U.S. International Team Trials: Luke Hobson, Trey Freeman Finish 1-2 in Men’s 400 Free Heats

Luke Hobson -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. International Team Trials: Luke Hobson, Trey Freeman Finish 1-2 in Men’s 400 Free Heats

During his freshman season at the University of Texas, 18-year-old Luke Hobson has emerged as a national force in the middle distance freestyle events. After taking third in the 500-yard free at the NCAA Championships and contributing to a record-setting 800 free relay, Hobson qualified for the 200-meter free final at the U.S. International Team Trials and placed seventh. Now, he will enter the final of the 400 free as the top qualifier after he recorded a time of 3:50.28 in prelims.

Hobson used a strong final 100 meters to hold off Florida’s Trey Freeman, who earned a likely spot at the World Championships as a relay alternate when he placed sixth in the 200 free Wednesday evening. Another likely 800 free relay qualifier for Worlds, Texas’ Coby Carrozza, earned the third seed after he touched out Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith to win the final heat, 3:50.60 to 3:50.72.

The men’s 400 free was a relatively weak event for the United States last year before Smith posted huge time drops at both the Olympic Trials and Olympics, where he clocked 3:43.94, on his way to a bronze medal. At Olympic Trials, Smith was the only swimmer to eclipse the “A” qualifying time for the Olympics, and it took an amazing performance by second-place finisher Jake Mitchell in a solo time trial to clinch a spot at the Games.

This year, Mitchell is absent from Trials after announcing his intention to transfer from Michigan to Florida, so we’ll see if two swimmers can get under the “A” cut for the World Championships, which is 3:48.15. Smith showed strong form in winning the 200 free Wednesday night, so he will be the favorite for the evening race, but the battle for second place should be extremely competitive.

Ohio State’s Charlie Clark, who placed second in the 1500 free earlier in the meet to qualify for Worlds, took fifth in prelims in 3:51.62. NC State’s Ross Dant qualified sixth in 3:52.10, and he will be looking to qualify for Worlds after placing third in both the 400 and 800 free at the 2021 Olympic Trials. Nicholas Caruso (3:52.29) and Tyler Watson (3:52.98) also qualified for the A-final.

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