2017 U.S. Open Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Everything you need to follow along live with day three prelims of the 2017 U.S. Open Swimming Championships in East Meadow, New York. Hit refresh for all the latest coverage.

Events:

Women’s 400 IM
Men’s 400 IM
Women’s 100 Fly
Men’s 100 Fly

Women’s 400 IM:

France’s Fantine LeSaffre, the top seed going into prelims, swam a strong race for the top seed in the final. LeSaffre’s time of 4:44.55 was well off of her best (4:39.40), but she has room to improve in the final. Her 4:39 is just a second off of the meet record time.

The second and third seeds went to Sharli Brady of the University of Missouri and Kay Sargent, swimming unattached. Bradi’s 4:46.64 does not match her seed time, while Sargent’s time marked an improvement in her 400 IM.

Not far behind is Scarlet Aquatics’ Matea Samardzic, who enters the finals fourth with a 4:47.19 but looks likely to improve in standing in the finals, based on her original seed time of 4:39.41.

Savanna Faulconer from Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club claimed the sixth seed with a 4:47.83, while her teammate at the University of Florida–Hannah Burns of Gators Swim Club–enters the final with the seventh-place time of 4:48.98.

Metroplex Aquatics’ Vanessa Pearl owns the final spot in the final with her 4:49.53. She may move up considerably in results based on her seed time of 4:43.60.

Event 15  Women 400 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
     American: A 4:31.12  6/29/2008 Katie Hoff, North Baltimore
    U.S. Open: O 4:31.07  6/19/2015 Katinka Hosszu, HUN
        World: W 4:26.36  8/6/2016  Katinka Hosszu, HUN
 US Open Meet: M 4:38.38  12/1/2006 Katie E Hoff, North Baltimore
     Jr World: J 4:39.01  8/25/2015 Rosie Rudin, Singapore
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 *LeSaffre, Fant  22 France            4:39.40    4:44.55  q839  
             30.64      1:05.44 (34.80)
        1:41.88 (36.44)     2:17.14 (35.26)
        2:57.75 (40.61)     3:36.59 (38.84)
        4:11.17 (34.58)     4:44.55 (33.38)
  2 Brady, Sharli    21 U. of Missouri    4:44.28    4:46.64  q821  
             31.08      1:06.39 (35.31)
        1:43.16 (36.77)     2:19.37 (36.21)
        3:00.14 (40.77)     3:41.63 (41.49)
        4:14.58 (32.95)     4:46.64 (32.06)
  3 Sargent, Kay     19 Unattached        4:47.42    4:46.99  q818  
             30.74      1:05.29 (34.55)
        1:42.17 (36.88)     2:18.55 (36.38)
        2:59.58 (41.03)     3:40.74 (41.16)
        4:14.30 (33.56)     4:46.99 (32.69)
  4 *Samardzic, Mat  22 Scarlet Aquatics  4:39.41    4:47.19  q816  
             31.24      1:06.93 (35.69)
        1:43.22 (36.29)     2:18.13 (34.91)
        2:59.28 (41.15)     3:41.83 (42.55)
        4:15.40 (33.57)     4:47.19 (31.79)
  5 Nonnenberg, Mia  21 Univ Alabama Swi  4:42.66    4:47.30  q815  
             30.07      1:04.36 (34.29)
        1:40.99 (36.63)     2:16.37 (35.38)
        2:58.03 (41.66)     3:40.78 (42.75)
        4:14.15 (33.37)     4:47.30 (33.15)
  6 Faulconer, Sava  19 Y-Spartaquatics/  4:48.16    4:47.83  q811  
             31.11      1:05.95 (34.84)
        1:43.55 (37.60)     2:20.26 (36.71)
        3:00.49 (40.23)     3:41.32 (40.83)
        4:15.16 (33.84)     4:47.83 (32.67)
  7 Burns, Hannah    20 Gator Swim Club   4:46.73    4:48.98  q801  
             31.37      1:07.05 (35.68)
        1:44.54 (37.49)     2:20.99 (36.45)
        3:01.71 (40.72)     3:43.09 (41.38)
        4:16.30 (33.21)     4:48.98 (32.68)
  8 Pearl, Vanessa   17 Metroplex Aquati  4:43.60    4:49.53  q796  
             30.44      1:04.99 (34.55)
        1:44.15 (39.16)     2:21.91 (37.76)
        3:01.31 (39.40)     3:42.00 (40.69)
        4:16.42 (34.42)     4:49.53 (33.11)

Men’s 400 IM:

The men’s 400 IM was full of surprises in the prelims, as Gunnar Bentz, the top seed, scratched. Charlie Swanson, swimming unattached, swam a blazing 4:18.02 in the morning for the top seed, just 0.65 seconds off his entry time.

Longhorn Aquatics’ Sam Stewart chopped 5.30 seconds off of his seed time to earn the second seed with his 4:19.81, thanks to a particularly strong back half. Meanwhile, Jonathan Roberts of North Texas Nadadores added time to post a 4:21.84 for third. Roberts will look to improve in the evening’s final and to challenge Swanson.

The fourth seed went to Kieran Smith, who posted the time to beat in an early heat. Not far behind, Andrew Brady, swimming unattached, shed six seconds for a 4:23.38.

Also within the 4:23-range were Ross Palazzo of Hudson Explorers Aquatic Team (4:23.41) and Carter Grimes of Sandpipers of Nevada (4:23.84).

The final place in the A-Final went to Grant Sanders, swimming unattached, who posted a 4:24.45.

Event 16  Men 400 LC Meter IM
==================================================================
     American: A 4:03.84  8/10/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
    U.S. Open: O 4:05.25  6/29/2008 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
        World: W 4:03.84  8/10/2008 Michael Phelps, USA
 US Open Meet: M 4:11.11  8/1/2013  Sebastien Rousseau, Gator Swim Club-
     Jr World: J 4:14.00  6/26/2016 Sean Grieshop, USA
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Swanson, Charli  19 Unattached Mich/  4:17.37    4:18.02  q844  
    r:+0.71  27.79        59.70 (31.91)
        1:33.82 (34.12)     2:07.45 (33.63)
        2:42.27 (34.82)     3:17.56 (35.29)
        3:48.50 (30.94)     4:18.02 (29.52)
  2 Stewart, Sam     20 Longhorn Aquatic  4:25.11    4:19.81  q826  
    r:+0.74  27.73        58.85 (31.12)
        1:32.49 (33.64)     2:05.84 (33.35)
        2:41.97 (36.13)     3:18.88 (36.91)
        3:49.96 (31.08)     4:19.81 (29.85)
  3 Roberts, Jonath  21 North Texas Nada  4:15.50    4:21.84  q807  
    r:+0.76  26.75        57.74 (30.99)
        1:30.81 (33.07)     2:02.93 (32.12)
        2:40.99 (38.06)     3:19.75 (38.76)
        3:51.89 (32.14)     4:21.84 (29.95)
  4 Smith, Kieran    17 Ridgefield Aquat  4:18.82    4:22.26  q803  
    r:+0.76  28.39      1:00.75 (32.36)
        1:33.91 (33.16)     2:06.87 (32.96)
        2:44.64 (37.77)     3:22.53 (37.89)
        3:53.19 (30.66)     4:22.26 (29.07)
  5 Brady, Andrew    21 Una SNOW/Snow sw  4:29.57    4:23.38  q793  
    r:+0.60  28.19        59.69 (31.50)
        1:34.53 (34.84)     2:08.00 (33.47)
        2:46.26 (38.26)     3:24.56 (38.30)
        3:54.51 (29.95)     4:23.38 (28.87)
  6 Palazzo, Ross    21 Hudson Explorer   4:23.37    4:23.41  q793  
    r:+0.70  28.04      1:00.76 (32.72)
        1:35.86 (35.10)     2:10.66 (34.80)
        2:46.80 (36.14)     3:23.31 (36.51)
        3:54.17 (30.86)     4:23.41 (29.24)
  7 Grimes, Carter   19 Sandpipers Of Ne  4:24.76    4:23.84  q789  
    r:+0.76  27.29        58.78 (31.49)
        1:31.75 (32.97)     2:03.76 (32.01)
        2:43.03 (39.27)     3:22.45 (39.42)
        3:53.61 (31.16)     4:23.84 (30.23)
  8 Sanders, Grant   20 Una TBAY          4:20.52    4:24.45  q783  
    r:+0.72  26.95        58.17 (31.22)
        1:33.20 (35.03)     2:07.62 (34.42)
        2:45.33 (37.71)     3:23.10 (37.77)
        3:54.41 (31.31)     4:24.45 (30.04)

Women’s 100 Fly:

The podium is likely to be separated by mere tenths in the evening. Amanda Kendall, swimming unattached, posted the fastest time of the morning with her 58.22, five hundredths faster than her seed time. The only other swimmer under 59 was Cassidy Bayer of Nation’s Capital Swim Club, who went virtually unchallenged in her heat for a smooth 58.97.

France’s Marie Wattel was the next top finisher in 59.34, while Vanessa Krause, swimming unattached, stopped the clock in 59.62. Longhorn Aquatics’ Lauren Case was not far behind with her 59.78.

The three swimmers over a minute in the A-Final will be similarly close, if the prelims were any indication. Indiana University’s Christie Jensen swam a 1:00.11 in the morning, while Schroeder YMCA Swim Team’s Hannah Saiz touched just one-hundredth later. Finally, Auburn University’s Bailey Nero grabbed the last seed in the final with her 1:00.15.

Also of note was 16-year-old Lexi Cuomo‘s swim in 1:00.52, which positioned the Mason Makos Swim Team member as 42nd of all time in the 15-16 National Age Group rankings.

Event 17  Women 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
     American: A 55.98  7/29/2012 Dana Vollmer, USA Olympic Team
    U.S. Open: O 56.38  1/15/2016 Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
        World: W 55.48  8/7/2016  Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
 US Open Meet: M 58.18  8/6/2009  Elaine Breeden, Stanford Swimmin
     Jr World: J 56.46  8/7/2016  Penny Oleksiak, CAN
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Kendall, Amanda  26 Unattached IST      58.27      58.22  q888  
    r:+4.65  27.48        58.22 (30.74)
  2 Bayer, Cassidy   17 Nation's Capital    58.11      58.97  q855  
    r:+0.70  27.52        58.97 (31.45)
  3 *Wattel, Marie   20 France              58.66      59.34  q839  
    r:+0.73  27.73        59.34 (31.61)
  4 Krause, Vanessa  19 Unattached Mich/    59.20      59.62  q827  
    r:+0.64  27.79        59.62 (31.83)
  5 Case, Lauren     19 Longhorn Aquatic    59.21      59.78  q821  
    r:+0.73  28.12        59.78 (31.66)
  6 Jensen, Christi  20 Indiana Universi  1:00.80    1:00.11  q807  
    r:+0.72  28.04      1:00.11 (32.07)
  7 Saiz, Hannah     26 Schroeder YMCA S    59.64    1:00.12  q807  
    r:+0.76  29.18      1:00.12 (30.94)
  8 Nero, Bailey     20 Auburn Universit    59.75    1:00.15  q806  
    r:+0.73  28.21      1:00.15 (31.94)

Men’s 100 Fly:

The top spot in the event went to Matthew Josa, representing California Aquatics, who swam a 52.36 in the morning. Josa was 0.75 off of his best but will have better competition in the evening for more back half speed.

The next top seed was Andrew Liang of Stanford Swimming, who punched his ticket to the finals with his 52.94. Close behind, Tripp Cooper of Longhorn Aquatics grabbed the third seed in 52.97, while the Pleasanton Seahawks’ Maxime Rooney hit the touchpad in 53.00.

The other A-Finalists were also all in the 53-second range, including John Shebat of Nation’s Capital Swim Club (53.08), BJ Hornikel, swimming unattached (53.31), Miles Smachio, also swimming unattached (53.49), and Shebat’s teammate, Same Pomajevich (53.54).

One swimmer of note not swimming the final is Athens Bull Dog Swim Club’s Gunnar Bentz, who scratched the 400 IM, where he was top seed, presumably to focus on the fly. Despite posting a 52.99 in the prelims in the fly, Bentz was disqualified.

Event 18  Men 100 LC Meter Butterfly
==================================================================
     American: A 49.82  8/1/2009  Michael Phelps, USA
    U.S. Open: O 50.22  7/9/2009  Michael Phelps, North Baltimore
        World: W 49.82  8/1/2009  Michael Phelps, USA
 US Open Meet: M 51.65  8/1/2013  Tom Shields, California Aquat
     Jr World: J 51.26  8/12/2016 Li Zhuhao, China
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Josa, Matthew    22 California Aquat    51.61      52.36  q861  
    r:+0.68  24.48        52.36 (27.88)
  2 Liang, Andrew    21 Stanford Swimmin    52.65      52.94  q833  
    r:+0.62  24.88        52.94 (28.06)
  3 Cooper, Tripp    24 Longhorn Aquatic    52.13      52.97  q831  
    r:+7.67  24.90        52.97 (28.07)
  4 Rooney, Maxime   19 Pleasanton Seaha    52.28      53.00  q830  
    r:+0.70  24.96        53.00 (28.04)
  5 Shebat, John     20 Nation's Capital    53.70      53.08  q826  
    r:+0.73  25.09        53.08 (27.99)
  6 Hornikel, BJ     25 Unattached          55.20      53.31  q816  
    r:+0.71  24.28        53.31 (29.03)
  7 Smachlo, Miles   19 Unattached Mich/    53.08      53.49  q807  
    r:+0.68  25.15        53.49 (28.34)
  8 Pomajevich, Sam  18 Nation's Capital    53.33      53.54  q805  
    r:+0.69  25.17        53.54 (28.37)

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