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- USA World Trials Prelims Day 3 Recap
🏊♀️ WORLD CHAMP TRIALS 🌎
Prelims Day 3 Recap
The first fast heat was interesting -- Olympic bronze medalist Hali Flickinger squished between two 16 years olds: Leah Hayes & Katie Grimes. Leah Hayes dropped the hammer on breaststroke and never looked back (4:39.6). 5th all time in the 15-16 NAG rankings -- that's a 3 second drop from Westmont.
Emma Weyant won her heat by multiple body lengths while Celine Dion's, "All by myself", played in her head.
Predictions?Was Hali Flickinger playing the smart veteran card by taking Prelims about as easy as possible? I think so.
Emma Weyant, Hali Flickinger 1-2.
Watching 4 IM Prelims is about as boring as you can get. Someone is always a mile in front destroying their heat. Not like the 200 Free yesterday.
Chase Kalisz cruised to a heat victory in 4:13.2 as did Carson Foster in 4:15.1.
Don't count out long time 4IM stud muffin, Jay Litherland.
Predictions?The race for 3rd is going to be SPICY. As for the victor, I'm going to put my money on Carson Foster. Brett said Chase isn't fully focused on the 4 IM anymore and Carson is posting PB's. This is how I think it goes down. They are out together in the fly leg -- 55 high. Carson attacks the backstroke leg, gets out in front of Chase. Chase has to run him down on breaststroke and they go head-to-head on the freestyle.
The teenage tandem, Claire Curzan & Torri Huske, are back at it again with the fastest 50 & 100 splits. Youth & speed - don't bet against it.
Predictions?Other than Ledecky, Curzan & Huske are the superstars of USA Swimming. They will reign supreme tonight.
Caeleb Dressel looked amazing -- really strong down kick coming home. 50.01 is crazy fast for a Prelims swim. Shaine Casas was .6 tenths slower than a few weeks ago.
Trenton Julian's 2nd 50 looked as good as Dressel's. He's going to have to come from behind to catch Michael Andrew tonight.
Predictions?Well, we all know who is going to win. But can Julian track MA down the last 10 meters? I think MA gets it done.
Nobody under 30 seconds. Lilly King the top seed. NCAA Champion Kaitlyn Dobler is seeded 2nd, only other girl sub 31 this morning.
Ohio State's Hannah Bach, who crushed on the medley relays this year, is in the mix. As is Olympic gold medalist, Lydia Jacoby. What's up with Emily Escobedo?
Predictions?Lydia Jacoby is a straight up racer but doesn't exactly have the turnover that you want to see in the 50. The NCAA Champion makes her first Worlds team.
Kevin Houseman from Northwestern threw down a 27.2 -- that'll play. Rangy Nic Fink can swim any breaststroke length, he's your top seed in 26.9.
26.78 from Michael Andrew just missing Kevin Cordes' American Record by .02! He is really looking sharp in his sprints even after swimming the 100 Fly.
Predictions?Can Michael Andrew put together a perfect race tonight after another 100 Fly? If he swims the 100 Fly, he loses to Fink. If he drops the 100 Fly, he beats Fink.
Regan Smith (27.40) opted out of the 100 Fly to instead swim the 50 Back which is lights on fire setting a new US Open record. Katharine Berkoff was right next to her swimming stroke for stroke (27.44).
Claire Curzan goes a PB (28.0) but that's not going to make the team.
Predictions?Berkoff, Smith go 1-2, in that order. New AR is set.
Hunter Armstrong sets a new American Record in 24.01! Justin Ress puts up the 2nd fastest time ever for an American in 24.05! Ryan Murphy's best time (24.24) was the previous AR.
Shaine Casas & Ryan Murphy pretty far behind those two -- 4-5 tenths is lights years in a 50.
Predictions?Hunter Armstrong, Justin Ress 1-2. Will we see sub 24?
Watch Prelims every day right here at 9 AM EST.
Finals are live on the Olympic Channel Tues / Weds / Thurs / Fri 6 PM EST. On Saturday are on CNBC at 6. Refer back here for the links.
We will be live on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook watching Finals LIVE. Watch along with us as we see who makes Team USA.
