U.S. Nationals: Abbey Weitzeil, Kate Douglass Break 53 in 100 Free Prelims; Fast Field Eliminates Numerous Big Names
The field in the women’s 100 freestyle took a step forward Tuesday morning with the two swimmers at the top of the field recording sub-53 personal-best times, but the fast cutline meant that three veterans of U.S. relay squads over the past few years did not qualify for the A-final.
Abbey Weitzeil, a finalist in the 100 free at the Tokyo Olympics, missed qualifying for last year’s World Championships by one spot, but the veteran has been resurgent this year. She topped prelims in Indianapolis in 52.92, knocking seven hundredths off her previous best time from Tokyo. One heat later, Kate Douglass swam a time of 52.98 to beat her previous best by more than a second, and Douglass is the No. 2 swimmer heading into the final.
The next two qualifiers also recorded best times: Sun Devil’s Olivia Smoliga touched in 53.31, knocking two tenths off her best from the 2021 Olympic Trials. Nashville’s Gretchen Walsh was fourth in 53.64, a tenth quicker than her four-year-old best time of 53.74 from the 2019 World Junior Championships. Walsh had missed the 100 free final at the last two American selection meets, and a big smile emerged across her face as she won her heat to secure a spot in the A-final.
Torri Huske, the top American in the 100 free last year and a bronze medalist in the event at the World Championships, took second behind Douglass in their heat and fifth overall in 53.67. Douglass has been as fast as 52.92. Catie DeLoof (53.91), Maxine Parker (54.15) and Bella Sims (54.18) were also A-finalists, with Parker’s seventh-place finish making it three Virginia swimmers in the A-final along with Douglass and Walsh.
Carmel’s Alex Shackell took ninth in 54.22, missing the final by just four hundredths while returning from her 200 fly heat just 40 minutes earlier. Behind her, the swimmers that finished surprisingly outside the top eight were Claire Curzan (15th, 54.50), Natalie Hinds (=16th, 54.52) and Erika Brown (25th, 55.07). All three have raced on finals squads of the 400 free relay at major meets over the past two years.
