Katie Trace “I could feel the energy coming from the stadium”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

• When:
  • Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
  • Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
• Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
• Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
• 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
• Wave I & II Event Order
• LCM (50m)
• Prelims Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Prelims Live Stream (NBC Olympics)
• Finals Live Stream (Olympic Channel)
• Wave I Psych Sheets
• Wave I Live Results
• Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet

Reported by Spencer Penland.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY FINALS

• World Record: Liu Zige (CHN) – 2:01.81 (2009)
• American Record: Mary Descenza – 2:04.14 (2009)
• US Open Record: Hali Flickinger (USA) – 2:05.87 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Suzuka Hasegawa (JPN) – 2:06.29 (2017)
• 2016 Olympic Champion: Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) – 2:04.85
• 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Cammile Adams – 2:06.80
• Wave I Cut: 2:14.59
• Wave II Cut: 2:12.56

Podium:

1. Katie Trace (OSU) – 2:12.57
2. Emma Sticklen (KATY) – 2:12.58
3. Martina Peroni (NAAC) – 2:12.61

In an incredible turn of events, the 7th seed won the race, and the top seed from prelims finished last in the heat. Ohio State’s Katie Trace, in a classic display of “outside smoke”, led led for the majority of the race. National Junior Team member Emma Sticklen took 2nd again in finals, but swam almost a second faster.

The race was also a photo finish, with Trace, Sticklen, and 3rd place finisher Martina Peroni all touching within just 0.04 seconds of each other. Peroni out-split Sticklen on the final 50, but Sticklen was just narrowly able to hold her off. Trace actually touched in a tight 3rd at the 150 mark, but was just able to overtake the other two on the final length.

Nation’s Capital’s Eleanor Sun was a force in the B final, taking the heat with a 2:13.76 to touch as the only swimmer in the heat under 2:15.