U.S. Nationals: Day 5 Prelims Feature Shaine Casas Looking For Big Moment in 200 IM (Heat Sheets)
The final session of preliminaries at the United States National Championships will feature the 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle, with the early heats of the women’s 1500 freestyle and men’s 800 freestyle following in the afternoon. The men’s 200 individual medley features the most-intriguing storyline, as Shaine Casas is slated to race. Casas is coming off a personal-best of 50.40 in the 100 butterfly, an effort that moved him into a tie for sixth all-time in the event.
Casas is among the premier individual medley performers in the world and tonight’s finals will provide him with an opportunity to produce one of the fastest times in the world for 2022. Casas enters the event as the heavy favorite, thanks to a seen time of 1:56.70. Based on what he did in the 100 fly, Casas could make a run at a time in the 1:55-range.
Beata Nelson and Leah Smith are the top seeds in the women’s 200 individual medley, both at 2:11. Smith has advanced to several finals during the week and engaged in a stellar duel with Katie Ledecky in the 400 medley, which Ledecky won by a narrow margin.
In the 50 freestyle, Poland’s Kasia Wasick and American Michael Andrew are the top seeds. Wasick and Andrew were the silver medalist in the event at last month’s World Championships.
Here is a look at the heat sheets for the fifth day of prelims.
