U.S. Olympic Trials: Chris Guiliano Leads 50 Free Semis with Caeleb Dressel Second

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Chris Guiliano Leads 50 Free Semis with Caeleb Dressel Second

The splash and dash, never exactly a closed affair, looked wide open going into Thursday night’s semifinals. The field might well be narrowing, around a familiar freestyler this week.

Chris Guiliano set the pace in 21.59 seconds, going a step closer to his goal of swimming the 50, 100 and 200 at the Paris Olympics.

Second was American record holder Caeleb Dressel, in 21.61 seconds, and Jack Alexy was third.

Fourth is Ryan Held in 21.82, .01 up on Michael Andrew.

Guiliano called it “probably the best (50) I’ve swum”.

“My confidence is through the roof,” he said. “In the next month, I’ve just got to keep moving, got to find some ways to get better.”

Also in the final are Quintin McCarthy and Matt King. Adam Chaney and Jonny Kulow tied for eighth in 21.89, requiring a swim off for the eighth and final spot. However, they tied again, this time in 21.79, necessitating a second swim off. Chaney finally settled that with a 21.81, beating the 21.99 of Kulow. The 21.79s are best times for both of them.

Andrew and Held set the pace in prelims at 21.70, .04 up on Alexy. Both he and Guiliano are headed to Paris in the 100, Guiliano adding the 20.

Nine swimmers this year are under 21.50 in the world. Despite the speed, Guiliano is ready for a battle in the final

“It’s going to be gritty, so we’ll see,” he said. “It’s going to be fun.”

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