Breakthroughs and Club Admission Have Highlighted Trials Season
The landscape for this summer’s World Championships has gained clarity over the past couple of weeks, thanks to what transpired at recent national-championship meets. Based on her three world records at the Canadian Trials, we know Summer McIntosh will be the athlete to watch in Singapore, where the 18-year-old plans to contest the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 IM.
While McIntosh has undoubtedly been the sport’s premier performer on the road to the World Champs, the Trials Season has featured a number of individuals joining exclusive territory. Here’s a glimpse at some of the leading performances and what they mean from an historical perspective.
Jack Alexy
In the prelims of the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals, Jack Alexy clocked a career-best swim of 46.99. That effort made Alexy just the sixth man to crack the 47-second barrier in the event. Although China’s Pan Zhanle, the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder, is the favorite for gold at Worlds, Alexy has positioned himself as a top medal contender and leading force for an American men’s squad that needs a veteran to step forward and generate momentum.
Katharine Berkoff
katharine-berkoff-
An outing of 26.97 in the 50 backstroke at U.S. Nationals elevated Katharine Berkoff to the No. 2 performer in history. An Olympic medalist in the 100 backstroke last summer in Paris, Berkoff became just the third member of the sub-27 club, joining Australian Kaylee McKeown and China’s Liu Xiang. In Singapore, Berkoff should battle McKeown and Regan Smith for the gold medal in the backstroke sprint.
Lani Pallister
An Australian Olympian, Lani Pallister has been superb at the Australian Trials, highlighted by her effort of 3:59.72 in the 400 freestyle. That swim made Pallister the seventh female member of the sub-4:00 club, and was complemented by an 8:10.84 Aussie record in the 800 freestyle, where she is now the No. 3 performer of all-time. For good measure, Pallister was timed in 1:54.89 in the 200 freestyle.
Luke Hobson
When Luke Hobson touched the wall in 1:43.73 in the 200 freestyle at U.S. Nationals, he became the sixth man to ever dip under 1:44 in the discipline. Hobson is now the No. 2 American in the event, behind only Michael Phelps, and he’ll be a threat for the world title. In addition to winning bronze at the Olympic Games and the 2024 World Championships, Hobson is gold medalist in the 200 free from the World Short Course Championships, where he set a world record.
Li Bingjie
A veteran of international competition, Li Bingjie narrowly joined the sub-4:00 club in the 400 freestyle at the Chinese Nationals in mid-May. Li produced a time of 3:59.99 to become the sixth woman to break four minutes, and beat Aussie Lani Pallister to the feat by just a few weeks. Although two-time Olympic champ Ariarne Titmus has opted to bypass the World Champs, the 400 freestyle will be loaded in Singapore, featuring five of the seven sub-4:00 performers.
Bobby Finke
Despite being best known for his talent in the distance-freestyle events, Bobby Finke has also enjoyed success in the 400 individual medley. At U.S. Nationals, Finke won the title in the 400 IM in 4:07.46, a time that made him the No. 10 performer in history. Finke won’t contest the 400 medley at Worlds, as it conflicts with the 1500 freestyle, but his presence in the all-time top-10 was a significant breakthrough.
Gretchen Walsh/Torri Huske
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
In finishing first and second in the 50 freestyle at U.S. Nationals, Gretchen Walsh (23.91) and Torri Huske (23.98) became the 17th and 18th women to break the 24-second barrier. Walsh equaled the American record of Kate Douglass with her swim while Huske cut .11 off her previous best. There are now four American women who have gone 23-point in the 50 free.