2016 USA Swimming Trials: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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

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Scheduled Events:

Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
Women’s 200m Freestyle Finals
Men’s 200m Butterfly Finals
Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
Women’s 200m IM Finals

Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals

The United States’ greatest sprinting hope Nathan Adrian was second at the 50, after flipping in 23.14. He came home for a 47.91. That time moves him up to second in the world this year.

NC State’s Ryan Held proved that this morning’s time drop was not a fluke, stopping the clock in 48.46, good for the second spot in finals.

Caeleb Dressel went another best time with a 48.53, to return third tomorrow night. Jimmy Feigen flipped in 23.11, ahead of Adrian and ended up fourth with a 48.65.

Veteran Anthony Ervin led the first semifinal at the halfway mark and came home second in 48.71. He’ll earn the fifth spot for tomorrow night.

William Copeland secured sixth in 48.75 and Blake Pieroni touched in 49.07.

Swimming in lane one, Conor Dwyer put himself in contention for a third Olympic event. The 27 year old touched in 49.18 and will return eighth tomorrow night.

There was heartbreak in his wake. David Williams was only .01 behind Dwyer in 49.19. Seth Stubblefield of Cal was another .01 back in 49.20. The two finished ninth and tenth, out of the final.

Maxime Rooney (49.26), David Nolan (49.39), Josh Schneider (49.56), and John Murray (49.58) were 11th through 14th. Matt Grevers (49.69) and Joshua Fleagle (49.70) completed the semifinals.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Women’s 200 Freestyle Final

Katie Ledecky took another step towards a potentially historic distance schedule in Rio. She swam a 1:54.88. That swim is just under a half second from her world leading time.

Missy Franklin secured an individual berth in Rio, after a tough 100 backstroke last night. She got to the wall in 1:56.18.

Leah Smith qualified for a relay spot in third with a 1:56.63, just off her season’s best.

Allison Schmitt also grabbed a relay spot with a 1:56.72. Her training partner Cierra Runge finished fifth in 1:57.16.

In the first of her two events tonight Melanie Margalis swam a 1:57.65 for sixth.

Simone Manuel led by just over a tenth at the halfway mark, riding her sprint speed. Ledecky took over at the halfway mark and the rest of the heat made up ground then as well. Manuel touched seventh in 1:57.84.

Katie McLaughlin, on the front end of a tough double, wound up eighth in 1:58.60.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Men’s 200 Butterfly Final

Michael Phelps led at the 50 meter mark and never looked back. While Tom Shields made moves on the final 50 meters, the 22 time Olympic medalist held him off to touch in 1:54.84. With that finish, Phelps qualified for a historic fifth Olympic games.

Shields also secured his Olympic berth with a 1:55.81.

Jack Conger finished third in 1:56.45, a half second behind. Gunnar Bentz was .01 behind him in fourth with a 1:56.46.

Phelps’ training partner Chase Kalisz placed fifth in 1:56.64.

Pace Clark (1:56.66), Zach Harting (1:56.92), and Andrew Seliskar (1:58.34) completed the final.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Women’s 200 Fly Semifinal

After an overturned disqualification made for an eventful morning, Cammile Adams replicated her prelims race strategy. She won the second semifinal in 2:07.31, nearly a second faster than she was this morning.

Hali Flickinger made a statement in the first semifinal, leading the way in 2:07.79, over a half second faster than this morning.

Sixteen year old Cassidy Bayer was out first again tonight. Adams tracked her down and Bayer touched in 2:07.97, a new personal best time and tomorrow’s third seed.

With an Olympic spot already locked up Kelsi Worrell put together a strong last half in the first semifinal. She finished in 2:08.94, a half second better than her prelims swim.

Christina Bechtel took the fifth spot in 2:09.48. Just minutes after her eighth place 200 freestyle Katie McLaughlin took it out strong and finished third in semifinal number two, good for sixth and a shot at Rio tomorrow night.

Hannah Saiz (2:10.44) and Ruby Martin (2:10.67) also grabbed lanes in tomorrow’s final.

Jen Marrkand (2:10.94), Lauren Case (2:11.17), Noelle Tarazona (2:11.21), Taylor Pike (2:11.29), and Maddie Wright (2:12.11) were ninth through 13th.

Kate Mills (2:12.18) and Sarah Gibson (2:12.20) followed.

Megan Kingsley battled through her knee injury with a 2:12.52 to touch 16th.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Men’s 200 Breaststroke Semifinals

Kevin Cordes was under 200 breaststroke world record pace at the halfway mark and the crowd pushed him forward. He was still at the pace at the 150 mark and the crowd rose to its feet. The line escaped Cordes in the final 15 meters as he touched in 2:07.81. The time was still a new US Open Record, faster than his own 2:07.86 mark. That time is the second best in the world this year.

Josh Prenot clocked a personal best of 2:08.41 to win the first semifinal. Will Licon posted a 2:09.08 to improve his prelims swim and return third tomorrow night.

Cody Miller touched in 2:09.91, nearly a three second drop from prelims and good for fourth. Nic Fink swam a 2:09.95 for fifth place. Andrew Wilson (2:10.70), BJ Johnson (2:10.77), and Brendan McHugh (2:13.44) also earned lanes for tomorrow night.

Daniel Roy (2:13.92), Alex Evdokimov (2:14.42), Jacob Montague (2:14.54), Sam Tierney (2:14.59), Nick Zito (2:14.74), Reece Whitley (2:15.18), Brandon Fischer (2:15.89), and Ethan Browne (2:16.05) completed the semifinals.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Womens 200 IM Final

Maya DiRado was first at the half way mark and finished on top in 2:09.54, the third best time in the world this year.

Forty five minutes after her 200 freestyle Melanie Margalis used that freestyle speed to charge home in 2:10.11 and earn an individual Olympic swim.

In her final Olympic chance Caitlin Leverenz came up short by a heart breaking .05 seconds. With an extra stroke coming into the finish, she touched in 2:10.16, just behind Margalis.

Madisyn Cox made huge moves on the breaststroke leg but could not quite hang on, finishing fourth in 2:11.24.

NCAA Champion Ella Eastin led after the butterfly but wound up fifth with a 2:11.49.

Bethan Galat placed sixth in 2:12.82.

Meghan Small (2:13.31) and Emily Cameron (2:14.16) completed the final.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

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