Olympic Trials Day 6: Carson Foster Narrows Out Maximus Williamson For Top Seed

Olympic Trials Day 6: Carson Foster Narrows Out Maximus Williamson For Top Seed

The pressure is on for the contenders of the 200 IM as they head into semifinal as this event will be close to, if not the last opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Paris games.

In the first heat of the circle, Chase Kalisz, who has already qualified for the 400 IM in Paris, demonstrated his IM excellence with smooth dominance over the heat. He cruised to touch the wall at a time of 1:58.62, making going under the two-minute mark look easy, although maybe too easy as he will be the third seed going into the semifinal. Also, under the two-minute mark in the first heat were Destin Lasco, four-time NCAA champion, and Mitchell Schott with times of 1:59.45 and 1:59.67. Their swims will register them a spot in the semifinals in the eighth and ninth spots. Also qualifying in the first heat were Baylor Nelson, U.S. World Championships team member, and Nate Germonprez, Big 12 champion, with times of 2:00.17 and 2:00.21 for 13^th and 14^th, respectively.

In the second heat of the circle seeded heats, the 200 IM champion of the meet, Carson Foster, 2024 Olympian, took the blocks. Foster has notable scratched all other events outside the IM events. A gamble that seems well worth it as Foster maintained control over his heat. The only time that anyone was close to matching his speed was the first 50 meters of butterfly – the rest was all Foster. He touched in a time of 1:58.38, which will put him in the first-place spot heading into the semifinal. Grant House, fought off Owen McDonald to touch the wall in a 1:58.83. A battle well fought for the fourth-place seed in the semifinal. McDonald swam a 1:59.13 for seventh. Trenton Julian, NCAA champion, remained close by with a time of 2:00.24 which will sneak him in the semifinal at the 15^th seed.

Concluding the final swim of morning six of the Olympic Trials, top seed Shaine Casas returned to action to make his claim into the semifinal heats – which was not easily done as he played tug of war with Paris Olympian, Kieran Smith and youngster, Maximus Williamson, for the top three spots.

While Casas was out fast touching the wall first during the first butterfly leg, it was Williamson who answered back and touched the wall first with a time of 1:58.58. Seeding him second behind Foster. Still a close race, Smith out touched Casas for the fifth-seeded spot with a time of 1:59.04. Casas registered a 1:59.10 for sixth.

Rex Maurer had an impressive swim, breaking the two-minute mark for a time of 1:59.71 for 10^th. NCAA qualifier, Arsenio Bustos held tight at a 2:00.08 behind Maurer at the 11^th place seed. Notably, Jay Litherland scratched the event.

Rounding out the top 16 are NCAA qualifiers, Ryan Merani and Colin Geer with a times of 2:00.16 and 2:00.24, respectively. They will be seeded at the 12^th and 16^th spots in the semifinal.

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