U.S. Nationals: Abbey Weitzeil Scorches US Open Record in 50 Free
The final women’s event of the U.S. National Championships was fittingly packed with stars, as most of the women’s events were this week in Indianapolis.
Six Olympians, a national champion and national runner-up comprised the field in the 50 freestyle, about as stacked a lineup as we have seen at the Indiana University Natatorium.
And for the splash-and-dash event, the women’s meet ended with some major excitement with Abbey Weitzeil finishing in 24.00 flat to break the U.S. Open record in the event – just three hundredths of a second off the American record.
“I am very excited. I honestly didn’t know what I was going to see when I looked up at the board. I was going for a 23, but just to see a best time was awesome – and to get the U.S. Open record, which was a goal of mine in the 100 – to come back and get that in the 50 was awesome,” Abbey Weitzeil said.
The previous U.S. Open record was held by Pernille Blume (24.08), set in 2019.
Weitzeil changed up her race strategy a little bit, trying no-breath for the first time in the 50.
“I did no-breath this morning, and tonight, for the first time at a big meet,” she said. “I think I have struggled with getting back in a rhythm after my breath, so that is something I have been working on and really staying high in the water. And for me, it was an anxiety thing about hypoxic. It was a mental thing and I am happy to get past that. Everything just came together. I have a lot more work to do, but I felt better.”
Weitzeil also made the team in the 100 freestyle after finishing second, and will be one of the veterans on the U.S. team.
“The goal was to get on the team in both events, and that was executed. Individually, my 100 wasn’t what I wanted, and the emotions were high after not seeing the time I wanted, but it took me a second to realize I did my job and got on the team,” Weitzeil said. “I am really excited to see the women’s sprinters getting faster together. This gives me so much hope and excitement for our relays, so I was pumped to see the 100 free be as fast as it was.”
Gretchen Walsh, who made the team in the 100 as a relay spot (among other events), finished second to make the team in her third individual event, finishing in 24.31, capping a spectacular week that has her on the rise heading to worlds.
Kate Douglass was fresh off of winning the 200 IM barely a half hour earlier tied for third with Olivia Smoliga, both getting to the wall in 24.48.
Torri Huske, who finished third in the 200 IM at U.S. Nationals, put together a strong double and took fifth in 24.72.
Catie DeLoof was sixth (24.73), followed by Gabi Albiero (24.76) and Erika Brown (25.02)
