U.S. Nationals: Carson Foster Scratches 200 Freestyle Final (Heat Sheet)
The second evening of finals at U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday with action in the women’s and men’s 200 freestyle, women’s and men’s 200 breaststroke, women’s and men’s 200 backstroke and women’s and men’s 50 butterfly. The session will be streamed on Peacock.
Click here to view the full heat sheet.
Carson Foster has withdrawn from the 200 free final after swimming a quick time of 1:45.64 in prelims. Foster is already on the Worlds team in the 200 fly, so he is likely to swim the 800 free relay in Fukuoka. The scratch pushes Zane Grothe into the final after Grothe swam a time of 1:46.97 in the morning for ninth place. Foster will now prepare for his remaining individual events, and he is the favorite in both individual medley races.
Also scratching Wednesday was Shaine Casas, who was 13th in the 200 back prelims. Casas, the World Champs bronze medalist in the race last year, has several individual events remaining on his schedule. Kelly Pash and Aiden Hayes also pulled out of their respective 50 fly B-final races.
Katie Ledecky will go for her second win of the meet in the 200 freestyle after recording a 1:55.49 in prelims. Claire Weinstein and Erin Gemmell qualified second and third, respectively. In the men’s event, four men went under 1:46 in the heats. Although Foster is out, Luke Hobson leads the way ahead of Drew Kibler and Jake Mitchell, with Kieran Smith looming.
Kate Douglass will aim to add to her 100 free title as she races the 200 breaststroke, holding the top seed ahead of world champion Lilly King, while Matt Fallon is the big favorite in the men’s 200 breast. American-record holder Regan Smith leads a strong group in the women’s 200 back final while Ryan Murphy nailed down lane four in the men’s event. The 50 butterfly will round out the lineup for finals with Gretchen Walsh (women’s) and Dare Rose (men’s) as the top seeds.