U.S. International Team Trials: Erika Brown Paces 50 Free Prelims; Claire Curzan Chasing Fifth Worlds Bid
A sensational battle is brewing in the women’s 50-meter freestyle, as six women dipped under the 25-second barrier during the morning preliminaries, headlined by veteran Erika Brown in 24.48. The Tennessee product is coming off a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle and will try to secure an individual-event bid to the World Championships in Budapest at half the distance. She was followed as the No. 2 qualifier by Kate Douglass, who checked in at 24.59. Douglass opted to bypass the 200 individual medley, where she was the Olympic bronze medalist, in favor of focusing on the 50 freestyle.
Teenage star Claire Curzan will try to add a fifth event to her program for the World Champs, as the Stanford recruit advanced to the final as the third seed, off a morning clocking of 24.64. Curzan is already qualified for Worlds in the 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 50 butterfly. She placed just ahead of two-time Olympian Abbey Weitzeil, who touched the wall in 24.74. Weitzeil will need a top-two finish tonight to earn a trip to Worlds, as she was shut out earlier in the meet in the 100 freestyle.
Also going under the 25-second mark were Torri Huske (24.76) and Gretchen Walsh (24.88). Like Curzan, Huske has already qualified for Budapest in multiple events, with her schedule in June including the 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 50 fly. Rounding out the finalists were Natalie Hinds (25.16) and Gabi Albiero (25.31).
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