Day Two of the US Olympic Swimming Trials saw six more tickets booked to Rio. The most notable name that is making their way to the Olympics, 19-year-old phenom Katie Ledecky, who blew out the field in the 400-meter freestyle. Dana Vollmer is also headed back to the Olympics.
Women’s 100M Butterfly
Vollmer was the co-favorite heading into the 100 meter butterfly final after posting the best time in the semifinals on Sunday, but right behind her was Kelsey Worrell. 50 meters in, Vollmer had the lead, but Worrell had a brilliant turn to put her just ahead of Vollmer. That turn was good enough to put her ahead for good as she became the first swimmer from the University of Louisville to go to the Olympics. Vollmer finished second to also book her place to Rio.
Men’s 200M Freestyle Semifinal
The 200-meter freestyle semifinals brought some intense races. Ryan Lochte was looking to rebound after missing out of an Olympic spot in the 400 IM. the first race was a two-man race early on between Jack Conger and Townley Haas, but Tyler Clary made a late push in the final 50 to make it a three-man race to the finish. It finished Conger, Haas, and Clary as those three booked their spot into the final.
The second semifinal saw Ryan Lochte and 400-meter freestyle Olympians Conor Dwyer and Connor Jaeger. However, just like Heat 1, it was the two middle lanes, and one of the adjacent lanes to the middle lanes that brought the heat. After both 100 meters and 150 meters, it was once again a three-man race in the final 50. Dwyer was first to touch with Conor Smith just beating out Ryan Lochte. .70 seconds separate first-place Conor Dwyer and sixth-placed Tyler Clary, so if the semifinals were any indication of how the final is gonna go, then we are in for a treat.
Women’s 100M Breaststroke Semifinal
Molly Hannis led the charge in the first heat
, coming from just under two-tenths of a second behind to win the first heat. Hanis, Katie Meili, and Jessica Hardy finished in the top three of their heat which was good enough to finish 2nd to 4th heading into the finals.
Lilly King was the class of Heat 2 as it was no problems for her finishing with the top time of the night with 1:05.94. Sarah Haase finished second, a second behind King. 2012 Olympian for the breaststroke, Breeja Larson, finished with a 1:07.62, two-hundredths of a second out of a spot in the finals. She is the first alternate should anyone decide to scratch.
Men’s 100M Breaststroke
Kevin Cordes broke the American Record and US Open Record for the 100-meter breaststroke and was the favorite coming in, but Cody Miller was a threat to win as well because of his closing speed. Cordes was first at the turn and was followed by Andrew Wilson and Marcus Titus. Miller was in fourth, but the final 50, especially, the final 25. Wilson was closing in quickly on Cordes, but Josh Prenot and Michael Andrew were right there with them in the final few meters. They gave their best efforts, but it was Cordes and Miller who went on to book their spots to Rio.
Women’s 400M Freestyle
Two words. Katie Ledecky. The 19-year-old flirted with the World Record for over 350 meters in the 400-meter freestyle final. The Olympic gold medalist from Rio flew out to a quick start over the first 100 meters, reminiscent of how she went out so quickly in London during the 800-meter freestyle stunning Britain darling Rebecca Adlington. For the whole race, the story was if Ledecky could beat the World Record.
200 meters in and she was two seconds ahead of World Record pace, but the effects of her fast first 100 began to catch up to her as she was just under a second ahead of World Record pace in the final 100. Heading into the final 50, she was just under four-tenths of a second ahead of World Record pace. She did not beat it, finishing with 3:58.96, giving her the three best times in the world in the history of the 400-meter freestyle.
Not to be overlooked in this performance was Leah Smith. The 21-year-old finished with a time of 4:00.65, giving her the second-best time in the world behind Ledecky. Her consistent swim kept her no more than a couple of seconds behind Ledecky throughout the whole race.
Men’s 100M Freestyle Backstroke Semifinals
A mix of veterans and new faces highlighted the 100-meter men’s backstroke semifinal. Ryan Murphy, Jacob Pebley, and Shane Lehane, all born in the 90s, did the damage in the first heat, all making to the finals led by Murphy. The 20-year-old was ahead of World Record pace at 50 meters, but Aaron Peirsol’s three marks of World Record, American Record, and US Open record all remained intact after a two-second drop off from his first 50 to his last 50.
The second heat saw veterans David Plummer and Matt Grevers take the pool. Like Murphy, Plummer was ahead of World Record pace at the turn but could not break the record either. Plummer, Murphy, and Grevers are 1-3 heading into the final.
Women’s 100M Backstroke Semifinal
American Record holder and defending gold medalist Missy Franklin struggled in one of her signature events, the 100-meter backstroke. Franklin finished fourth in the second heat, which was still good enough to get into the final. She finished .01 seconds in front of Natalie Coughlin who claimed the final spot in the final after Heat 2.
Amy Bilquist, Ali DeLoof, and Clara Smiddy were the only three to qualify from Heat 1. Bilquist won with a 59.85. Five swimmers from Heat 2 qualified for the final including Franklin and Coughlin. Olivia Smoliga and Kathleen Baker both went under a minute. Franklin will have to swim better in the final or she won’t get a chance to defend her Olympic gold in this discipline.