U.S. Olympic Trials: Ryan Murphy, Regan Smith, Kate Douglass Seeking Second Wins (Day 6 Finals Heat Sheet)

Ryan Murphy -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials: Ryan Murphy, Regan Smith, Kate Douglass Seeking Second Wins (Day 6 Finals Heat Sheet)

The sixth finals session of the U.S. Olympic Trials will consist of finals in the women’s 200 butterfly, men’s 200 backstroke and women’s 200 breaststroke and semifinals of the men’s 50 freestyle, women’s 200 backstroke and men’s 200 IM, with the session beginning Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ET.

Click here to view the full heat sheet.

Regan Smith is the big favorite in the 200 fly, holding down lane four as she looks to add a second win after previously topping the 100 back. Smith will be surrounded by teenager Alex Shackell, who was impressive in the semifinals after likely qualifying for Paris for relay duty, as well as 200-yard fly NCAA champion Emma Sticklen.

The next final is the men’s 200 back, which should feature a good battle for second place between 100 back third-place finisher Jack Aikins and top qualifier Keaton Jones, but it’s hard to see anyone topping Ryan Murphy, the 2016 Olympic champion in the event and the gold or silver medalist at every major meet since. Murphy will swim out of lane five, but expect to see the 28-year-old turn it on in the final, as usual.

In the 200 breast, Kate Douglass scared her American record in the prelims, and she will try to become the first U.S. woman to ever break 2:19 while Lilly King tries to add a second event for Paris against two of Douglass’ University of Virginia teammates, Alex Walsh and Ella Nelson.

Ryan Held and Michael Andrew tied for the top seed in the men’s 50 free while Smith is returning to the pool for the 200 back after the 200 fly final. She cruised through prelims as the fifth seed, with Isabelle Stadden leading the way. Finally, Carson Foster paced the 200 IM this morning while his fellow Texas Longhorn (and Indiana native) Will Modglin was scratched into the semis after Trenton Julian withdrew.

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