U.S. Nationals: Tiebreaking Swim-Offs in Women’s 200 Free, 50 Breast Set for Saturday Night
The first 22 events of U.S. Nationals have been completed, but World Championships roster spots in two of those events remain unsettled. As a result, swim-offs in the women’s 50 breaststroke and 200 freestyle will take place prior to the start of the finals session Saturday evening.
In the 50 breast, McKenzie Siroky and Emma Weber finished in a tie for second place behind Lilly King, with both woman coming in at 30.43. The swim-off will determine the second American representative at the World Championships in the event, but it will not take place until both swimmers race in the 100 breast Friday.
Meanwhile, Erin Gemmell and Anna Peplowski finished in a tie for fourth in the 200 free, leaving the identity of the fourth automatic qualifier in the 800 free relay in doubt. Both will ultimately qualify for the Singapore Worlds, with the women’s team likely having room to include fifth and sixth-place finishers in both the 100 and 200 free for relay purposes, but an individual spot in the 200-meter race could be at stake.
Claire Weinstein was the national champion in the 200 free with Katie Ledecky taking second, but Ledecky has withdrawn from the individual race at the last three major meets to focus on her distance swims. Meanwhile, Torri Huske placed third in the 200 final, and she may choose to opt out to focus on the 100 free and 100 fly. Further, the tie could decide which swimmer is selected for next year’s Pan Pacific Championships; with no prelims relays at that meet, only four swimmers will receive berths in the 100 and 200 free rather than the maximum of six taken to Worlds and Olympics.
