U.S. Nationals: Olympic Medalists Line Up in 400 IM on Day Three (Prelims Heat Sheet)
The Thursday morning prelims session at U.S. Nationals will include qualifying races in the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 50 breaststroke and 50 backstroke. The five-day meet is being held at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Click here to view the full heat sheet.
A pair of Olympic medalists in the women’s 400 IM highlight that event, with Katie Grimes in the final heat and Emma Weyant one heat earlier. There will be plenty of competition, though, particularly with teenager Audrey Derivaux and NCAA champion Caroline Bricker racing alongside Weyant. Bricker is the only one of those swimmers already on the Worlds team, having won the 200 fly Tuesday.
Carson Foster is the big favorite in the men’s event, and he will be joined in the last heat by Olympic teammates Bobby Finke and Kieran Smith, both of whom train at the University of Florida. Second-seeded Rex Maurer goes one heat earlier.
The women’s 100 fly sees Olympic champion Torri Huske and world-record holder Gretchen Walsh in the last two women’s heats while Regan Smith, a potential spoiler, is one heat prior. The men’s event has Dare Rose in the first circle-seeded heat, with Shaine Casas one heat later and the Thomas Heilman–Luca Urlando–Michael Andrew grouping in the last heat.
Lilly King races in the second-to-last heat of the women’s 50 breast with 200 breast Olympic champion Kate Douglass while Skyler Smith is the top seed in the event, with fellow college standout McKenzie Siroky one lane away. The men’s field features Andrew, the 2022 Worlds bronze medalist in the event, as the favorite while Brian Benzing is the second seed.
Katharine Berkoff holds the top seed in the women’s 50 back ahead of Regan Smith. Claire Curzan swims next to Berkoff in the final heat, with Smith and Leah Shackley one heat prior. Shaine Casas is the clear favorite in the men’s event while Quintin McCarty and Andrew also in lane four in their respective heats.
