2018 U.S. Nationals Day 2 Prelims Preview

2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
• William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
• Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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• Meet information
• Event Order
• Full selection procedures
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• Thursday Prelims Heat Sheet

The second morning of the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships will feature prelims for the 200 free, 200 breast, 200 back, and 50 fly.

Women’s 200 free

Katie Ledecky likely has a 1:53 in her at some point this season – but this meet, for which she had no reason to rest, might not be it. The US Open record in the event currently stands at 1:54.40 (held by Allison Schmitt, who will also race), with Ledecky’s best time this season at 1:54.56, so that could be in reach. Also in the mix should be Mallory Comerford – who in March became the 2nd swimmer in history to break 1:40 with her NCAA-winning 1:39 in the 200 free – as well as  Simone Manuel and Leah Smith who, like Ledecky, are already locks the Pan Pacs team but have big-time potential should they choose to focus on the event. The most exciting storyline to follow here should be the returns of Schmitt, the Olympic champion, and Missy Franklin, whose lifetime best puts her behind only Schmitt and Ledecky in the field.

Men’s 200 free

Blake Pieroni threw down an unexpected 48.08 to win the 100 free Wednesday night (even he thought he would struggle in the event), so it’s clear he’s brought his A-game to Irvine. And after becoming the first man to break 1:30 in the short course race earlier this year, it would be foolish of us to put a limit on what he can do. But Pieroni would have to take out Townley Haas, whose lifetime best of 1:45.03 is well over a second faster than his own (1:46.30). Both would have to fend off Jack Conger, who’s season-best of 1:46.96 makes him the only American under 1:47 this year. Another swim of particular interest is Conor Dwyer‘s. After only racing one previous 200 free this year, Dywer dropped a 1:47.25 two weeks ago at the LA Invite, good for No. 2 in the nation. Additionally, all eyes will be on Caeleb Dressel, who did not qualify for Pan Pacs with his surprising 6th-place finish in the 100 free yesterday.

Women’s 200 Breast

100 breast world record holder Lilly King has declared this her “big 200 summer,” and today, we’ll see if her work is paying off. Her season best is 2:24.83, and lifetime 2:21.83. She’ll likely vie for the top spot with Worlds silver medalist Bethany Galat, whose season best of only 2:28.16 doesn’t reflect that her lifetime best is 2:21.77. Emily Escobedo has been faster than King this season (2:24.71), and is also a podium threat if she can match or improve on her PR of 2:23.88. It’ll also be interesting to see what Micah Sumrall can pull off; her PR from 2013 sits at 2:21.74, but has only been 2:26.21 this year and hasn’t shown signs indicating she’ll get back down to the low 2:20s.

Men’s 200 breast

This event is deep, and after narrowly failing to qualify for the 2017 World Championships team, Olympic silver medalist and American record holder Josh Prenot will take his shot at a return to the top of the U.S. 200 breast field. Tightly packed around him are Kevin Cordes (PR is 2:07.41), Nic Fink (PR is 2:08.56), and Will Licon (2:08.14), so it’ll should be a fun race. Other swimmers to look out for are 18-year-olds Daniel Roy and Reece Whitley, who went 1-2 in this event at the 2017 World Junior Championships. We’ll also get a look at Chase Kalisz, who is known for mostly his IM prowess, and broke 2:10 for the first time in May.

Women’s 200 back

Kathleen Baker is the favorite to win, but Regan Smith is a big potential threat. Smith, who started out her meet with a huge drop in the 200 fly Wednesday, took second to Baker last year, and then came within a second of her at Worlds – Baker’s best is 2:06.38, while Smith’s is 2:07.19. Behind those two are a cluster of swimmers with PRs in the 2:08-2:09 range, led by Asia Seidt in 2:08.91 (season and lifetime best). Also in that range is Lisa Bratton, the 3rd place finisher from the 2016 Olympic Trials, who ha been putting up sub-2:10 performances in championship meets consistently since 2015 – she could be on the cusp of a breakout meet. We’ll also get a look at sprint backstroker in Olivia Smoliga, entered with a 2:10.12.

Men’s 200 back

Cal teammates Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley have been the two best 200 backstrokers in the US. this year (1:55.46 and 1:55.85 respectively), and it’s not close. But this leaves the third spot on the podium up in the air. Behind the aforementioned duo, Austin Katz emerged as the third-fastest American in 2017, but has only been 1:59.40 this year. He was 5th at the Olympic Trials in 2016, 5th at World Trials last year, and then had a breakout of sorts in winning silver at the World University Games last August – he then became the only freshman to win an NCAA event this year in the short course version of the race. Expect him to go head-to-head with Carson Foster, the fourth and final American to break 1:58 in 2017 (1:57.87 PR, 1:59.05 this year).

Women’s 50 fly

Kelsi Dahlia, whose AR stands at 25.48, has already come close to that mark this year. At the Mesa PSS, she clocked a 25.74, and she’s still the only American under 26.0 over the last three years besides Dana Vollmer (not competing), who was 25.87 in 2016. Dahlia will seek to lower her AR, and she’d be taking out the US Open while she’s at it — it stands at 25.50 held by sprint legend Dara Torres. Behind her, it’s anyone’s race. Kendyl Stewart has the next fastest PR in the field at 25.93, and after an extended down stretch, she had a breakout 100 fly at the LA Invite two weeks ago, going her best time in years (and the No. 2 time in America this year), making her a threat to go sub-26 once again. Other challengers should include last year’s silver medalist Helen Moffitt, Amanda Kendall, and breakout NCAA flyer Erika Brown.

Men’s 50 fly

If Caeleb Dressel does actually swim this race today (it would be his second event), it’s his to lose. He’s the only American with a PR under 23 (22.76), though his season best of 23.59 trails Michael Andrew’s of 23.16. Andrew would be the clear favorite shoudl Dressel scratch. Others to watch out for should be recent NCAA grads Ryan Held, Justin Lynch, and Andrew Liang, as well as veterans Tripp Cooper and Giles Smith – and we can’t forget Tom Shields, whose 200 fly last night was the best he’s been since Trials two years ago.