U.S. Olympic Trials: Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy Set the Pace in 100 Free Semifinals

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy Set the Pace in 100 Free Semifinals

The men’s 100 freestyle at U.S. Olympic Trials is looking loaded for bear. It might take an American record to win it Wednesday night. It might sum up to a world record when all is said and done.

Chris Guiliano and Jack Alexy each won their semifinal heats in flirtations with the American record, both going low 47s.

Giuliano won the first heat in 47.25. Alexy was under world record pace at the 50 before getting second overall in 47.33. And, oh by the way, lurking in third is a guy named Caeleb Dressel in 47.53.

The times take a bit of a back seat for Alexy, who is looking to get on his first Olympic team.

“It’s kind of about my times but at this point, you’re trying to make the team first,” he said. “Just get to the wall first and the time will take care of itself. My coaches and my friends talk about times and stuff, but just trying to take care of the process and get the team spot.”

Alexy had set a U.S. Open record of 47.08 in the morning, and Dressel’s American record of 46.96 is in the sights of one and all.

“I was pretty surprised with a best time in the morning,” Alexy said, “and going 47.3 in semifinals, I’m happy with.”

Guiliano continues dropping time, a night after getting on the team in the 200 fee. He went 47.25, four tenths quicker than his morning swim, to win the first semifinal. Hunter Armstrong was second in that race and fourth overall in 47.59, with a gap back to Ryan Held, who held on for seventh.

Fifth is Destin Lasco, who went 47.90. Macguire McDuff delivered a sensational outside lane swim to get in to the final in sixth in 48.04, .01 up on Held. Matt King, a relay swimmer in Fukuoka, finished eighth, with a .18-second gap back to Patrick Sammon.

The results end the relay chase for Kieran Smith, Brooks Curry and Blake Pieroni, among other notables.

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