2022 Summer Citizens of the United States
The first game of the 2022 United States National Championship Finals kicks off tonight in Irvine, California. The session begins with the finals of the 200 fly, where the 2017 World Champs Team member and new Texas Longhorn, Dakota Luther She comes first on the women’s team, while Cal Dungrad Gabriel Jett It sits as a first qualifier by the men.
200 will follow the 100 free fly, as Florida Pro and 2020 Olympics Natalie Hinds Bears the first seed, shortly before Mallory Commerford. A pair of high school students will also compete in the women’s A final with Eagle Aquatics. Erica Bales and NCAP Erin Gemmell Fourth and sixth qualifying respectively from the qualifiers. The men’s final will feature the Texas Pro Championship Shane Casas As the best seeded after 48.28 posted this morning, just ahead of Virginia Dungrad Matt King.
The session will conclude with the highest ranking freestyle women’s 800 and women’s 1500 freestyle. world record holder Katie Ledecky He will take to the pool for the first time as the number one seed in the 800, while Texas undergrad David Johnstonwho represents the swimming team, is seeded number one in the 1500.
Finals begin at 5 p.m. local time, 8 p.m. EST.
200 female butterfly
- World record – 2: 01.81, Ziggy Liu (2009)
- American Record – 2: 04.14, Mary DeSenza (2009)
- US Open Record – 2:05.85, Halle Flicker (2021)
- LC Nationals record – 2: 05.85, Halle Flicker (2021)
- Junior World Record – 2: 05.20, Summer McIntosh (2022)
Top 8 contestants:
- Dakota Luther (Texas Longhorn): 2:07.02
- Lindsey Looney (Sun Devil): 2:07.25
- Tess Hooley (Long Island): 2:08.07
- Kelly Bash (offline): 2:08.39
- Brittany Casteluzzo (Australia): 2:09.81
- Callie Dickinson (Athena Bulldog): 2:10.35
- Rachel Klinker (Cal): 2:10.94
- Emma Stecklen (offline): 2: 11.00
Born in Austin, Texas, New Longhorn Dakota Luther She won the title in the Women’s 200 Fly, and finished in 2:07.02, the best new level in life. Her previous life’s best performance of 2:07.76 came at the 2019 Nationals at Stanford, so swimming is somewhat of a breakthrough with her new training set. With a swim, Luther became No. 13 on the list of the 200 fastest American pilots of all time.
A late charge from Arizona under-grade stopped Lindsey Looney, who finished second with a time of 2:07.25. Swimming is the best for life Loonie, who came to the meet with 2:08.40.
High school student Tess Hawley of Long Island Aquatic Club completed the bronze medal podium in 2:08.07. This swim is Howley’s new life best and turns her 6th all time in the 17-18 age group.
200 Butterfly for men
- World record – 1: 50.34, Christoph Milak (2022)
- American Record – 1:51.51, Michael Phelps (2009)
- US Open Record – 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (2008)
- LC Nationals record – 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (2008)
- Junior world record – 1:53.79, Christoph Milak (2017)
Top 8 contestants:
- Gabriel Jett (cal): 1:54.37
- Elijah Charon (Sandpipers of Nevada): 1:56.66
- Sterling Crane (Offline): 1:56.75
- Max Litchfield (Great Britain): 1:56.89
- Brooksville (Tucson Ford): 1:57.08
- Mason Lauer (Gator Swimming Club): 1:57.62
- Jacques Dahlgren (Mizu): 1: 58.04
- Kevin Vargas (La Mirada): 1:58.38
cal undergrad Gabriel Jett He dominated Final A, led halfway and continued his lead through the third fiftieth. Time makes Jett the seventh fastest American ever in the event and he is now the eighth in the world this year.
The Sandpipers’ young rookie Elijah Kharon finished second, with a career best of 1:56.66. Arizona State’s commitment has been a fast-rising swimmer in the popular Sandpipers for the past 18 months, making waves in both flight and distance-free. Upon reaching the meet, Kharon’s best age was 1:58.70. He dropped more than a full second in prelims, and dropped another 8 tenths in tonight’s final to drop more than 2 seconds a day.
And rounding the podium was Sterling Crane with 1:56.75.
Trenton Julian of Mission Viejo had a disappointing preliminary swim and missed the Final A, but did his best in the final swim B to score 1:56.73, which would have been good for bronze in the Final A. Defending champion Brendan Burns also competed of Indiana, the NCAA title holder, in the Group B final, finishing the race 1:58.98. That swim was later than his starting time, but Burns had a massive drop in the day, coming into the day with the best time of his life being 2:01.07.
100 free women
- World record – 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (2017)
- American Record – 52.04, Simone Manuel (2019)
- US Open Record – 52.54, Simone Manuel (2018)
- LC Nationals record – 52.54, Simone Manuel (2018)
- Junior world record – 52.70, Penny Oleksiak (2016)
Top 8 contestants:
- Natalie Hinds (Gator Swimming Club): 53.53
- Gretchen Walsh (Nashville Aquatic Club): 53.86
- Gabi Albero (Louisville): 54.39.39
- Mallory Commerford (Triton): 54.51
- Lily Nordman (Alto Swimming Club): 54.57
- Erin Gemmell (the nation’s capital): 54.62
- Erica Bales (Water Eagle): 54.69
- Chloe Stepanek (Long Island): 54.71
Natalie Hinds Defending her position in the playoffs since morning, she won the national title with a score of 53.53. She was challenged by Gretchen Walsh, who came out really fast in lane 1. Walsh faded in the last 15 metres, but nonetheless finished the race with 53.86 for the silver.
Swimming for Walsh is kind of re-entering the national arena in this event and is her 100th fastest free swim in nearly 3 years. Often called the future American women’s sprinter while in high school, Gretchen won both the 50th and 100th Freestyle Junior World titles in 2019. Since then, she has struggled to reclaim that level, until tonight’s final.
Rounding out the podium was Louisville under Gabi Albeiro, who scored 54.39. Albiero is down almost a full second on the day, posting its best all-time performance at 55.29 prior to the day.
Another NCAA swimmer who posted an impressive dip on the day was Stanford swimmer Lily Nordman. Nordman opted to swim in the 100 free over 200 flies her signature event, and Nordman came to the day with a life-best 55.41 and dropped nearly nine-tenths to finish at 54.57.
100 Free Style for Men
- World record – 46.91, Cesar Cielo (2009)
- American Record – 46.96, Caleb Dressel (2019)
- US Open Record – 47.39, Ryan Heald / Caleb Dressel (2019)
- LC Nationals record – 47.39, Ryan Held / Caeleb Dressel (2019)
- Junior world record – 47.13, David Popovici (2022)
Top 8 contestants:
- Zack Apple (Indiana) /Matt King (Cavalier Aquatics): 48.44
- —–
- Shane Casas (Texas Longhorn): 48.46
- Destin Lasko (not included): 48.75
- Danny Krueger (offline): 48.89
- Kieran Smith (Ridgefield Aquatic Club): 48.91
- Luc Maurer (Alto Swim Club): 48.94
- Justin Reese (Mission Viejo): 49.00.00
In a thrilling final where the top three swimmers were separated by only 0.02, Virginia are below Division One Matt King Indiana pro Zack Apple tied for the national title with 48.44. King was initially in the fifties, but Apple shut down hard in the later fifties to put his hand on the wall even with King.
Touching only 0.02 behind the pair was a Texas professional Shane CasasHe finished third with a time of 48.44. Casas qualified first from the competition, but was unable to hold his place in the final as he slipped to third place.
Cal undergrad Destin Lasko finished fourth with a time of 48.75, three tenths faster than his preliminary swim and best new level of his life. Stanford student Luke Maurer posted the best performance of his life to finish seventh with a time of 48.94, his first ever time under the 49-second barrier as well.
800 FREESTYLE FOR LADIES
Top 8 contestants:
- Katie Ledecky (Alligator): 8: 12.03
- Maria Denegan (India): 8:31.12
- Kinsey McMahon (Alabama): 8:31.92
- Erica Sullivan (offline): 8:34.37
- Cavan Gormsen (Long Island): 8:35.48
- Elise Bauer (Gator): 8:37.11
- Sierra Schmidt (Scottsdale): 8:41.06
- Taylor Matthew (Gator): 8:41.68
in traditional Katie Ledecky Fashion, the greatest of all time dominated the final heat, winning by nearly 20 seconds in 8:12.03. Ledecky came out fast, flipping in 4:02.71 halfway through, less than a second faster than her world record pace. While it faded through the second half of the race, she still gave a dominant performance.
Second overall was Maria Denegan, who slipped more than 11 seconds off the seed to finish in 8:31.12. Notably, Dennegan did not compete in the finals, but scored the best time in the early qualifiers, which held the second fastest time in the event.
The podium was concluded by Alabama National Team member Kensi McMahon, who finished third with a time of 8:31.92 seconds.
Texas placed fourth overall, with Erica Sullivan ranking 8:34.37. Sullivan qualified for the Olympics last summer while training with her local club, Sandpipers of Nevada, but she suffered a shoulder injury this spring that caused her to miss the US trials in April.
Men 1500 Freestyle
- World record – 14: 31.02, Sun Yang (2012)
- American Record – 14:36.70, Bobby Fink (2022)
- US Open Record – 14:45.54, Peter Vanderkay (2008)
- LC Nationals Record – 14: 45.54, Peter Vanderkaay (2008)
- Junior World Record – 14:46.09, Franco Grycic (2019)
Top 8 contestants:
- Will Gallant (Wolfback): 14:57.08
- David Johnston (Swimming team): 15:02.37
- Alec Mander (Australia): 15:19.35
- Daniel Matheson (Scottsdale): 15:19.99
- Matthew Gallia (Australia): 15:20.58
- Mickey Calvillo (Indiana Swimming Club): 15:22.38
- Chris Nagy (MN): 15:22.49
- Elliott Rogerson (Australia): 15:26.68
The NC State undergrad posted a massive swim in the final heat tonight, dropping more than 14 seconds from his life best to win in 14:57.08. Gallant swam in a masterfully paced race with the last 5 100 splits under 1:00, and he closed in at 58.8 to secure his first under 15:00. He also became No. 13 among the fastest Americans ever.
As it was going to a new better life David Johnston, who dropped more than 6 seconds to take the silver with a time of 15:02:37. Johnston took the lead for most of the first half of the race, but Gallant had a lead over the last 500 metres. For his efforts, Johnston slips into the top 20 in the all-time US rankings, coming in at 19th. Australian Alec Mander finished the podium with a time of 15: 19.35.
Daniel Matheson, who competed at USC in his freshman year but announced he was moving to Arizona State, had the best swim in the early qualifying, dropping 10 seconds to finish fourth with a time of 15:19.99.
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