U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 2 Prelims: Luke Hobson Clocks Sole 1:45 in 200 Free Prelims; Blake Pieroni Impressive in Second Place

Luke Hobson -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 2 Prelims: Luke Hobson Clocks Sole 1:45 in 200 Free Prelims; Blake Pieroni Impressive in Second Place

Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, the United States fell to fourth in the men’s 800 freestyle relay, marking the first time any U.S. relay had ever missed the podium on the Olympic level. Since then, the Americans have assembled a young core of 200 freestylers that have returned the country to prominence in the relay, good enough to capture a world title in 2022 and a global silver one year later.

The Americans are still chasing Great Britain in the event, with the quartet of Tom Dean, James Guy, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott, all individual medalists at major meets during their careers, all returning from the Tokyo Games. Can the Americans put enough swimmers into 1:44 and 1:45-low territory to challenge the Brits?

At the very least, we know there will be plenty of depth from which the Americans can choose after a time of 1:47.39 was required to qualify for the semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials, setting up a semifinal frenzy where all 16 swimmers will race for eight spots in the final, a group from which six of eight will likely qualify for relay duties at the Olympics.

Leading the way in prelims was the man who has become the top performer in the country in the 200 free over the past two years, Luke Hobson. Already in 2024, Hobson has become an individual World Championship medalist (bronze in the 200 free in Doha) and the fastest man evet in the 200-yard free. He clocked 1:45.95 in his Indianapolis debut as he targets his first Olympic team.

Second place went to Blake Pieroni, a two-time Olympian in relay events. Pieroni is on the comeback trail after a brief retirement following the Tokyo Olympics. In prelims, the Indiana University alum recorded a mark of 1:46.09 as he pulled away from heat five. The time was actually the second-fastest of Pieroni’s career, just behind the 1:45.93 he clocked at U.S. Nationals in 2018.

Three swimmers originally from Carmel Swim Club near Indianapolis qualified for the semifinals, with Drew Kibler third (1:46.39), Jake Mitchell ninth (1:47.01) and Aaron Shackell tied for 10th (1:47.05). Kibler and Mitchell were the only Carmel alums to ever qualify for a U.S. Olympic team (both in 2021) prior to Saturday evening, when Shackell scored an upset victory in the 400 free.

Brooks Curry (1:46.49) and Patrick Sammon (1:46.72) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while veteran Kieran Smith placed sixth (1:46.77). Smith, already on his second Olympic team by virtue of his runnerup finish in the 400 free, is the third-fastest American ever in the event at 1:44.74, with only Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte ever swimming faster.

Coby Carrozza finished seventh in 1:46.81 while teenager Daniel Diehl, now swimming at NC State, crushed his best time by a whopping 2.7 seconds as he touched in 1:46.83 to qualify for his first Olympic Trials semifinal.

Chris Guiliano, better known for his talents in the sprint freestyle events, tied with Shackell for 10th (1:47.05), while Jake Magahey (1:47.06), Wen Zhang (1:47.24), Baylor Nelson (1:47.25), Grant House (1:47.35) and Rex Maurer (1:47.39) also finished in the top-16. Maurer’s performance locked out Henry McFadden, a member of last year’s Worlds team as a relay swimmer in this event, by one hundredth.

Notably, No. 3 seed Carson Foster did not swim the event, choosing to save his energy for the 400 IM, his signature race, coming up moments later. Foster has been a member of the U.S. team in the 800 free relay at the last year World Championships, splitting as fast as 1:43.94 at February’s Worlds, so Foster is a near-lock to be added to be added to the 800 free relay team in Paris if he qualifies for the Olympic team in another event.

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