2017 U.S. Nationals Preview: Can Katie Meili Dethrone Lilly King?

Preview of the USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials in Indianapolis at IUPUI Natatorium. This article is about Lilly King and Katie Meili in the breaststroke events.

Jun 24, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

2017 U.S. Nationals Preview: Can Katie Meili Dethrone Lilly King?

2017 U.S. National Championships & Worlds Trials

June 27 - July 1, 2017
Indianapolis, Indiana
IUPUI Natatorium
MEET INFORMATION
PSYCH SHEET

Since the retirement of Rebecca Soni, the swimming community has searched for the United States' replacement in both the 100m and 200m breaststrokes. At the 2016 Olympic Trials in Omaha, NE, all signs seemed to be pointing to Lilly King to fill Soni's spot in both events. While King delivered in the 100 in Rio, her performance in the 200 fell well short, not even making the final.

But since Rio, long course swimming has seen the rise of none other than Katie Meili, bronze medalist in Rio in the 100 after surprising everyone and making the Olympic team. At the Atlanta Pro Swim Series in May, Meili posted a personal best 2:23.18 in the 200, a time that currently sits fifth in the 2017 world rankings and would have finaled in Rio.

It's also the fastest time swam by an American so far by over two seconds, with a close race for second between Madisyn Cox (2:25.62), Melanie Margalis (2:25.71), and King (2:25.89). While Cox and Margalis have as much of a shot as anybody at making the Worlds team, King has talked about continuously improving in her 200 -- bringing it to the same level as her 100 -- which suggests that we might see something special from her next week in Indianapolis.

At the Atlanta Pro Swim Series in May, King noted of her 200: "It's starting to... hopefully get a little closer to my 100. That's kind of been where my main focus has been. Just being able to bring it back and not drown (laughs) the last 100."

Factoring in best times, both Bethany Galat (2:24.34) and Molly Hannis (2:24.39) also both make a strong case for the second spot behind Meili, assuming Meili performs on her best times. Hannis made Rio a year ago, placing second behind King. But Hannis' fastest time this year is four seconds off her best, and she has arguably been better in the 100.

That being said, Meili has continued to perform and place herself in the international spotlight, with her 100 breast time done at the Charlotte UltraSwim a few weeks ago being the second best in the world this year (1:05.95) behind Yulia Efimova's 1:04.82 from the Mare Nostrum in Canet-en-Roussillon and just 0.31 off her best.

Meanwhile, King put up the fourth best 100 time this year in Atlanta (1:06.20) during peak training, suggesting that she might have a lot left in the tank. This could prove important after Efimova's most recent performance in both the 100 and her 2:19.82 in the 200 breaststroke -- both times that would have won her gold in Rio.

Hannis has also threatened in the 100, swimming just off a personal best in March (1:06.47). Right behind her is Breeja Larson with a 1:07.17, swam all the way back in January in Austin. There are a lot of 1:07s in the field in Indy, including Andee Cottrell and 16-year-old Zoe Bartel (who also boasts an impressive 200 time at 2:25.46).

Both Meili and King seem to be leading the pack, but when it comes to sprints, it can easily be anybody's race. However, it seems hard to imagine anybody besides Meili and King taking the first and second spots for Budapest.

Assuming she continues to improve upon her times in Indianapolis, we could be seeing the rise of Meili to swimming stardom, something not many saw coming a year ago. It's hard to say which of her events is the better of the two, seeing as she is exceptional in both. But one thing is for certain: Meili's journey to elite status hasn't been conventional, and she's proving that so long as you have the mindset, anything is possible.
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