2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 27 – July 1, 2023
- Indianapolis, IN
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet (updated version, 6/26)
- Live Results
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- How To Watch
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
THURSDAY MORNING PRELIMS HEAT SHEET
THURSDAY PRELIMS SESSION INFO
- Start time – 10:00am Eastern Time
EVENT SCHEDULE
- Women’s 400 IM
- Men’s 400 IM
- Women’s 100 fly
- Men’s 100 fly
- Women’s 50 breast
- Men’s 50 breast
- Women’s 50 back
- Men’s 50 back
THURSDAY PRELIMS SCRATCH REPORT
The third day of the 2023 U.S. National Championships will be kicking off shortly in Indianapolis. Today features a fun event lineup, including the 400 IM and 100 fly, as well as the 50 breast and 50 back. Given half the events this morning are 50s, and one of the other two events is a 100, you might be thinking that this will be a short session, however, per the timeline, this is actually projected to be the longest prelims session of the meet. Of course, that’s because there are 15 heats of 400 IMs this morning, which should take a little less than 1.5 hours.
Getting into the meat of this morning’s prelims session, there were a few notable scratches. Most notably, Hali Flickinger has pulled out of the women’s 400 IM. She was the third seed in the event, and her absence actually does a lot to clear a path for Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant, the two swimmers who were seeded ahead of her. Leah Smith also scratched the event, and she was seeded fourth coming into the meet. Now, there is a 3.5-second gap between second-seeded Weyant and now-third-seed Leah Hayes.
Katie Grimes is still chasing a World Championships berth, having finished fifth in the 800 free on Tuesday and ninth in the 200 free on Wednesday. Thankfully for Grimes, the 400 IM is possibly her best event, and she’s the top seed by over four seconds coming into today. Moreover, Grimes won silver in the event at last summer’s World Championships.
In the men’s 400 IM, Carson Foster is looking increasingly good to qualify for World Champs. Foster already won the men’s 200 fly on Tuesday night, and he comes into the 400 IM as the top seed. Chase Kalisz is close behind as the second seed, but there’s a big gap between the top two and third-seed Bobby Finke. We can’t discount Finke, however, as he already had a great swim to win the men’s 1500 on Tuesday night and was off on Wednesday, so he’ll be fresh for this event.
The women’s 100 fly is shaping up to be a great race. Torri Huske, the American Record holder in the event, comes in as the top seed. Huske should still be viewed as the favorite, however, Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 50 fly last night in American Record fashion, so we absolutely can’t count her out in this race. Claire Curzan is the second seed coming into today, and she’s still chasing a World Championships berth. Curzan had a great 200 back last night, but finished third, and she had a disappointing prelims of the 100 free on Tuesday, missing the ‘A’ final. Could the 100 fly be the event where Curzan finally punches her ticket to Fukuoka.
Caeleb Dressel comes into the men’s 100 fly as the top seed, but, at this point we can safely say he’s not likely to win the event. Dressel looked good in the men’s 50 fly last night, but he still finished third, and it just doesn’t seem like he’ll have enough to get over the hump in the 100 fly. Shaine Casas and Michael Andrew are also seeded with 50-points in the event, setting themselves up well. Though, Casas hasn’t been swimming all that well so far this week, so the men’s 100 fly is suddenly looking very open.
MA won the men’s 50 fly last night, so at this point, we should probably view him as the favorite to win the 100 fly today. Dare Rose came in second in the 50 fly last night and is the fifth seed in the 100 coming into the meet, so keep an eye on him.
Lilly King comes into the women’s 50 breast as the top seed after winning the women’s 200 breast last night. Lydia Jacoby is the second seed this morning, having scratched the 200 breast yesterday. That being said, this morning will be our first opportunity to see Jacoby race this week.
Michael Andrew is pulling double-duty today, as he’s in the 50 breast as well as the 100 fly. The US Open Record holder in the event, Andrew already won the 50 fly last night, so perhaps he’ll add another 50 to his World Champs schedule today. MA will have to contend with top seed Nic Fink, however. The American Record holder in the event, Fink is entered with his AR time of 26.45.
Katharine Berkoff enters the women’s 50 backstroke as the top seed. Women’s backstroke is absolutely loaded right now in the U.S., so this should be a great race. Regan Smith is the second seed after swimming a blistering 2:03.80 to win the 200 back last night. Rhyan White, who punched her ticket to Fukuoka last night with a second place finish in the 200 back, comes in as the fourth seed in the 50 back. Olivia Smoliga is the third seed in the 50 back, and she could very easily wind up on top. Smoliga had a great 100 free on Tuesday, swimming a lifetime best.
The men’s 50 back should also be a great race. World Record holder Hunter Armstrong leads the entrants with his WR mark of 23.71. Armstrong should definitely be viewed as the favorite, but he’ll have to contend with fellow sub-:24 Justin Ress (23.92), as well as Ryan Murphy, who won the 200 back last night. A fun twist, 100 free champion Jack Alexy is set to race the 50 back this morning as well.
Weyant DQ – That’s a shock
Alex Walsh is also in the 400 IM. Despite her entry time, I would expect she will also be among the contenders given her NCAA performances.
Walsh and Sims (who has an even faster yards time) will make it interesting… Grimes probably a solid favorite but probably 5 swimmers with a semi-realistic shot.
Hoping that Casas can rebound today and throw down a strong morning swim.
If Regan swims it, the 100 fly will be bonkers! Contrary to our concerns, Torri is in shape. The question is how fast she is prepped to go to secure a spot. Hoping for a rebound for Alex Walsh today. Was surprised by the 200 free— she was faster in season.
Yeah I’m a little worried about Alex. Though she wasn’t far off her swim last year that qualified her for the relay, the field was just much faster this year. Alex Shackell and Gemmel were on. It would be kind of sad if Gretchen finally qualifies and she misses it. I’m sure she’s hoping Regan and Kate’s programs are too full by Saturday that they scratch the IM.
I would prefer that she is just ready to take them on and whoever else may come. One positive is that her last 50 in the 200 free was 30.5. Same as last 50 in her in season 200 IM. That is a bit faster than her last 50 in the IM at both trials and Worlds last year. She needs this w steam trains come homing like Douglass and Mcintosh.
Also the men are currently at 20 spots taken and the roster cap is 26 likely going to have to leave a few people at home this year. Those who are in 6th place for relays are possibly in jeopardy of not going.
Correct me if I’m wrong but i think the winners of the 50s stroke are the lowest priority and would be dropped first?
Luckily Foster dropping the 200 free let’s a “5th(now 4th)” go.
I’ve been saying it for years, the 5th/6th guaranteed to go was a result of Phelps/Lochte/Peirsol/Hansen/Walters/Ricky berens automatically going in multiple events. The crossover in the 100/200 is especially evident.
The world has caught up and yeah, no more auto 5th/6th.
I’m so old that I can remember a time when the STANFORD Men had swimmers who would qualify for the US World (and Olympic) teams.
I sure do miss Grant Shoults and True Sweetser
Did Smith and Douglass scratch the 100fly?
Shoot I hope not, I was excited to see Regan and really excited to see Kate in this race. If they’re in it along with Torri, Gretchen Walsh and Claire Curzan this final could be nuts!
They’re still showing up on meet mobile with lane assignments. I sure hope they swim!
Grimes already qualified for open water. Curious, do the open water team members attend the same training camp as the pool team? Do they get to stick around an extra week and cheer for teammates in the pool or are they sent home after they swim?
Grimes will easily finish top 2 in 400 IM
Yeah I hope she qualify and breaks the American record.