Who is Zach Apple? Auburn Sprinter Leads Loaded 100 Free Field at Nationals

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Most of the big names made the A-final of the 100 free on Tuesday morning of the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials. Those names include 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian and SCY American Record holder Caeleb Dressel.

But what if I said neither of those are the top seed? Oh, certainly it’s NC State up and comer Ryan Held? Nope. Olympian Blake Pieroni? Nope? Ryan Murphy? Try again.

Actually it’s Auburn’s Zach Apple.

Apple, 20, swam a 48.14 to become the third fastest performer of 2017 behind Great Britain’s Duncan Scott (47.90) and Australia’s Cameron McEvoy (47.91). Apple has a chance to make his first National team tonight as he leads a stacked field.

He was only 14th at NCAA’s in March with a 42.59. Apple also swam an 18.93 in the 50 at NCAA’s to tie Michael Chadwick for 4th. He was also 12th in the 200 free with a 1:33.36. Apple hails from Trenton, Ohio and had originally committed to Western Kentucky before they suspended their program in the spring of 2015.

Texas’ Townley Haas (48.56), Dressel (48.56), Adrian (48.62), Pieroni (48.65), Held (48.66), Murphy (48.88) and Chadwick (49.02) will all swim in the A-final tonight.

Big names Cullen Jones (10th, 49.16), Matt Grevers (11th, 49.18) and Conor Dwyer (16th, 49.40) all missed the A-final.

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Isaiah Williams
7 years ago

Mitchell Ellis

Mitchell Ellis
7 years ago

?

Rafael
Rafael
7 years ago

4th fastest, Gabriel Silva Santos went 48,11 at Brazilian Trials.

Brownish
Brownish
7 years ago
Reply to  Rafael

He was 1st with that time, Rafael

Brownish
Brownish
7 years ago
Reply to  Rafael

Sorry, I see what you mean, yes there’s a mistake in the article.

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

Zapple!!!!!

Fred
Fred
7 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Love The Zapple!!

Philip Vranić
7 years ago

Your question answered Mackenzie Holden

Mackenzie Holden
7 years ago
Reply to  Philip Vranić

Ahahahaha glad I’m not the only one

Scott Richardson
7 years ago

War Damn Eagle!

Stephanie Kring Dusza
7 years ago

Justin Dusza

Tamy Ottomeyer
7 years ago

Go ‘get em’ tonite ? #wareagle

Jennifer Jensen Treat
7 years ago

Finals will be interesting……

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