U.S. Nationals: Regan Smith Cruises to Top Qualifying Time in 200 Fly Prelims
Regan Smith has been among the best 200 butterfly swimmers in the world for several years, but she made a huge move three weeks ago as she became the fourth-fastest performer ever in the event, knocking off a 14-year-old American record in the process. She is the fastest swimmer in the world so far this year by almost a second over Canadian teenage star Summer McIntosh. Now, Smith is set up to win a U.S. title in the event for the first time.
Smith was just off her own American-record pace at the halfway point before cruising home. Smith touched in 2:06.80 to secure the top qualifying mark for the final by more than a half-second. In the final heat, Smith was followed into the wall by Longhorn’s Emma Sticklen (2:08.61) and Sun Devil’s Lindsay Looney (2:08.67), who earned the fifth and seventh seeds for finals, respectively.
Longhorn’s Dakota Luther, who qualified for the World Championships in 2017 as a 16-year-old in the 200 fly, raced to a big lead in heat five, and she held off her fast-finishing Texas teammate Kelly Pash. Luther finished in 2:07.55 for the second-best time of the morning. Pash went 2:08.40 for the fourth seed. There will be a strong Texas flavor in the A-final with Luther, Sticklen and Pash all among the top five in qualifying.
Alex Shackell had a big morning swim, with the 16-year-old from Carmel Swim Club cutting more than seven tenths off her best time while beating veteran Hali Flickinger to the wall by more than a second. Shackell touched in 2:07.95 for third overall in the morning session. Flickinger, the Olympic bronze medalist in this event and the silver medalist at last year’s World Championships, swam a time of 2:08.64 for the sixth seed.
Long Island’s Tess Howley ended up eighth in 2:09.08. Katie Grimes, the World Championships silver medalist in the 1500 free and 400 IM last year, is entered in a grueling program of events this week at Nationals, and she placed ninth in her first event. Her 2:09.84 left her seven tenths shy of a spot in the A-final. It’s unclear if Grimes will remain in the event and race the B-final or scratch. She is seeded third in Tuesday evening’s 800 free, where she will have a very real chance at qualifying for Worlds.
