U.S. Nationals, Day 5 Men’s Prelims: Shaine Casas, Jack Alexy Swim Top Qualifying Times
A quiet final morning of prelims action at U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis included only two men’s events, the 200 IM and 50 freestyle, with the 800 freestyle to come later in the day. The last spots on the World Championship team will be up for grabs in the evening. In the first of those races, Shaine Casas was the only swimmer under 1:58 in the 200 IM while Jack Alexy finished comfortably ahead in the splash-and-dash.
Men’s 200 IM
Shaine Casas has qualified for the Worlds team in the 100 butterfly and 50 backstroke in addition to 400 freestyle relay duty, and he is favored to add another event to his slate after dominating his heat in the 200 IM. He jumped out ahead of world-record pace in the opening 50 meters and maintained a strong pace until the final 25 meters before cruising home to finish in 1:57.70. Casas won the short course world title in this event in December, and he ranks No. 4 in the world for 2025 at 1:56.52.
The time posted by Casas held up as the top qualifying mark after co-favorite and Texas training partner Carson Foster finished less than a half-second slower. Foster, a two-time silver medalist in this event at the World Championships, held Owen McDonald at bay in the final heat, 1:58.15 to 1:58.43. Those times were good for second and third overall, respectively.
Kieran Smith has one last chance to secure his World Championships fate, with the veteran sitting on the roster bubble as the sixth-place finisher in the 200 free. Smith was the fourth qualifier for the final in 1:58.50 while Grant House reached his second championship final of the meet with his fifth-place time of 1:58.57. House swam his prelims race hours after a federal judge approved a settlement bearing his name that will uproot the landscape of college sports, allowing universities to directly pay athletes for the first time.
Trenton Julian (1:58.71), Mitchell Schott (1:59.05) and Baylor Nelson (1:59.30) rounded out the championship heat, with Daniel Diehl just left out after clocking 1:59.38.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Jack Alexy has been the sprint king this week in Indianapolis. He started the week becoming the second American under 47 in the 100 free prelims before winning the event comfortably at night. Two days later, he swam a best time in a 50 free time trial, his time of 21.49 coming within a tenth of the world lead. Now, Alexy is the favorite in the individual 50 free final to come.
Alexy stormed to the front of the field with his time of 21.59, only two hundredths back of the 21.57 he swam to win silver at the 2023 World Championships. He is already set up as a clear medal contender for the World Championships, with the ability to push his number even faster in the evening final.
Expect a race for the No. 2 spot at night. Jonny Kulow is trying to help his own cause in the event after finishing fifth in the 50 free, putting himself on the roster bubble for Worlds. A top-two finish here would eliminate all doubt, and Kulow could do it after qualifying second in 21.75 in prelims. Santo Condorelli, who has previously represented Canada (2016) and Italy (2021) in the Olympics, is now aiming to swim for the U.S., and he grabbed third in the morning at 21.87.
Chris Guiliano was the 50 free winner at last year’s Olympic Trials, and he was fourth here in 21.93, with 50 backstroke winner Quintin McCarty fifth (22.03) and relay Olympian Matt King sixth (22.08). The last spots in the A-final went to Daniel Baltes (22.09) and Patrick Sammon (22.14). Notably, 2022 World Championships silver medalist Michael Andrew did not qualify for the final, finishing 10th in 22.22. Andrew is on the twam however, having placed second in the 50 fly and 50 breast.
