The men’s 4×100 freestyle relay is one of the most highly anticipated events to transpire in Rio and Team USA is in the midst of determining the right combination of swimmers for both prelims and finals to get the stars n’ stripes to the top of the podium.
At the U.S. Trials, 2012 Olympic gold medalist in this event, Nathan Adrian, took the top time, winning the men’s 100m freestyle in a swift mark of 47.72, the only sub-48-second outing of the field. Coming in as runner-up in Omaha was University of Florida Gator Caeleb Dressel, touching in 48.23, just 03 of a second from 3rd place finisher Ryan Held from NC State (48.26).
Also scoring in the top 6 in Omaha were Anthony Ervin (48.54), Jimmy Fiegen (48.57) and Blake Pieroni (48.78), each punching a ticket to Rio, but with their actual relay slot yet to be determined.
And, by way of Team USA conducting a men’s 4×100 freestyle relay time trial today at their open practice in Atlanta, it’s clear the coaching staff is still weighing all of their options, including possibly considering the likes of Michael Phelps, Jack Conger, Ryan Lochte and Townley Haas.
From the video posted via Facebook Live by Rowdy Gaines below, we can see Phelps, Conger, Lochte and Haas leading off 4 separate relay squads at the McAuley Aquatic Center. Official splits have yet to be provided, but our rough estimates via the video recorded the following:
Phelps lead-off – 48.3
Conger lead-off – 48.9
Lochte lead-off – 49.4
Haas lead-off – 49.6
Adrian split – 46.8
Dressel split – 47.5
Ervin split – 47.9
Held split – 48.2
Feigen split – 48.2
Pieroni split – 49.1
Again, these are just rough estimates from eyeballing with a stopwatch, but take a look and see the speed thrown down by some of the fastest men in the world. We’ll report the official splits as they are received by Team USA.
A second view, courtesy Robin Gross Bennett:
Everyone sleeps on Ryan Held, and to be honest, I really don’t care about these splits. Held is vital for this relay and deserving for the finals spot.
Ok can’t read half these “discussions” anymore. This is a practice. Anyone who ever swam at any high level meets (and I’m not talking hs state, but like BIG meets) knows that you hit next level in that moment. Practice can never duplicate the moment of a meet (again if you actually swam at a high level you’d know that) Peroni hits next level in the moment as does Conger. Conger was 47.7 at WUGs last year. Forget that? These are in a practice and it won’t compare ever to the feeling of the moment at Rio, prelims or finals. As far as proven clutch, I’d take the relay of Phelps, Dressel, Conger, Adrian.… Read more »
Prelims: Irvin, Peroni, Held, Feigen
I just can’t trust Feigen after the last 2 world championships. He choked on the relay in Barcelona despite obviously hitting his taper perfectly.
Then last summer was just bad.
I would also like to know whether the “relay list” rule must be interpreted as supported by Rafael and Commonwombat, because that would change the entire landscape – and would make USA Swimming look superficial at best
Luigi the text is as following:
If an NOC [National Olympic Committee] enters relay-only swimmers for a specific event, these swimmers must swim either in the heat or final of that relay event. Should a relay-only swimmer not compete, this will lead to the disqualification of the respective team in the final.
It states clearly.. the Swimmer who is entered as a RO for a specific event, MUST swim in the heat or final of that relay.
In no place it states: You can put everyone on all relays and choose which ones they will swim..
Now it is time to wait if FINA will enforce it.
So Held and Feigen must swim the 4×200, but if… Read more »
It is worse for the men side (who have 6 RO) than women.
Even if you use Lia Neil and Amanda Weir on prelims of 4×200 as long as US put Ledecky and Missy/Leah on prelims the team will qualify even if both swim a 2:00.
The 4×100 is not on a tough situation too because only Cierra Runge won´t deliver a time needed for qualification which the rest of the team can save.
But the medley is almost as dead as good having to use Lia, Smith, Weir and Schmitt..
Agree – this is potentially a HUGE issue that doesn’t seem to be getting much attention…
Thanks, Rafael. It would seem your interpretation is correct. This is a potential earthquake. I think Swim Swam should investigate and perhaps publish a separate piece on this issue.
If the rule is inforced as written US will go from potential 6 medals to only 2 (Women 4×100 and 4×200) maybe 3 (Men 4×200 but if Feigen/Held swims over 1:50.. game over in prelims)
It seems as though the US has interpreted that rule to mean that if the relay-only swimmer is entered in only 1 relay, they must swim that relay. But if a swimmer is entered in multiple relays, they must swim at least 1 relay. I think this is the general intent of the rule to prohibit countries from bringing many extra swimmers who never end up competing.
I think one of the prior paragraphs in the FINA rules would support this interpretation:
“Each NOC may enter additional swimmers for relays only (Relay-Only Swimmers), provided that they have
achieved at least the OST / “B” Time for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are
… Read more »
Every relay-only swimmers in USA entries have at least FINA B in all relays (which means only 100 free and 200 free).
I have checked.
Sloooow time by Conger. Dont put him on that relay!!
Conger split 47.7 at WUGs after a 49.0 in the individual.
I think 48.9 5 days out is a good swim.
On what basis, exactly, some of you speculate that Phelps would swim 47.3 or .4 flat started? There are only a couple of guys I can think of who swam those times (or faster) in textile, and neither is American. The world is full of 100 free specialists who have trained all their lives for this specific race and so far never went that fast. I understand the guy is super-talented and I remember his leg in London, but this is unrealistic.
This is funny cause they (people in this forum) calculate the USA relay time with the best time ever for the 4 swimmers ! What’s the probability that in final all American swimmers do their best time ever or of the season AT THE SAME TIME ? The % must be low …
Probably the same probability you gave Lezak to run down Bernard in ’08 🙂
Yes Lezak took the “Wave” of Bernard so he came back fast because Bernard was close of lezak line swim (bad choice) ! Exactly the same thing happened with Agnel VS the non 100m specialist Lochte ! We can’t talk about probability but just bad choices !
Yes, the only reason the US won that relay was because of the “wave”. Thank you WAVE! Without you, that win wouldn’t have been possible!
IMHO, Lezak’s 2008 comeback leg was less of a surprise than a flat-started 2016 47.4 by Phelps would be.
The best time EVER of Adrian (who is “just” the 100m freestyle olympic champion in London 2012) is 47.52 (4 years ago so like in another life IMO) so Phelps at 47.4 WHO IS NOT A SPECIALISED OF THAT RACE is a joke ! Do people here take drugs here ?
This is in response to you and Luigi… While I respect your opinions, I think and hope you will be wrong. Someone has got to go that on the US relay. Phelps wil not have the brutal schedule he chose to do the last 4 Olympics, Dressel has more to give (from trials) and is capable of fast fast swims (see NCAA’s), then we have Adrian who is the heart of that relay and swimming well at the right time (though I think he will anchor. Bonus point: all three are more talented than David Walters.
Uugghh last 3 Olympics..
Nostradamus, I was specifically talking about Phelps, not the general expectations around the US relay squad. It’s obviously a very strong squad, one of the favorites for gold, and Nathan Adrian is perhaps in better shape now than he was in London (I would not be too surprised if HE swam a 47.3 or .4 flat started!). Phelps is a wonderful swimmer and he got “old man strength”, I believe him capable of swimming a 47 flat-started (which is a super time even for a specialist), but not a 47-low. However first of all authorities need to clarify the relay list rule, or else we are talking aimlessly here.:-)
Dressel has to lead off after a 47.5 split.
His flat start is just as good as his relay start.
The Aussies and french would be loving this.
All the spotlight back on the Yanks.
Remember its racing on the night or very late at night.
Game on i say !!
Conger closed like he meant it.