By Tomas Rodriguez on SwimSwam

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made public earlier this month its Anti-Doping Rules for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne (to be held in January of 2020) and for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo (to be held in July and August of 2020).

As a Signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), the IOC has made these rules public according to the Code and International Standards published earlier this month. Further,  the 2020 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods will be in force during both the Lausanne and Tokyo 2020 Games.

WADA also indicated that the rules will cover the period from the opening of the Lausanne and Tokyo Olympic Villages until the day of the closing ceremonies of both Games (from January 5th to January 22nd, 2020, and from July 14th to August 9th, 2020, respectively).

Among the rules that correlate to current topics in swimming are rules over mandatory and automatic public disclosure of anti-doping regulation violations, as laid out in section 13. Australian athletes, organizations, and media are in the midst of an ongoing battle about who knew about the adverse analytical finding in a doping control test by World Record holder Shayna Jack earlier this month, when it was made public, and when it should have been made public.

Further, WADA expressed that during this period, all athletes will be subject to doping controls initiated by the International Testing Agency (ITA). According to the press release issued by WADA, the IOC has delegated to the ITA some of its responsibilities related to the implementation of the doping control process during the both the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and the Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The Anti-Doping Rules for the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games can be found here. The Anti-Doping Rules for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games can be accessed here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: WADA Publishes Lausanne, Tokyo 2020 Games Anti-Doping Rules

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

With USA Swimming selecting its 2019 World Junior Championships roster from the finish order of U.S. Nationals, a few World Juniors roster spots are already mostly locked in, barring DQs from junior athletes in the A or B finals. A handful of other spots are already set up to come down to head-to-head showdowns within heats tonight, setting up what are effectively swim-offs for the World Juniors roster.

Here’s our look at tonight’s battles. Bear in mind that some athletes will decline their roster spots, so these showdowns aren’t final or official – just what the team would look like if everyone (except those who we have reason to believe have already declined roster spots) accepts their roster position. (This Mitch Dalton tweet says it factors out those who have already declined spots, including world champ Regan Smith).

Girls 200 Fly

• Mostly locked in: Lillie Nordmann (1st entry)
• Roster battle:
  • B final – Charlotte Hook vs Grace Sheble (2nd entry)

With Smith appearing to decline her spot, fellow A finalist Lillie Nordmann would be locked in to the priority 1 spot. The second U.S. entry would come down to the two eligible swimmers in the B final: 15-year-old Charlotte Hookand 16-year-old Grace Sheble. Hook went a lifetime-best 2:10.36 this morning, dropping a tenth from her previous best in May. She ranks #15 in USA Swimming history in the 15-16 age group. Sheble was a career-best 2:11.89, dropping almost a full second from her best, previously done in January.

Boys 200 Fly

• Mostly locked in: Luca Urlando (1st entry)
• Roster battle:
  • B final – Brendan Burns vs Blake Manoff (2nd entry)

The top qualifier this morning, Luca Urlando should be locked in, barring a DQ. The second entry will again come down to the B final. 18-year-old Brendan Burns made his first foray under two minutes this morning, going 1:58.52 and qualifying 13th. He’ll have to beat 18-year-old Blake Manoff, who also cracked two minutes for the first time with a 1:59.12. Both boys dropped about two seconds from their previous best times.

Girls 100 Free

• Mostly locked in: Gretchen Walsh (1st individual entry), Grace Cooper (relay-only entry)
• Roster battle:
  • B final – Torri Huske vs Amy Tang (2nd individual entry)
  • D final – Maxine Parker vs Micayla Cronk vs Erin Gemmell vs Janelle Rudolph vs Claire Curzan (1 relay alternate)

The 100 frees will take up to five swimmers: two individual entrants, two more for the 4×100 free relay, and in the unlikely event that the roster isn’t filled by priorities 1 and 2, the fifth-best qualifier will make the team as a relay alternate.

Gretchen Walsh should be the first individual entrant as the only A finalist eligible for World Juniors. The B final will set up 16-year-old Torri Huske against 16-year-old Amy Tang. The winner should get the second individual entry, the loser the first of the relay-only spots.

The fourth swimmer selected should be Grace Cooper, who is the only eligible junior in the C final. After that, the fifth swimmer selected would be the top eligible swimmer from the D final. Only juniors are allowed to swim in the D final, but that doesn’t mean all swimmers in that heat are eligible for World Juniors. In fact, three of the eight in that heat are still juniors, but too old to swim World Juniors, which calculates ages differently and also only includes girls between 14 and 17.

Boys 100 Free

• Mostly locked in: Destin Lasco (1st individual entry), Adam Chaney (2nd individual entry)
• Roster battle:
  • D final – Jake Magahey vs. Matt Brownstead vs. Hunter Tapp vs. Jack Alexy vs. Hunter Armstrong vs. Jack Armstrong (2 relay-only entries, 1 relay alternate)

Destin Lasco is the only eligible swimmer in the B final, and Adam Chaney the only one in the C, so they should fill the two individual spots if they can stay legal. That leaves the two relay-only spots (selected via priority #1) and the one relay alternate (selected in priority #3) up for grabs among six eligible boys in the D final. Only the top two are likely to be selected, as the fifth-place relay alternate is the very last priority added to the roster if it doesn’t fill up first.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2019 U.S. Nationals: World Juniors Showdowns/Effective Swim-Offs on Night 1

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• 5 storylines to follow at the 2019 US Nationals

^{Reported by Torrey Hart.}

Five-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte swum his first official race since June 3, 2018, at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships in Palo Alto, California, Wednesday morning.

He went 1:57.88 in a 200 IM time trial – official splits have yet to be posted. Lochte’s best time since Rio before Wednesday was 1:58.90, and his world record from 2011 sits at 1:54.00. His swim qualifies him for 2020 Olympic Trials; he’s also entered to swim the event on Sunday.

Lochte is also entered in the 100 fly, 100 back, 200 free and 400 IM this week.

The nearly-35-year-old did not strictly need to swim at Nationals to get back on the United States’ 2019-2020 National Team, and receive the funding that comes with it. Lochte just has to be in the top six American swimmers, based on FINA world rankings, in an individual Olympic event – from the combined results of USA Swimming or FINA sanctioned meets – with his qualifying swims occurring on or before August 25. Note that time trials do not count toward making the team, but that his time from Wednesday would rank him as the No. 4 man in the nation behind Chase Kalisz and Michael Andrew this season.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Full Ryan Lochte Post-200 IM Press Conference (Video)

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

The University of Georgia swimming & diving team has welcomed one of its own back to Athens with the announcement of Neil Versfeld as the program’s new associate head coach. He fills the position left when Harvey Humphries announced his retirement last week.

Versfeld swam at Georgia in 2006, 2007, and 2009, taking the 2008 season off to train for the Olympics. He won the 2009 NCAA title in the 200 yard breaststrokes, and that season he won both the 100 and 200 yard breaststrokes at the SEC Championships. Upon the end of his Georgia career, he held the NCAA, US Open, SEC, and Georgia records in the 200 breaststroke, and the school record in the 100 breaststroke.

Versfeld’s most recent coaching job was at Georgia Tech, 90 minutes west in Atlanta. He coached there for the last 4 years under Courtney Shealy Hart: a fellow Georgia graduate and Olympian who represented the US at the 2000 Games in Sydney. Versfeld is fully immersed in Georgia swimming: his wife, the former Michelle McKeehan, was a 10-time All-American for Georgia from 2009-2012. She too was an SEC Champion in the 200 breaststroke as a senior.

Versfeld is a native of South Africa, who he represented at the 2008 Olympic Games, where he finished 9th in the 200 breaststroke. He started his coaching career in South Africa, working with the Seals Swimming Club, before spending 2 years at the SwimAtlanta mega-club.

“Neil was the ultimate competitor as a swimmer, and he brings that same mentality to his coaching,” said Jack Bauerle, Georgia’s head coach “He is a rising star in our profession due to his innovation, his passion, his creativity, and his energy. Neil works hard but he also brings a measure of fun to the pool. He is a personable young man who is well liked by everyone he meets. His connections and reputation will help him effectively recruit nationally and internationally. Neil will be a great addition to our coaching staff. He fully realizes what elite swimming is all about.”

“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this opportunity,” Versfeld said. “It has been a dream to return to Athens to give back to the university, the program, and the community that gave me so much. I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new journey at the University of Georgia and to continue building upon the legacy that Jack has created through this program.”

Both Georgia teams finished 18th at the 2019 NCAA Championships. For the men, that was their lowest finish since the 1992 NCAA Championship meet and broke a streak of 11-straight top 11 finishes. For the Georgia women, that was their lowest NCAA Championship since 1983, their first year in the NCAA: a run that includes 7 NCAA team championships.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Coach Neil Versfeld Returns Home to Georgia Where He Was an NCAA Champion

By Nick Pecoraro on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results
• Wednesday Finals Heat Sheet

Heading into the first finals session of the 2019 US Nationals, second-seeded Tom Shields has given up his spot in the 200 fly A-final. Shields posted a 1:56.12 in the morning prelims session, which is the 3rd-fastest time in the US this year.

Shields will be competing at the Pan American Games, which begins August 6th, and is expected to head out to Lima, Peru in the coming days. Down in Peru, Shields is entered in the 100/200 fly events.

Shields’ scratch benefitted Corey Gambardella of IU, who is now swimming in the A-final. In the junior final, Jacob Peters‘ scratch has allowed Kevin Leibold of the Dayton Raiders to have a second swim in the junior final.

More notable scratches include Zoie Hartman out of the women’s 100 free junior final, stopping Claire Curzan (TAC Titans) and Christiana Regenauer (Condors Swim Club) from a swim-off and both earning the extra swim in the junior final.

Cal’s Long Gutierrez scratched out of the men’s 100 free C-final and has allowed Cameron Auchinachie (University of Denver) to hop in on the C-final.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Tom Shields Scratches 200 Fly Final, Expected to Swim Event at Pan Ams

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2019 GERMAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Berlin, Germany
• Thursday, August 1st – Sunday, August 4th
• Europa-Sportpark (SSE)
• SwimSwam Deutsche Preview
• Meet Site
• Startlists/Results
• Live Stream

The 2019 German Swimming Championships got underway in Berlin, with both age groupers and veterans alike taking to the Europa-Sportpark pool vying for national titles.

Poul Zellmann got the job done in the men’s 400m IM to get things started, with the 23-year-old producing a winning time of 4:19.36. That checked in as the only performance under the 4:20 threshold among the finalists and also marks a big-time new personal best for Zellmann.

Neither the German National Record holder Jacob Heidtmann, nor the 2018 German title winner Ramon Klenz were in tonight’s race.

As for the women’s edition of the 400m IM, it was Giulia Goerigk who landed on top of the podium, hitting a lifetime best of 4:44.33 to take the first German National title of her young career. Goerigk’s time tonight laid waste to her previous PB of 4:47.78 logged at this year’s European Junior Championship where the 16-year-old finished in 8th place overall.

Team Elite-trained Marius Kusch brought home the 100m fly title tonight, posting a winning effort of 52.40. That beat out challenger Klenz, who produced a silver medal-worthy time of 52.62 to represent the only other swimmer to clock a sub-53 second time in the final.

For Kusch, the 26-year-old is coming off of a World Championsihpsp appearance in the men’s 100m fly final, where the German touched in a time 51.66 to place 8th overall in Gwangju.

Lisa Hopink took the women’s 100m fly title, placing first in a time of 58.76, less than half a second off of her own PB of 58.43 from Eindhoven this year. Taking out her race in a feisty 27.22 opener, Hopink held on to hold off Aliena Schmidtke, who wound up hitting the wall only .13 later in 58.89. The 2 women were the only swimmers to dip under the minute barrier in the A-final.

The men’s 200m back saw Christian Diener get gold in 1:57.39, while Sarah Kohler beat the field handily in the women’s 1500m free, clocking 16:03.35 to win by over 31 seconds. Runner-up Celine Rieder registered the Junior National title in 16:34.82.

Kohler took the silver in the 1500m in Gwangju at the just-concluded World Championships, producing a new German National Record of 15:48.83 in the process. Her time tonight checks-in as her 6th fastest ever.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Marius Kusch Takes 100 Fly German National Title, While Teen Goerigk Wins 4IM

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

2019 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

^{Reported by Lauren Neidigh.}

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 51.71
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 52.70
• U.S. Open Record: Simone Manuel (USA), 2018, 52.54
• Olympic Trials Cut: 56.29

TOP 3

1. GOLD: Abbey Weitzeil (CAL), 53.18
2. (TIE) SILVER: Erika Brown (TNAQ), 54.13
3. (TIE) SILVER: Gretchen Walsh (NAC), 54.13

Abbey Weitzeil set a new best time in this event for the first time since 2016. Weitzeil dominated in 53.18, taking a tenth off her former best of 53.28 from 2016 Olympic Trials. Gretchen Walsh remains #3 all-time in the 15-16 age group. Erika Brown out-split her on the back half as they tied for 2nd place in 54.13. It was a best time for both swimmers.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Abbey Weitzeil: “I wanted to see if I could go a 52” (Video)

By Reid Carlson on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM/Finals 5:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Standard Time)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• LCM (50 Meter Pool)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• Links & Other Info
• TV & Livestream Schedule
• 5 storylines to follow at the 2019 US Nationals
• Omega Results

Thursday morning prelims heat sheets.

Day 2 of the 2019 U.S. National Championships includes prelims of three events: the 200 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 backstroke. Prelims will swim heats of 10, but finals only heats of 8. The top 24 advance through to ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ finals, while the 8-fastest 18-and-unders that place 25th or lower will advance to the 18-under ‘D’ final.

With so many swimmers absent following the World Championships in South Korea last week, and with others who did swim at Worlds but want to swim new events in California, not a single event on today’s schedule is going to be defended by the 2018 U.S. National Champion in that event.

Women’s 200 freestyle Prelims

• World Record: Federica Pellegrini (Italy), 1:52.98, 2009
• American Record: Allison Schmitt, 1:53.61, 2012
• Championship Record: Allison Schmitt (United States), 1:54.40, 2012
• U.S. Open Record: Allison Schmitt (United States), 1:54.40, 2012
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:01.69

Erin Gemmell flipped in 58.18 at the 100-meter turn in heat 7 of the women’s 200 freestyle. Gemmell was leading by nearly a body length at 150, but Dakota Luther in lane 8 was beginning to reel her in. Gemmell got the win and posted the top time of the morning to that point with a 2:00.49. Luther touched 2nd in 2:01.03.

Kylee Alons took the race out fast in heat 8, flipping at 27.18 at 50 meters. Alons kept the lead through 100 at 57.46, but Claire Tuggle had come up to just .07 behind Alons. Tuggle surpassed the field at 150 and pulled away down the home stretch. Tuggle touched 1st in 1:58.21, the fastest time of the morning, while Drabot finished 2nd in 1:59.51. Alons faded to 4th in 2:01.25.

Regan Smith hit the water in heat 9 and took it out fast, flipping first in 27.86. Smith’s lead was relinquished at 100 and Elyse Woods flipped first in 57.99. Gabby DeLoof flipped first at 150 meters, then pulled away in the final 50 to touch first in 1:59.46. Smith ended up 2nd in the penultimate heat in 2:00.07.

Allison Schmitt had the early lead in heat 10 with a 27.89 on the first 50. Schmitt pulled away further to flip at 57.23 for the first 100. Down the third 50 meters Schmitt conceded some ground to Paige Madden but still flipped first at 1:27.67. Madden ended up pulling ahead in the final 50 to get her hand on the wall first in 1:58.69. Stanford’s Brooke Forde charged over the final 50 to touch in a tie for 2nd in 1:58.75 with Schmitt.

Regan Smith finished 9th overall in 2:00.07.

Top 8 Finals Qualifiers:

1. Claire Tuggle, 1:58.21
2. Paige Madden, 1:58.69
3. Brooke Forde/Allison Schmitt, 1:58.75
4. —
5. Cierra Runge, 1:59.36
6. Gabby DeLoof, 1:59.46
7. Katie Drabot, 1:59.51
8. Erica Laning, 1:59.97

18-Under Final Qualifiers:

1. Olivia McMurray, 2:01.56
2. Justina Kozan, 2:01.61
3. Abbey Webb, 2:01.67
4. Lindsay Looney, 2:01.92
5. Kelly Pash, 2:01.96
6. Addison Smith, 2:02.01
7. Tristen Ulett, 2:02.03
8. Natalie Mannion, 2:02.08

Men’s 200 freestyle Prelims

• World Record: Paul Biedermann (Germany), 1:42.00, 2009
• American Record: Michael Phelps, 1:42.96, 2009
• Championship Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 1:44.10, 2008
• U.S. Open Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 1:44.10, 2008
• Olympic Trials Cut: 1:50.79

Mark Theall started fast in lane 1, establishing a lead over the rest of the field within the first 30 meters. Theall finished in a 1:47.93 to win the heat by over two seconds. Ryan Lochte touched 2nd in 1:50.25.

Theall’s time held up through heat 9, but two more men joined him under 1:50 with Destin Lasco winning heat 9 in 1:49.58 and Colton Paulson touching 2nd in 1:59.74. Lochte will not advance to the ‘A’ final in the 200 freestyle.

Dare Rose looked relaxed throughout heat 11; flippling at 150 in 1:20.60, Rose was a body length in front of his next closest competitor, splitting a 28.0. Rose finished with a total time of 1:49.26, barely out-touching Cody Bybee who charged home to touch in 1:49.31.

Maxime Rooney won heat 12 in 1:47.32, a nice follow-up to his 47.6 in the 100 last night, which earned him the silver medal.

France’s Jordan Pothain pulled off the win in heat 13, touching in 1:47.63, just ahead of Trenton Julian who finished in 1:47.73. Trenton played a vital role in Team USA’s gold-medal effort at the World University games in the 4 x 200 free relay.

Dean Farris 51.50 was out fast, flipping in 51.50 at 100 meters, but did not maintain the lead through 150. Kieran Smith overtook Farris and the entire field, storming to the final wall in 1:46.21, the fastest time of the morning and firs sub-1:47 on the day. Australian Elijah Winnington touched 2nd in the heat in 1:47.21, and Patrick Callan 3rd in 1:47.68. Farris placed 4th in the heat in 1:47.76, good for 7th overall. Caeleb Dressel did not swim the race today, though he did not officially scratch either. This might suggest he will be out the entire competition.

Junior standouts Luca Urlando (last night’s champion in the 200 fly), Carson Foster, and Jack Magahey will battle in the ‘B’ final.

Ryan Lochte finished 37th overall with a 1:50.25.

Top 8 Finals Qualifiers:

1. Kieran Smith, 1:46.21
2. Elijah Winnington, 1:47.21 (Australia)
3. Maxime Rooney, 1:47.32
4. Jordan Pothain, 1:47.63 (France)
5. Patrick Callan, 1:47.68
6. Trenton Julian, 1:47.73
7. Dean Farris, 1:47. 76
8. Mitch D’Arrigo, 1:47.79

18-Under Final Qualifiers:

1. Colton Paulson, 1:49.74
2. Jack Dolan, 1:49.97
3. Wyatt Davis, 1:50.01
4. Coby Carrozza, 1:50.53
5. Jake Mitchell, 1:50.56
6. Lukas Miller, 1:50.66
7. Julian Hill, 1:50.81
8. Blake Manoff, 1:51.00

Women’s 200 Breaststroke Prelims

• World Record: Rikke Pedersen (Denmark), 2:19.11, 2013
• American Record: Rebecca Soni, 2:19.59, 2012
• Championship Record: Rebecca Soni (United States), 2:20.38, 2009
• U.S. Open Record: Rebecca Soni (United States), 2:20.38, 2009
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:33.29

Lindsey Kozelsky had the early lead in 5, but Madisyn Cox got her hands on the wall first at the 100-meter turn. Cox pulled further ahead at 150, turning in 1:48.09. Cox won the heat in 2:26.67, though Abbey Arens closed with incredible speed in the final 50 meters, but ran out of room and touched 2nd in 2:27.37.

Australian Jenna Strauch led start to finish in the final heat of the women’s 200 breaststroke, turning .80 in front of Vanessa Pearl at 150 meters, finishing in 2:27.39. Kate Douglass finished 2nd in 2:28.17, and Pearl 3rd in 2:28.97.

Top 8 Finals Qualifiers:

1. Madisyn Cox, 2:26.67
2. Gillian Davey, 2:27.31
3. Abby Arens, 2:27.37
4. Jenna Strauch, 2:27.39 (Australia)
5. Kate Douglass, 2:28.17
6. Miranda Tucker, 2:28.19
7. Ellie Andrews, 2:28.48
8. Anna Keating, 2:28.56

18-Under Final Qualifiers:

1. Sarah Foley, 2:33.21
2. Lilly Higgs, 2:33.34
3. Kaitlyn Dobler, 2:33.51
4. Meghan Lynch, 2:33.82
5. Janessa Mathews, 2:33.88
6. Hanna Newby, 2:34.10
7. Hannah Bailey, 2:34.46
8. Samantha Tadder, 2:34.76

Men’s 200 Breaststroke Prelims

• World Record: Anton Chupkov (Russia), 2:06.12, 2019
• American Record: Josh Prenot, 2:07.17, 2016
• Championship Record: Josh Prenot (United States), 2:07.17, 2016
• U.S. Open Record: Josh Prenot (United States), 2:07.17, 2016
• Olympic Trials Cut: 2:17.89

Keefer Barnum kicked off heat 5 showing some serious speed–half-a-second under World Record pace at 50 meters–then turned in 1:03.14 at 100 meters, then above WR pace but still in the lead. Barnum maintained his lead through 150, trailed by Ben Dillard. Barnum was clearly in control of the final 50, getting to the wall in 2:13.18, the top time of the morning. Josh Bottelberghe touched 2nd in 2:13.88 and Dillard 3rd in 2:14.54.

Australia’s Daniel Cave put up a 2:10.38 to win the first circle-seeded heat by nearly 2 seconds. Caspar Corbeau touched 2nd in 2:12.15.

Reece Whitley was out in 1:01.96 at the 100-meter turn in heat 8–under World Record pace. Whitley kept a long and smooth stroke to turn first in 1:36.01 at the 150, now about 1.5 seconds over WR pace. Whitley held the lead to finish first in 2:10.18. Joshua Matheny was 2nd in 2:11.43, while U.S. National Teamer Devon Nowicki finished 7th in the heat in 2:16.33.

Jonathan Tyber was out .04 under WR pace at the 100-meter turn, though he was passed by Daniel Roy on the third 50. Roy finished in 2:09.87, the first and only sub-2:10

Top 8 Finals Qualifiers:

1. Daniel Roy, 2:09.87
2. Reese Whitley, 2:10.18
3. Daniel Cave, 2:10.38
4. Joshua Matheny, 2:11.43
5. Caspar Corbeau, 2:12.16
6. Craig Benson, 2:12.43
7. Nicholas Quinn, 2:12.54

18-Under Final Qualifiers:

1. Derek Mass, 2:15.31
2. Maxwell Reich, 2:15.79
3. Jason Louser, 2:16.02
4. Dillon Hillis, 2:16.79
5. Paul Degrado, 2:17.14
6. Jason Schreiber, 2:17.22
7. Brayden Rudd, 2:17.59
8. Sean Faikish, 2:18.15

Women’s 200 Backstroke Prelims

• World Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 2:03.35
• World Junior Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 2:03.35
• Championship Record: Miss

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

With USA Swimming selecting its 2019 World Junior Championships roster from the finish order of U.S. Nationals, a few World Juniors roster spots are already mostly locked in, barring DQs from junior athletes in the A or B finals. A handful of other spots are already set up to come down to head-to-head showdowns within heats tonight, setting up what are effectively swim-offs for the World Juniors roster.

Here’s our look at tonight’s battles. Bear in mind that some athletes will decline their roster spots, so these showdowns aren’t final or official – just what the team would look like if everyone (except those who we have reason to believe have already declined roster spots) accepts their roster position. (This Mitch Dalton tweet says it factors out those who have already declined spots, including world champ Regan Smith).

Girls 200 Free

• Mostly locked in: Claire Tuggle (1st individual entry), Micayla Cronk (2nd relay-only spot)
• Roster battle(s):
  • B final – Erin Gemmellvs Ashley Strouse (2nd individual entry)

The only junior in the A final, 15-year-old Claire Tuggle should be locked in for an individual entry. In the B final, 14-year-old Erin Gemmell should battle with 16-year-old Ashley Strouse for the second individual entry. Whoever loses that race should still get in as a relay-only swimmer, joining lone C finalist Micayla Cronk.

Selection procedures don’t show a 5th swimmer being added for the 200 free, only the 100 free.

Boys 200 Free

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • B final – Carson Foster vs. Luca Urlando vs. Jake Magahey (2 individual entries)
  • C final – Dare Rose vs. Destin Lasco (final relay-only spot)

The boys 200 should be a thriller in the B heat. Carson Foster, Luca Urlando and Jake Magahey should swim off for two individual entries, with the third-placer of that bunch taking the first relay-only spot. Magahey and Urlando are both on the team already, so they should add some doubles, which brings us closer to all the priority 2 and 3 swimmers being added to the roster.

In the C final, Dare Rose and Destin Lasco should battle for the fourth and roster spot in this event. But scratches could shake up this landscape dramatically: a scratch out of the top 8 would put Foster into a swim-off for the A final, and if he won that, it would lock him into an individual spot. A scratch anywhere in the top 16 would bump Rose into the B final, where he’d be locked into the World Juniors roster and could challenge Urlando or Magahey for the second individual spot. That would bump Lasco from the team in this event, though he’s already in in the 100 free.

Girls 200 Breast

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • A final – Abby Arens vs. Ellie Andrews vs. Anna Keating

In the girls 200 breast, it’s three swimmers in the A final swimming for a likely two roster spots. The winner is locked in, and second place will likely make it, if enough other swimmers double. Third will be out.

Boys 200 Breast

• Mostly locked in: Joshua Matheny (1st individual entry), Matt Fallon (2nd individual entry)
• Roster battle(s): none

With Caspar Corbeau representing the Netherlands internationally, Joshua Matheny is the only A finalist eligible for World Juniors. Matt Fallon just edged out Dylan Rhee for the second spot – if there are no scratches, Fallon will get the second spot by virtue of a 16th place qualifying and a B final spot, while Rhee (17th) will miss out by just .09 seconds.

Girls 200 Back

• Mostly locked in: Natalie Mannion (1st individual entry), Rye Ulett (2nd individual entry)
• Roster battle(s):
  • B final – Rye Ulett vs. Claire Curzan (2nd individual entry)

Another easy one. 15-year-old Natalie Mannion made the A final, and should have the first spot. Rye Ulett (14)and Claire Curzan (15) should swim-off in the B final for the #2 entry.

Boys 200 Back

• Mostly locked in: none
• Roster battle(s):
  • A final- Carson Foster vs. Wyatt Davis(2 individual entries)

Not really a high-pressure swim-off here. Both are in the A final. The higher placer will be the priority 1 entry and guaranteed a roster spot. The other will be a priority 2 selection and very likely to make the team.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: World Juniors Roster: Showdowns & Swim-Offs On Night 2 of U.S. Nats

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Courtesy: University of Illinois-Chicago Athletics

CHICAGO– UIC swimming and diving head coach Tim Loeffler announced that Ashley Dell will be joining the staff as an assistant coach on Thursday, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. Dell joins the Flames following stints at the University of Iowa, George Washington and Southern Methodist.

“I want to thank Tim Loeffler, Susan Bromberg, Tonya McGowan, and the entire athletic department for this wonderful opportunity,” Dell said. “I could not be more excited to join the UIC family.”

“Finding a coach with Ashley’s background and passion for this sport is exactly what we were looking to add to our program,” Loeffler said. “Adding her knowledge of UIC and the fact that this will be a homecoming for her, to say we are excited is an understatement.”

In her two years as a full-time assistant for the Hawkeyes, Dell helped coach 12 NCAA qualifiers. The 2018-19 squad swam to five school records and posted 64 top-10 times in program history, while the 2017-18 Hawkeyes set 11 school records with Dell on staff.  Additionally, The 2017-18 Hawkeyes’ 200-free men’s relay team earned honorable-mention All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, resulting in a 38th place team finish.

Prior to her time at Iowa, Dell spent three years at SMU (2014-17), where she coached 18 individual American Athletic Conference (AAC) champions and 11 AAC relay champions.  She coached five NCAA qualifiers, three NCAA “A” cuts, and 54 “B” cuts while with the Mustangs. Dell helped SMU take home back-to-back AAC championships and was a member of the 2016 AAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Dell spent 2011-14 on staff at George Washington, helping the Colonials set 19 school records in her three seasons. Prior to her role at George Washington, Dell spent two seasons as a volunteer coach at Iowa (2009-11).

A native of Lake Forest, Ill., Dell was a member of the Hawkeyes’ women’s team from 2005-09, serving as team captain in two of her four seasons. Dell still stands as an all-time top-10 performer in the 500, 1,000, and 1,650-yard freestyle events at Iowa.

“Growing up swimming for Lake Forest Swim Club, we had so many meets at UIC and now knowing that I’ll be coaching at that same pool is amazing,” Dell added. “I have known Tim for over 15 years and I cannot wait to work with him, I truly think the future is bright for the UIC Swimming & Diving program. The opportunity to come home to Chicago means the world to me and I cannot wait to get started!”

Dell graduated from the University of Iowa in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sport studies with a Spanish minor. She earned her master’s degree in tourism management with a concentration in sports management from George Washington in 2014.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: UIC Names Ashley Dell as Assistant Coach

By Lily Ermal on SwimSwam

18E CHAMPIONNATS DU MONDE FINA 2019

• 21-28 juillet 2019
• The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Corée du Sud
• Site de la compétition
• Programme
• FinaTV Live Stream
• Liste des engagés
• Résultats

50 M DOS MESSIEURS – FINALE

• Record du monde : Kliment Kolesnikov (Russie), 2018, 24.00
• Record du monde junior : Kliment Kolesnikov (Russie, 2018, 24.40
• Record des Championnats du monde : Liam Tancock (Grande Bretagne), 2009, 24.04

Podium :

1. OR- Zane Waddell (RSA), 24.43
2. ARGENT – Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 24.49
3. BRONZE – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 24.51

Le Sud Africain Zane Waddell a remporté son premier titre de Champion du monde en s’imposant sur 50 m dos en 24.43.

Le Russe Evgeny Rylov, Champion du monde du 200 m dos, termine deuxième en 24.49, suivi de son compatriote Kliment Kolesnikov en 24.51.

50 M BRASSE DAMES – FINALE

• Record du monde : Lilly King (USA), 2017, 29.40
• Record du monde junior : Cible, 2013, 29.86
• Record des Championnats du monde : Lilly King (USA), 2017, 29.40

Podium :

1. OR – Lilly King (USA), 29.84
2. ARGENT – Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 30.00
3. BRONZE – Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 30.15

Lilly King a décroché sa seconde médaille d’or de la compétition en remportant le 50m brasse en 29.84, devant l’Italienne Benedetta Pilato qui termine seconde, à seulement 14 ans, en 30.00. La Russe Yuliya Efimova termine en bronze en 30.15.

1500 M NAGE LIBRE MESSIEURS – FINALE

• Record du monde : Sun Yang (Chine), 2012, 14:31.02
• Record du monde junior : Mack Horton (Australie), 2014, 14:51.55
• Record des Championnats du monde : Sun Yang (Chine), 2011, 14:34.14

Podium :

1. OR – Florian Wellbrock (GER), 14:36.54
2. ARGENT – Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR), 14:37.63
3. BRONZE – Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 14:38.75

La course était extrêmement serrée jusqu’aux derniers 100 m pour le trio de tête, composé de l’Allemand Florian Wellbrock, de l’Ukrainien Mykhailo Romanchuk et de l’Italien Gregorio Paltrinieri. C’est Wellbrock qui a finalement pris l’avantage et qui s’impose en 14.36.54. Il devient le premier homme à remporter à la fois le 1500 m et le 10 km en eau libre lors de la même compétition.

Romanchuk a dépassé Paltrinieri dans le dernier 100 m pour s’arracher la médaille d’argent en 14:37.63. Le Champion olympique Gregorio Paltrinieri termine 3e en 14:38.75.

Le Français David Aubry, qui avait remporté la médaille du bronze du 800 m nage libre, a terminé 4e en inscrivant un nouveau record de France en 14:44.72.

50 M NAGE LIBRE DAMES – FINALE

• Record du monde : Sarah Sjostrom (Suède), 2017, 23.67
• Record du monde junior : Rikako Ikee (Japon), 2017, 24.33
• Record des Championnats du monde : Sarah Sjostrom (Suède), 2017, 23.67

Podium :

1. OR – Simone Manuel (USA), 24.05
2. ARGENT – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 24.07
3. BRONZE – Cate Campbell (AUS), 24.11

L’Américaine Simone Manuel a remporté une nouvelle victoire devant la recordwoman du monde Sarah Sjostrom, en s’imposant en 24.05 contre 24.07 pour Sjostrom. C’est la première victoire de Manuel dans une compétition majeur sur 50 m nage libre. Sarah Sjostrom remporte elle sa 17e médaille en Championnats du monde. Chez les Dames, seulement Katie Ledecky et Natalie Coughlin en ont remporté plus.

L’Australienne Cate Campbell termine troisième en 24.11, à un centième de la Danoise et Championne Olympique Pernille Blume (24.12).

400 M 4 NAGES MESSIEURS – FINALE

• Record du monde : 4:03.84, Michael Phelps (USA), 2008
• Record des Championnats du monde : 4:05.90, Chase Kalisz (USA), 2017
• Record du monde junior : 4:14.00, Sean Grieshop (USA), 2016

Podium :

1. OR – Daiya Seto (JPN), 4:08.95
2. ARGENT – Jay Litherland (USA), 4:09.22
3. BRONZE – Lewis Clareburt (NZL), 4:12.07

Le Japonais Daiya Seto a dominé la course loin devant pendant 300 m, mais l’Américain Jay Litherland a fait une incroyable remontée sur la partie en nage libre. Il s’est rapproché dangereusement de Seto mais le Japonais a finalement remporté la course en 4:08.95. Litherland termine deuxième en 4:09.22.

C’est le troisième titre de Seto sur la distance après 2013 et 2015. Le Néo-zélandais Lewis Clareburt décroche la médaille de bronze, et ramène la première médaille à la Nouvelle-Zélande dans ces Championnats du monde.

400 4 nages DAMES – FINALE

• Record du monde : 4:26.36, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2016
• Record des Championnats du monde : 4:29.33, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2017
• Record du monde junior : 4:35.69, Zhou Min (CHN), 2014

Podium :

1. OR – Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 4:30.39
2. ARGENT – Ye Shiwen (CHN), 4:32.07
3. BRONZE – Yui Ohashi (JPN), 4:32.33

La Hongrois Katinka Hosszu a remporté son 5e titre de Championne du monde en 400 m 4 nages en s’imposant largement en 3:30.39.

La Chinoise Ye Shiwen a remporté la médaille d’argent en 4:32.07 suivie de la Japonaise Yui Ohashi en 4:32.33.

RELAIS 4 X 100 M 4 NAGES MESSIEURS – FINALE

• Record du monde : 3:27.28, USA (Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters), 2009
• Record des Championnats du monde : 3:27.28, USA (Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters), 2009
• Record du monde junior : 3:35.17, Russia (Kolesnikov, Gerasimenko, Minakov, Markov), 2018

Podium :

1. OR – Grande Bretagne, 3:28.10 (Greenbank 53.95, Peaty 57.20, Guy 50.81, Scott 46.14)
2. ARGENT – USA, 3:28.45 (Murphy 52.92, Wilson 58.65, Dressel 49.28, Adrian 47.60)
3. BRONZE- Russie, 3:28.81 (Rylov 52.57, Prigoda 58.68, Minakov 50.54, Morozov 47.02)

L’équipe en tête de course n’a pas arrêté de changer au fil de l’épreuve du 4x100m 4 nages Messieurs. Les Russes avaient pris les commandes avec Evgeny Rylov lors du premier passage, devant l’Américain Ryan Murphy. Le Britannique Adam Peaty les a rattrapé sur la partie de brasse en nageant 57.20. Caeleb Dressel a pris les devants en papillon, pour donner le relais a Nathan Adrian pour les Américains. Ce dernier avait une bonne avance, mais le dernier relayeur Britannique Duncan Scott a nagé un incroyable 46.14 pour offrir la médaille d’or aux Britanniques en 3:28.10, devant les USA en 3:28.81..

RELAIS 4 X 100 M 4 NAGES DAMES – FINALE

• Record du monde : 3:51.55, USA (Baker, King, Dahlia, Manuel), 2017
• Record des Championnats du monde : 3:51.55, USA (Baker, King, Dahlia, Manuel), 2017
• Record du monde junior : 3:58.38, Canada (Hannah, Knelson, Oleksiak, Ruck), 2017

Podium :

1. OR – USA, 3:50.40 (Smith 57.57*, King 1:04.81, Dahlia 56.16, Manuel 51.86)
2. ARGENT – Australie, 3:53.42 (Atherton 59.06, Hansen 1:06.08, McKeon 56.32, Campbell 51.96)
3. BRONZE – Canada, 3:53.58 (Masse 59.12, Pickrem 1:06.42, MacNeil 55.56, Oleksiak 52.48)

Deux records du monde ont été battu lors de la dernière finale des Championnats du monde 2019. L’Américaine Regan Smith a nagé comme une fusée en établissant un record du monde sur la partie de 100 dos en 57.57, donnant une bonne avance aux Américaines. C’est la première femme à nager en moins de 58 secondes. Les Américaines ont mené toute la course et s’imposent en 3:50.40, établissant un nouveau record du monde.

La course était plus serrée entre les Australiennes et les Américaines pour la médaille d’argent. Maggie MacNeil, la championne du monde du 100 m papillon, avait donné une bonne avance au Canada en 55.56. Mais l’Australienne Cate Campbell a réussi a décrocher la médaille d’argent pour l’Australie en nageant 51.96 dans la dernière partie. Les Canadiennes terminent troisièmes en 3:53.58.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Championnats du monde 2019 : Résumé jour 8

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

2019 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM (Pacific)/Finals 5:00 PM (Pacific)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Omega Results

^{Reported by Lauren Neidigh.}

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• World Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016, 8:04.79
• World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2014, 8:11.00
• U.S. Open Record: Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016, 8:06.68
• Olympic Trials Cut: 8:48.09

TOP 3

1. GOLD: Ally McHugh (WA), 8:26.04
2. SILVER: Sierra Schmidt (MICH), 8:27.13
3. BRONZE: Ashley Twichell (TAC), 8:27.36

Worlds team member Ally McHugh was well behind the top 3 through the halfway mark, but used her back-half speed to bring home the title in 8:26.04. She pulled into the lead with 100 meters to go and sealed the deal in 8:26.04. Sierra Schmidt had a breakthrough swim to take 2nd in this race, clipping Worlds mile finalist Ashley Twichell for 2nd place in 8:27.13 to Twichell’s 8:27.36.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ally McHugh: “That 800 just really felt like myself again” (Video)

By Torrey Hart on SwimSwam

Former Missouri head coach Greg Rhodenbaugh will be the new head men’s coach at SMU, the school announced Thursday. The program’s previous head coach, Eddie Sinnott, stepped down after 30 years in late May.

Rhodenbaugh was head coach of the Mustangs once before, during the 1988-89 season, after serving as an assistant and swimming for the team from 1980-84.

“We are excited to bring an alum home to the Hilltop to lead our men’s swimming program,” Athletics Director Rick Hart said. “As a former student-athlete and coach here, Greg understands the rich history and tradition of SMU Swimming, and is committed to helping us return our program to an elite national level. We welcome Greg, his wife Lisa, an SMU alumna, and their family back to Dallas.

Rhodenbaugh was “reassigned” from his former position at Missouri last season amid a Title IX investigation, which was closed last month. His camp recently sent out a release saying he had been cleared of all wrongdoing, but the school disputed that finding, saying that it terminated his contract and did not issue a conclusion.

Rhodenbaugh spent nine years in Columbia as head coach, during which time the Tigers saw 23 women earn 124 All-America honors, while 23 men picked up 103. As a team, the men posted the top six NCAA finishes in school history, while the women made it seven.

Prior to Missouri, Rhodenbaugh was an assistant under Frank Busch at the University of Arizona, where both the men and women were 2008 NCAA champions.

“I am so excited to be back on the Hilltop, and I am honored to be coaching the Mustangs again,” Rhodenbaugh said. “I believe that SMU is one of the premier Universities in the world, and it provides such an incredible opportunity for its student-athletes to excel. With SMU’s new Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center and its rich athletic tradition, the Ponies are poised to regain their place as a swimming powerhouse.”

SMU’s men did not qualify an individual for the 2019 NCAA Championships and finished fourth of four teams at the 2019 AAC Conference Championships. The team finished third in 2018 and second in 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

As an alumnus and former coach, I look forward to helping the program grow and the student-athletes flourish. One of the main reasons I got into coaching was to help position young people for success and prepare them for life after college. SMU did that for me and now I can pay that forward. I would like to thank SMU and Rick Hart for allowing me to fulfill my dream of returning to my alma mater and training the Mustangs.”

Rhodenbaugh has also served on both the U.S. National Team and U.S. National Junior Team staffs. He coacg two-time Olympic champion Amanda Beard, as well as Mustang medalistsRyan Berube, Ricardo Prado and Lars Frolander.

During his time at SMU as a student-athlete, Rhodenbaugh earned All-America honors in the 100 breast twice, 200 breast once, and as part of the 800-yard freestyle relay twice. In addition to his NCAA career, Rhodenbaugh won the 200-meter breast at the 1982 U.S. National Sports Festival and was a member of the U.S. team at the 1983 World University Games in Canada.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Greg Rhodenbaugh to Return to SMU as Head Men’s Coach

By Reid Carlson on SwimSwam

2019 PHILLIPS 66 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM/Finals 5:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Standard Time)
• Avery Aquatics Center
• Stanford, CA
• LCM (50 Meter Pool)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• Links & Other Info
• TV & Livestream Schedule
• 5 storylines to follow at the 2019 US Nationals
• Omega Results

Thursday evening finals heat sheets.

Night 2 of the 2019 U.S. National Championships includes finals of four events: the 200 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 backstroke, and women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay. The top 24 swimmers from this morning’s prelims advanced through to the ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ finals tonight, while the 8-fastest 18-and-unders that finished 25th or lower will race in the 18-under ‘D’ final.

Day 2 Finals Races:

• Women’s 200 freestyle – Finals
• Men’s 200 freestyle – Finals
• Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Finals
• Men’s 200 Breaststroke – Finals
• Women’s 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay – Finals
• Women’s 200 Backstroke – Finals
• Men’s 200 Backstroke – Finals

With so many swimmers absent following the World Championships in South Korea last week, and with others who did swim at Worlds but want to swim new events in California, not a single event on today’s schedule is going to be defended by the 2018 U.S. National Champion in that event.

Day 2 Finals Storylines to Watch:

• More U.S. National Team shakeups could unfold during this session of racing at the National Championships. For many swimmers, this is their last opportunity to make the National Team. Select 18-and-unders will race a the 2019 Junior World Championships in Budapest at the end of the month, but that’s about it for opportunities at a shot at the top-6 in any event.
• Age Group phenom Claire Tuggle has broken many National Age Group (NAG) Records over the past several years, earning her comparisons to Katie Ledecky. Tuggle, however, has never won a National Title, though she will go into tonight’s final seeded 1st with a 1:58.21. If Tuggle is able to pull off the win she will be the first 15-year-old to win a National Title since G Ryan in 2011. This morning’s swim was a new lifetime best for the 15-year-old, fully 3/10ths faster than she went at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacs.
• Kieran Smith dropped a full 1.5 seconds from his previous lifetime best in the 200 freestyle this morning to enter finals with the top time of 1:46.21, a full second ahead of the next fastest swimmer, Elijah Winnington from Australia. Even if Smith doesn’t improve upon his prelims time, he is positioned to be a strong contender next summer for a spot on the 4 x 200 relay team in Tokyo.
• Maxime Rooney and Dean Farris both put up some pretty big best times in the 100 freestyle yesterday, which could signal further improvements in their 200s. Rooney is getting close to slipping under the 1:47 barrier, while Farris, the American Record holder in the 200 SCY freestyle, is still working things out in the long course version of the race, but improving on a steady year-over-year basis.
• World University Games gold medalist Austin Katz seeks his first National Title in the 200 backstroke. In a field without Ryan Murphy, the gold medal is Katz’s to lose, though there’s also the race against the clock to consider: if Katz swims anything faster than 1:55.85, he will have put up a time that would have won the bronze medal at the World Championships in South Korea. In Gwangju, Russia’s Evgeny Rylov won gold in 1:53.40, Ryan Murphy silver in 1:54.12, and Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank bronze in 1:55.85. Katz’s best time in the 200 back is a 1:55.57 from the World University Games, little more than three weeks ago.
• The women’s 200 breaststroke this morning was considerably slower than 2018. Last summer, Zoe Bartel placed 8th in prelims with a 2:26.66; this morning, Madisyn Cox placed 1st in prelims with a 2:26.67, precisely .01 slower than it took to make the ‘A’ final in 2018. Obviously Team USA’s roster is missing many of its top swimmers, thanks to the recent World Championships in Korea. Even so, this morning’s prelims were slow by comparison, but perhaps tonight’s final will lend itself to a breakout swim or two.
• The women’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay will showcase NCAA teams in an environment we don’t typically get to see them competing in: long course meters, that is. Though it’s unlikely any of the teams will be at the same full firepower as their conference and National Championships, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, and Penn State represent the Big Ten, Florida and Tennessee the SEC, and Louisville the ACC.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2019 U.S. National Championships: Day 2 Finals Preview

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

The 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’ opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, November 30th, with the swimming portion of the multi-sport, international competitive event kicking off on December 4th.

This year marks the 30th edition of the biannual event, set to be hosted by the Philippines, the nation who previously played host back in 1981 and 1991. The hosting rights were originally awarded to Brunei Darussalam, but the country pulled out days before the 2015 Southeast Asian Games due to “financial and logistical reasons.”

The major national players are starting to reveal their aquatic rosters, starting with Singapore, who will have Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen among its representation.

Both men recently competed at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Korea, with less than stellar results. Schooling missed out on the semi-finals of his pet 100m fly event, the race in which he won Olympic gold in 2016. For Quah, the Cal student-athlete finished 27th in the 200m fly.

Singapore finished atop the swimming medal table at the 2017 edition fo the SEA Games, taking home 19 gold, 7 silver, and 11 bronze for 37 medals in all. Schooling won the men’s 100m free, 50m fly, 100m fly, along with 3 relay golds, while Quah took gold across the 100m back, 200m back, 200m fly and relays.

Singapore will be bringing 585 athletes across 49 sports, according to the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). We will publish the complete aquatics roster once it is made available.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen To Race For Singapore At 2019 SEA Games

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2019 ITALIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Rome, Italy
• Thursday, August 1st – Sunday, August 4th
• SwimSwam Italia Preview
• SwimSwam Preview
• Start List
• Day 1 Recap
• Results

Day 2 of the 2019 Italian Summer Championships saw the likes of Elenia Di Liddo, Arianna Castiglioni, Matteo Ciampi and Luca Dotto in the Roman waters.

Di Liddo, the newly-minted 100m fly Italian National Record holder with her 6th place finish in Gwangju, took the women’s 50m fly tonight in a tie of 26.23. That time is just .07 shy of the 26.16 she put up for 11th place at the aforementioned World Championships.

Battling head-to-head with Di Liddo tonight was Silvia Di Pietro, the fastest Italna woman ever in this event. The 26-year-old veteran clocked 26.55 to take the silver behind Di Pietro. Her lifetime best and Italian standard rest at the 25.78 she notched way back in 2014.

For the men’s 50m fly, the top 4 finishers all dipped under the 24-second threshold, led by Daniel D’Angelo. D’Angelo took silver in the 100m fly yesterday but upgraded to gold in this 50m fly sprint with a time of 23.77. That held off Giulio Brugnoni who hit the wall just .10 later in 23.87.

However, as with last night, the cadet age category (17/18) saw the fastest time of all finalists across all ages, as Lorezno Gargani stopped the clock at 23.69. The teen put up his fastest time ever in this event of 23.63 in the semi-finals of the World University Games, where he ultimately finished 5th in the final with a slightly slower 23.76. As such, tonight’s time of 23.69 is situated right between the 2 outings, giving Gargani the cadet win in Rome.

Matteo Ciampi topped the men’s 400m free podium in a time of 3:51.23. Ciampi represented Italy on the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, racing in the heats.

Simona Quadarella, the 1500m freestyle World Champion in Gwangju, produced a 400m free winning time of 4:07.72 here in Rome tonight. She dropped the event at Worlds, focusing instead in the 800m and 1500m.

For the men’s 50m free, it was veteran Luca Dotto who clocked the quickest result in 22.14 in the open final, but Leondardo Deplano of the cadet final took the fastest time overall.

Deplano hit the wall in a 21.85 stunner, registering the first sub-22 second 50m freestyle time of his young career. Entering this meet his personal best was represented by the 22.06 he established at the Absolute National Championships in April, but Deplano managed to slice .21 off of that previous PB to come within .03 of the Italian Cadet Record in the event.

Deplano took the European Junior title in the 50m free event back in 2017 with a time of 22.47

Additional Notes:

• The women’s 200m back saw Carlotta Zofkova reap gold in a time of 2:13.20, although both the cadet and junior gold medalists weren’t too far off of the senior’s time. Daniela Piccinini won the cadet race in 2:13.68, while Chiara Fontana won the juniors in 2:13.72.
• Christopher Ciccarese doubled up on his 100m back victory from night 1 with another gold tonight in the 200m back. His time of 1:58.87 tonight paired up with Matteo Restivo‘s silver medal-earning 1:58.95 to represent the only 2 finalists under the 2:01 threshold in the race.
• Paola Biagioli topped the women’s 100m free podium, collecting the quickest time of 55.46. Her time tonight checks-in as her lifetime best, overwriting the 55.50 she produced at the Absolute National Championships this past April. Splits for Biagioli’s outing tonight included 26.67/28.79.
• The men’s 100m breast saw Federico Poggio nail a winning effort of 1:00.66, while Arianna Castiglioni got the job done in the women’s 100m breast in a time of 1:07.63.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Deplano Hits 21.85 50 Free PB On Day 2 Of Italian Summer Championships

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2019 GERMAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Berlin, Germany
• Thursday, August 1st – Sunday, August 4th
• Europa-Sportpark (SSE)
• SwimSwam Deutsche Preview
• SwimSwam Preview
• Meet Site
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Startlists/Results
• Live Stream

Although American Kathleen Baker swam a lead-off leg on the SG Essen women’s 4x100m medley relay last night at the German Swimming Championships, the former Cal Bear opted out of the women’s 100m back individual event on night 2 here in Berlin.

Last night Baker produced a conservative 1:01.06 lead-off, the fastest of the field by .10, to help her temporary team of SG Essen take gold in an overall time of 4:07.41 in the medley relay. In Baker’s absence in the 100m back event today, however, it was Laura Riedemann who topped the podium, with the 21-year-old World Championships swimmer posting a winning effort of 1:00.22

Baker finished 6th in the women’s 100m back in Gwangju in a time of 59.03, while Riedemann clocked a time of 59.82 to finish 10th overall. For Baker, her 100m back in Korea represented her return to the pool in her first race in 4th months. The Team Elite start suffered a rib injury while sick in April.

The men’s 100m back saw Ole Braunschweig win the final in a time of 54.79, with Christian Diener right behind in 54.92. The pair represented the only swimmers to delve under the 55-second threshold in the event. Diener won the 200m back last night in a mark of 1:57.39.

Another repeat winner was Sarah Kohler, the 1500m freestyle silver medalist in Gwangju. She took that grueling event win last night at this meet but added another gold with a 400m victory this evening. Kohler hit the wall in a time of 4:07.16 to win by 8 seconds. She holds a personal best of 4:0396 from when she won gold at the 2017 World University Games.

Two German Age Records bit the dust tonight, compliments of Anna Elendt in the 100m breast and Silas Beth in the men’s 800m free. For the former, Elendt produced a lifetime best of 1:08.06 to win the women’s 100m breaststroke. That sliced .39 off of her prvoius pB of 1:08.45 from 3 years ago.

For Beth, his swim in the spotlight came with a 4th place 800m free time of 8:04.84 for a new Age Record. Beth’s previous PB rested at the 8:08.87, remarkably split within his 1500m free at this year’s European Youth Olympic Festival in Baku. There, he won 400m free silver and 1500m free bronze.

Fabian Schwingenschlogl was tonight’s 100m breaststroke winner in a time of 1:00.44, finishing just .24 ahead of Marco Koch.

Florian Wellbrock, the man who made World Championships history by winning both the 10k open water swim, as well as winning the men’s 1500m pool swim, posted a winning time of 7:47.69 to win the 800m free. He holds the German National Record with his lifetime best of 7:43.03 notched this year.

Wellbrock’s time tonight would have finished 8th in the 800m free final at the World Championships.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Wellbrock Posts 7:47.69 8Free For Gold On Day 2 Of German Swimming C’ships

By Torrey Hart on SwimSwam

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM/Finals 5:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Standard Time)
• Avery Aquatics Center (Stanford, CA)
• LCM (50 Meter Pool)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• TV & Livestream Schedule
• Omega Results

Two days after swimming a breakthrough 200 fly, Georgia post-grad Megan Kingsley scratched the 100 fly Friday due to illness, she told SwimSwam. She swam the 400 IM earlier in the session, finishing 31st overall with a 4:51.26.

“After consulting with my coaches and the physician on call I pulled out of the 100 fly due to severe dehydration and a viral infection but will hopefully be able to finish the meet later on,” she said. Kingsley is entered in the 200 on Sunday.

Despite being hit by a car in April, she continued her breakthrough 2019 with her first ever sub-2:10 swim in the 200-meter fly earlier this week. Kingsley went 2:09.73 at U.S. Nationals prelims Wednesday morning, qualifying fifth overall. That was best time by half a second, and her first swim ever under 2:10, but then in finals, she lowered her best even further, finishing fifth in 2:08.26. Kingsley’s finals swim ranks her the N0. 8 American woman this season.

Kingsley took to Twitter back in March, noting that she’d gone a best time in the 200 fly for the first time in six years. She’s dealt with a number of issues in that period, she said, including “surgeries, mental health & other personal issues,” and hasn’t had a healthy season since 2013, when she was a junior national champ and one of the nation’s top high school recruits.

Kingsley had been 2:11.13 at age 17, but couldn’t better that time until this past March, when she went 2:10.91 at the Des Moines Pro Swim Series. A month later, she went 2:10.25 at the Richmond Pro Swim Series, but was hit by a car that same weekend. At the time, Kingsley said she’d be taking some time out of the water to recover, and she didn’t log a swim until mid-May, when she was only 2:12.2 at the Atlanta Classic.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Megan Kingsley Scratches 100 FL at U.S. Nationals with Illness, Hopes to Return

By Torrey Hart on SwimSwam

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM/Finals 5:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Standard Time)
• Avery Aquatics Center (Stanford, CA)
• LCM (50 Meter Pool)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• TV & Livestream Schedule
• Omega Results

American record holder Dana Vollmer swam the final race of her career, her signature 100 fly, in prelims at the 2019 U.S. National Championships in Palo Alto Friday morning. She broke one minute yet again, a feat she’s achieved over 110 times in her career.

Vollmer went 59.94 (27.99/31.95) in heat 12 and will not advance to the final tonight, finishing 32nd overall. She posted on Instagram Friday morning thanking her supporters for coming out to watch:

View this post on Instagram

On our way to the #phillips66nats at Stanford! Taking in the experience and looking forward to my last 100 butterfly! I should swim prelims around 10:30am- link to the live stream and meet info I n my bio I’m honored that so many of my friends and family traveled to watch me swim today! I feel incredibly blessed and immensely loved!

By Spencer Penland on SwimSwam

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• July 31 – August 4, 2019
• Prelims 9:00 AM/Finals 5:00 PM (U.S. Pacific Standard Time)
• Avery Aquatics Center (Stanford, CA)
• LCM (50 Meter Pool)
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• Pre-scratch timeline
• TV & Livestream Schedule
• Omega Results

Fresh off lifetime bests in the 100 and 200 free, newly transferred Texas swimmer Maxime Rooney kept it rolling on day 3 in the 100 fly. Rooney had a personal best of 52.28 in the 100 fly coming into the meet, and in prelims this morning he skipped right over 51, roaring to a 50.68. Rooney’s time earned him the top seed for tonight’s final, and was the only swim in the field under 51.

The time makes Rooney the #4 American all-time in the 100 fly, behind only Caeleb Dressel, Michael Phelps, and Ian Crocker. Rooney is also now the #12 performer all-time in the world, sitting just .01 seconds behind Great Britain’s james Guy.

Here is the current top 5 Americans all-time in the 100 fly:

1. Caeleb Dressel (2019) – 49.50 (WR)
2. Michael Phelps (2009) – 49.82
3. Ian Crocker (2005) – 50.40
4. Maxime Rooney (2019) – 50.68
5. Tyler McGill (2009) – 50.90

Here is the current top 10 all-time in the world:

1. Caeleb Dressel, USA,  (2019) – 49.50
2. Michael Phelps, USA,  (2009) – 49.82
3. Milo Cavic, SRB (2009) – 49.95
4. Joe Schooling, SIN, (2016) – 50.39
5. Ian Crocker, USA, (2005) – 50.40
6. Rafael Munoz, ESP, (2009) – 50.41
7. Chad le Clos, RSA, (2015) – 50.56
8. Kristof Milak, HUN, (2017) – 50.62
9. Piero Codia, ITA, (2018) – 50.64
10. Albert Subirats, VEN, (2009) – 50.65

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Maxime Rooney Becomes 4th Fastest American All-Time with 50.68 100 Fly