Olympic Trials: Kelsi Dahlia Sets Pace in Women’s 100 Fly Prelims at 56.56
In an event teeming with young talent, Kelsi Dahlia tossed cold water on the 100 fly field at U.S. Trials with an impressive prelims performance Sunday.
Dahlia, who won the 100 fly in the 2016 Olympic Trials, set the pace from the first circle-seeded heat with a 56.56. It’s the fifth-fastest time in the world and two tenths off her personal best. The 26-year-old finished ninth in the 100 fly at the Rio Olympics and won gold in the women’s 400 medley relay.
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The pack of precocious youngsters isn’t far behind, as was expected going into the meet. Torri Huske was under world record pace for the first 50 and matched her best time (and the 17-18 national age-group record) with a 56.69 to take second place and win the next-to-last heat. Claire Curzan produced a composed swim in the final heat as the top seed and will enter semis in fourth in 57.61, though she didn’t scare her U.S. Open record. She was overtaken on the second 50 by Kate Douglass, who won the heat in 56.29. Regan Smith, who saw her 100 backstroke world record downed by Kaylee McKeown Sunday morning, was fifth in 57.63.
The semifinals are full of established name. Katie McLaughlin, Ally Tetzloff and Gretchen Walsh are in the top 8, the latter tied with Kylee Alons for eighth. Natalie Hinds and Beata Nelson also made it back.
100 fly top 16 qualifiers
- Kelsi Dahlia, 56.56
- Torri Huske, 56.69
- Kate Douglass, 57.29
- Claire Curzan, 57.61
- Regan Smith, 57.63
- Katie McLaughlin, 57.72
- Aly Tetzloff, 58.55
- Gretchen Walsh, 58.58
- Kylee Alons, 58.58
- Natalie Hinds, 58.62
- Beata Nelson, 58.72
- Lillie Nordmann, 58.84
- Kelly Pash, 58.86
- Olivia Bray, 58.90
- Rachel Klinker, 59.05
- Rhyan White, 59.05
❤️ her!