US Olympic Trials Wave I: Mikuta Swims 1:01 100 Breast; Jackson, Najera Lead Prelims Top Seeds

Photo Courtesy: Auburn Athletics

US Olympic Trials Wave I: Mikuta Swims 1:01 100 Breast; Jackson, Najera Lead Prelims Top Seeds

19-year-old Reid Mikuta of Auburn had a big swim in the heats of the 100 breaststroke with a 1:01.87 as he was the only swimmer to break 1:02, lowering his own best of 1:02.7 from the non circle seeded heats. Mikuta just finished his freshman year at Auburn as he had only broken 1:02 twice in his life and will have the top seed and a chance to race for a spot in Wave II tonight. Mikuta is seeded ahead of 21-year-old Eli Fouts (1:02.02) of Wisconsin, who swam next to Mikuta in his heat this morning.

Fouts had a best time of 1:02.7 from the 2019 Nationals as he will be in lane 5 as the second seed. The third seed is Zhier Fan of Metroplex as the uncommitted rising senior was a 1:02.07, dropping 0.14 on his seed but just off his own best time where he is 29th all-time in the 17-18 age group. Luke Massey (1:02.33) of South Carolina improved on his seed by 0.09, while Princeton’s Corey Lau (1:02.36) dropped nearly a full second from his 1:03.2 seed out of heat 1 to grab a spot in the US Olympic Trials final.

19-year-old Will Jackson of Tennessee raced to the top seed in the men’s 200 freestyle heats with a 1:50.82 as he was right on his seed time of 1:50.5 but will be able to race for a spot in Wave II tonight. With only ten entries in the 200 freestyle, all swimmers got a second swim, with two in the B-Final.

Arizona State’s Liam Bresette, who had the fastest time on the psych sheet, is seeded second for finals with a 1:50.98 prelims swim as he came in with a 1:49.7 seed. The Navy Midshipmen have had a solid start to the meet, taking the top two spots in the 800 free last night, and continuing today with Ryan Waters swimming a 1:51.03 to get the third seed.

Last night’s 100 free winner, Patrick Sammon of Aquasol, is seeded fourth with a 1:51.73 as the Arizona State commit is seeded ahead of Virginia’s Jack Wright (1:51.80) and Air Force’s Wen Zhang (1:52.46).

None of the swimmers got under the existing US Olympic Trials cut in the 200 free heats but the intensity of the race should push them to faster times in tonight’s finals.

In the 400 IM heats, Humberto Najera swam to the top seed with a 4:23.72 as the 16-year-old is now 21st all-time in the 15-16 age group. Najera, who swims for Mission Viejo Nadadores is seeded ahead of Alexander Gusev of Sarasota, who dropped two seconds on his best to a 4:23.86.

20-year-old Dominic Falcon is third at 4:24.22 as he dropped a second and a half on his best to grab lane three in tonight’s finals with a spot in US Olympic Trials Wave II on the line. Falcon won the final heat with a new best ahead of 18-year-old Jay Baker (4:26.04), who came in seeded at 4:24.7. 19-year-old Tyler Kopp of Cal Berkeley and Katy Aquatics is seeded fourth at 4:26.02, just off his 4:25.8 seed.

Men’s 200 Free:

Will Jackson, 1:50.82
Liam Bresette, 1:50.98
Ryan Waters, 1:51.03
Patrick Sammon, 1:51.73
Jack Wright, 1:51.80
Wen Zhang, 1:52.46
Luke Miller, 1:52.81
Michael Petrides, 1:53.09

Men’s 100 Breast:

Reid Mikuta, 1:01.87
Eli Fouts, 1:02.02
Zhier Fan, 1:02.07
Luke Massey, 1:02.33
Corey Lau, 1:02.36
Jakob Frick, 1:02.40
Luke Barr, 1:02.44
Jake Ball, 1:02.57

Men’s 400 IM:

Humbero Najera, 4:23.72
Alexander Gusev, 4:23.86
Dominic Falcon, 4:24.22
Tyler Kopp, 4:26.02
Jay Baker, 4:26.04
Jacques Rathle, 4:27.02
Ryan King, 4:27.65
Kyle Ponsler, 4:28.74

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