U.S. Olympic Trials: Emma Weyant Sets the Pace in 400 IM

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Emma Weyant Sets the Pace in 400 IM

Three years ago, Emma Weyant came out on top in the 400 IM at U.S. Olympic Trials. She’s still there to start the 2024 meet at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Weyant went 4:38.96 Monday morning to win prelims in the 400 IM, leading a deep, if slower than the historical norm, field in the final.

Weyant rallied past Katie Grimes in the final of six heats, Grimes finishing second in 4:39.63. Lucy Bell was third, also from the quicker final heat, while the winner of the penultimate heat, Lilla Bognar, was fourth. Veterans Leah Hayes and Leah Smith are also in the final.

It took 4:42.63 to reach the final in 2021. This time around, it was considerably slower, with Audrey Derivaux getting in at 4:45.23 for eighth.

Weyant won the race at Trials in 2021 in sensational fashion, just .74 seconds separating the top four finishers. Weyant rallied from third at the final wall to first in 4:33.81. Hali Flickinger was second, followed by Melanie Margalis and Smith.

Weyant would go on to win silver at the Tokyo Olympics behind Japan’s Yui Ohashi, Flickinger getting bronze. Grimes won silver at Worlds in 2022 (with Weyant in bronze) and 2023 (with Alex Walsh third).

Much of that final eight is gone now. Flickinger, Margalis, Ally McHugh (fifth) and Brooke Forde (sixth) all have retired. Walsh has opted for other events. A younger generation is knocking on the door but only Hayes has so far broken through internationally.

Bognar controlled the first of two semifinal heats. The Team Greenville swimmer and Florida commit went out fast and never looked in danger of relinquishing that lead. Hayes was second in 4:42.37, and Smith pushed hard on freestyle to get within 1.08 of Smith for third in 4:43.45 to earn her finals lane in seventh.

Derivaux won the third heat of six in 4:45.23, a drop of more than four seconds for the 15-year-old from New Jersey. Zoe Dixon claimed the other finals spot in sixth.

Weyant and Hayes entered the meet as the only two Americans to break 4:40 in 2024. Weyant improved her 4:39.00 from the Atlanta Classic slightly, and Grimes adds her name to that list.

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