There will be thick competition during Friday’s finals at the 2014 Pan Pac Championships. That competition will be with two goals in mind – first, swimmers will be shooting for Pan Pacs medals.
But the American men will be fighting for more than that – two individual spots on the 2015 World Championships team, which is being selected from the combination of this meet and the U.S. National Championships two weeks ago.
Right now, Nathan Adrian and Ryan Lochte have a loose grip on those spots, but that could change in finals – especially because Lochte has dropped his chance at improving his standing.
Lochte was the third-fastest American in prelims, but scratched out of the B-Final for Friday night. That moved Anthony Ervin into the B-Final, and left Lochte’s 48.96 from Nationals as his bid for a spot on the Worlds team individually in this event. Keeping in mind that his roster spot for Worlds is locked up, meaning coaches can choose to use him in Kazaan for the 400 free relay regardless of the outcome in Southport, it’s possible that Lochte would decline his swim in the 100 free for Worlds individually even if he earned it.
Remember that anything that happened in prelims, aside from the heats it set up for finals, has no bearing on the 2015 World Championship team for the United States. As it sits right now, Adrian’s 48.31 from Nationals and Lochte’s 48.96 from Nationals are the top two times.
- If Adrian is the top-finishing American or the second-finishing American between he, Michael Phelps, and Ervin in Friday’s final, he gets the swim at Worlds, regardless of his time.
- If Phelps is the top American in finals, and is better than 48.96, then he goes to Worlds.
- If Phelps is the 2nd American in finals, and the top finishing American is Adrian, then Phelps goes to Worlds.
- If Phelps is the 2nd American in finals, Ervin is the top American, and Phelps swims better than 48.31, he goes to Worlds.
- If Ervin is the top American in finals, and is better than 48.96, then he goes to Worlds.
- If Ervin is the 2nd American in finals, and the top finishing American is Adrian, then Ervin goes to Worlds.
- If Ervin is the 2nd American in finals, Phelps is the top American, and Ervin swims better than 48.31, he goes to Worlds.
Make sense? We’ll tell you the outcome after finals, don’t worry.
Other noteworthy scratches for day 2’s finals session:
- Hali Flickinger scratched the women’s 400 IM. Her scratch means that each of the other 16 prelims swimmers will get a second swim.
- Josh Prenot and Thiago Simon scratched the men’s 400 IM. There were only 16 men in prelims, so everyone had the option to race in finals.
If either Phelps or Ervin is second finishing American but is slower than 48.96 (Lochte’s silver time from Nats), why would they go to Worlds? Or you mean as a part of 400 relay team?
It’s Lochte’s plan all along to just post time to be included in the 4×100 free relay in Kazan. Now that he’s achieved it, why spend more energy swimming the final. Better conserve it for the 100 fly, 200 free/back/IM for the next two days.
I also wonder if Phelps will actually choose to swim the event if he qualifies for the individual 100 free for Kazan. I am sensing he (and Bowman) is going to see how fast he can go tonight before deciding on it (swimming 100 free in Kazan). I think the threshold will be sub 48.
Late night, but time for bed, and doubt I’ll be back in time for the finals, especially if there’s no way to watch. Just a couple quick thoughts…
1. The fact that Lochte scratched the 100 free, but Phelps did not, almost certainly nails the coffin on any further speculation that Phelps will be on the 4×200. That relay should be Dwyer, Lochte, Malone, McLean, although I have no clue what order.
2. Speaking of Malone, he was one of the few American men to swim close to his entry time in the 100 free (only .05) slower, so hopefully that bodes well for his relay leg.
3. I’m guessing the women go Ledecky, Vreeland, Smith, Franklin. With… Read more »
How would Simone Manuel not be on your 400 free relay list for the women?
That was 4×200 free relay list, sorry for any confusion.
i am guessing prelim times dont count(as phelps 48.45 would now be the second fastest time to beat for the americans)?
Your bullets don’t seem to give any scenario in which Lochte gets the Worlds spot. Phelps/Ervin still have to beat 48.96, right? Particularly looking at bullet points 3 and 6.