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By David Rieder.
Cassidy Bayer missing the final of the women’s 200 fly was eye-opening. Tom Shields finishing ninth in the men’s 200 fly came as far more of a surprise. And then Olympic finalist Abbey Weitzeil faded all the way to 15th in the women’s 100 free, her back-half split of 29.49 resulting in a final time of 55.48—more than two seconds off her lifetime best of 53.28.
None of the big favorites missed out on the final of the men’s 100 free, but the stunner in that event might have been the morning’s biggest: Zach Apple is seeded first.
Who is Zach Apple exactly? Well, in three events at Olympic Trials last year, he finished 39th in the 200 free, 35th in the 100 free and 35th in the 50 free. His 100 free time was 50.18.
During his sophomore season at Auburn, Apple had a solid NCAAs, finishing fourth in the 50 free and making the consolation finals of the 100 and 200 free. His best 100-yard time this season was 42.41—again, solid, but nothing to suggest he was about to drop a 48.14 in the long course version of the event.
Well, that’s exactly what he did. Coming in with a best time of 49.43, Apple dropped 1.3 seconds to claim lane four for the 100 free final at U.S. Nationals. In the final, if Apple looks to his left, he will see three Olympians. To his right, three Olympians, plus NCAA runner-up Michael Chadwick.
Of course, even if Apple finished four tenths ahead of the field in the prelims, it figures that several of the favorites have quite a bit more in the tank. Specifically, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian was out in 23.59 at the first 50, the 14th-fastest split in the field, before coming back faster than anyone else in 25.03.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Adrian hinted in his pre-meet press conference that he planned to go back to his strategy of attacking from the start, so expect more of that in the final. No surprise to see Olympic relay medalists Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held and Blake Pieroni scattered throughout the field, and while Chadwick cut it close with his 49.02, he made it in as well.
The other two in the final? Not guys typically associated with the 100 free. Townley Haas tied with Dressel for second in prelims after clocking 48.56. If Haas can get out quick enough, he will always have the requisite back half to hang on with his 200/400 free background.
Finally, Ryan Murphy broke 49 for the first time in prelims, and he has a shot to sneak on the relay, thereby getting his World Championships spot booked before the backstrokes. It’s a strong, deep field—only Chadwick didn’t break 49 in prelims—and it’s anyone’s guess which two won’t make the World Champs team for the 400 free relay.
As for the women’s 100 free, that’s a little more clear-cut, simply because the field was not nearly as quick as expected. At Olympic Trials, it took a 54.07 to qualify for the 100 free final. Tuesday morning in Indianapolis, it only took a 55.04.
Admittedly, the lack of semi-finals at this year’s Nationals makes the comparison a little more tricky, but that’s still not a good sign for an American relay with legitimate World title aspirations in the absence of Cate Campbell.
The good news? Well, Mallory Comerford. Her prelims-leading time of 53.26 put her sixth in the world for 2017 behind five Olympic gold medalists. She broke Weitzeil’s U.S. Nationals meet record set last summer, and among American, only Simone Manuel and Amanda Weir (who also surprisingly missed out on the top eight at Nationals) have ever been quicker.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Comerford and Manuel will battle for the national title in the final, with the 53-second barrier definitely in jeopardy. Kelsi Worrell was also sub-54 in prelims, and Olympians Lia Neal, Olivia Smoliga and Katie Ledecky were just behind.
The two surprises in the final? North Carolina senior Caroline Baldwin and Georgia sophomore Veronica Burchill. Neither of them were even semi-finalists in the 100 free at Trials. Burchill, from the Indianapolis area after swimming for Carmel Swim Club for many years, should have plenty of hometown support.
It’s a position you probably didn’t expect to see Baldwin, Burchill or Apple in, having to beat only two people in their respective heats to get a spot on the World Champs team. Of course, after his 48.14, Zach Apple probably has his sights set on a tree branch a little bit higher.
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