.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Men’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals:

World Record holder in the 200 fly and the reigning Olympic champion Michael Phelps continued to demonstrate why he is the Greatest Olympian of All Time (GOAT) leaping from eighteenth to sixth in the world rankings with a final time of 1:55.17. Phelps will maintain his spot as the top seed going into tomorrow night’s final.

Georgia Bulldawg Pace Clark clocked a 1:56.27 from the first heat of semi-finals to place himself in the middle of the pool with Phelps for tomorrow night’s final.

Tom Shields turned in a 1:56.35 to grab the third place seed in tomorrow’s final, while Phelps’ teammate, and newly minted Olympian, Chase Kalisz set himself up for a potential second event in Rio with a time of 1:56.48.

Fellow dawg Gunnar Bentz grabbed his second fifth-place finish of the day with a 1:56.82, just ahead of Zach Harting’s 1:56.99.

Jack Conger (1:57.02) and Andrew Seliskar (1:57.10) rounded out tomorrow night’s qualifiers.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Women’s 200 IM Semi-Finals:

Maya DiRado has been making quite a name for herself in the Individual Medleys. After a strong prelims swim of 2:11.66 DiRado earned herself the top seed in tomorrow’s final with a 2:10.09. DiRado’s time shifts her to sixth in the world rankings and puts her in a good position to earn a second Olympic event.

Melanie Margalis continued to turn up the heat with yet another strong swim in the women’s 200 IM. Margalis, who delivered a stunning performance earlier in the night in the 200 free, posted a final 2:10.41 to grab the second-place seed.

Madisyn Cox earned the third-place seed with a time of 2:11.39, while Cal’s Caitlin Leverenz topped the first heat of semi-finals with a 2:11.42 to grab fourth overall.

Finishing fifth overall in semi-finals was Bethany Galat and a time of 2:12.29, just ahead of Stanford’s Ella Eastin (2:12.68).

Meghan Small (2:13.00) and Emily Cameron (2:13.36) complete the top eight qualifiers.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

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