Mallory Comerford Rips 53.26 100m Freestyle, U.S. Nationals Meet Record

Full recap and live results from day one prelims at the 2017 Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials at IUPUI in Indianapolis. Events this morning were the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

Jun 27, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

Mallory Comerford Rips 53.26 100m Freestyle, U.S. Nationals Meet Record

2017 U.S. National Championships & Worlds Trials

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

Women's 200m Butterfly -- FULL RESULTS

World: 2:01.81 -- Zige Liu (2009)
American: 2:04.14 -- Mary Mohler (2009)
U.S. Open: 2:05.96 -- Mary T. Meagher (1981)
LC Nationals: 2:05.96 -- Mary T. Meagher (1981)
JR World: 2:06.51 -- Yufei Zhang (2015)

1.) Hali Flickinger -- 2:08.43
2.) Dakota Luther -- 2:08.88
3.) Sarah Gibson -- 2:09.96
4.) Katie McLaughlin -- 2:10.00
5.) Remedy Rule -- 2:10.38
6.) Jen Marrkand -- 2:20.42
7.) Vanessa Krause -- 2:10.53
8.) Ella Eastin -- 2:10.65

With Camille Adams -- fourth-place finisher in this event at the 2016 Olympics in Rio -- out of the picture, Hali Flickinger (who finished seventh in Rio) was certainly the front-runner to make the World Championship team at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis this week. Beyond that, however... WIDE. OPEN. SPACES. Who was going to step up? Well, if today's prelims are any indication, 17-year-old Dakota Luther is the one answering the call. Luther touched second with a strong 2:08.88 behind Flickinger's 2:08.43. There are a slew of other ladies gunning for that second spot. Texas A&M's Sarah Gibson took the third seed in 2:09.96 -- the only other under the 2:10 barrier.

The Wild Card: Stanford's Ella Eastin. The 200 fly isn't Eastin's forte; however, she has the experience and training from the 400 IM to pull out something out of lane eight tonight.

Men's 200m Butterfly -- FULL RESULTS

World: 1:51.51 -- Michael Phelps (2009)
American: 1:51.51 -- Michael Phelps (2009)
U.S. Open: 1:52.20 -- Michael Phelps (2008)
LC Nationals: 1:52.20 -- Michael Phelps (2008)
JR World: 1:55.92 -- Andrew Seliskar (2014)

1.) Chase Kalisz -- 1:55.60
2.) Gunnar Bentz -- 1:55.72
3.) Pace Clark -- 1:56.06
4.) Justin Wright -- 1:56.47
5.) Zach Harting -- 1:56.77
6.) Jack Conger -- 1:56.79
7.) Mich Litherland -- 1:57.04
8.) Miles Smachlo -- 1:57.64

Dawgs on top? More like Dawgs 1-2-3. The Georgia Bulldogs made a serious statement by claiming the top three seeds this morning led by Chase Kalisz (1:55.60), Gunnar Bentz (1:55.72), and Pace Clark (1:56.06). Sneaking around in sixth place is Jack Conger -- a major front-runner -- with a 1:56.79. Conger had less-than-stellar butterfly races at Trials in 2016 after his breakout summer in 2015, so he is primed for a big swim tonight. Big surprise? 2016 Olympian in this event Tom Shields missed the final entirely in ninth with a 1:57.75.

The Wild Card: Louisville's Zach Harting in fifth with a 1:56.77. Harting was in this final last year at Olympic Trials, and the Louisville Cardinals have swum fast this morning across the board. The Dark Knight might have another trick in his tool belt tonight.

Women's 100m Freestyle -- FULL RESULTS

World: 52.06 -- Cate Campbell (2016)
American: 52.70 -- Simone Manuel (2016)
U.S. Open: 53.12 -- Sarah Sjöström (2016)
LC Nationals: ~~53.28 -- Abbey Weitzeil (2016)~~ 53.26 (Mallory Comerford, 2016)
JR World: 52.70 -- Penny Oleksiak (2016)

1.) Mallory Comerford -- 53.26 (LC Nationals Record)
2.) Simone Manuel -- 53.50
3.) Kelsi Worrell -- 53.87
4.) Lia Neal -- 54.02
5.) Olivia Smoliga -- 54.58
6.) Katie Ledecky -- 54.70
7.) Caroline Baldwin -- 54.91
8.) Veronica Burchill -- 55.04

After tying Katie Ledecky in the 200 freestyle at the NCAA Championships in March, we knew Mallory Comerford was poised for a major breakout swim in the long course pool. This morning she did just that. Comerford claimed the top seed with a blazing-fast 53.26, erasing Abbey Weitzeil's LC Nationals meet record of 53.28 and scaring Sarah Sjöström's U.S. Open record of 53.12. Talk about a statement. 2016 Olympic champion and American-record holder Simone Manuel took the second seed with a 53.50. Manuel looked like she shut it down a bit coming into the finish, so watch for a big swim from her tonight. Comerford's teammate Kelsi Worrell snagged the third seed in 53.87. Expect the current top six to remain the same tonight and earn spots on the team.

Men's 100m Freestyle -- FULL RESULTS

World: 46.91 -- Cesar Cielo Filho (2009)
American: 47.33 -- David Walters (2009)
U.S. Open: 47.58 -- Jason Lezak (2008)
LC Nationals: 47.58 -- Jason Lezak (2008)
JR World: 47.58 -- Kyle Chalmers (2016)

1.) Zachary Apple -- 48.14
2.) Caeleb Dressel -- 48.56
2.) Townley Haas -- 48.56
4.) Nathan Adrian -- 48.62
5.) Blake Pieroni -- 48.65
6.) Ryan Held -- 48.66
7.) Ryan Murphy -- 48.88
8.) Michael Chadwick -- 49.02

It's safe to say American sprinting is back -- with depth, at least. The men's 100m freestyle heats were PURE MADNESS. The biggest surprise of them all? Auburn's Zach Apple uncorked an unbelievable 48.14 to lead prelims -- and lead by a pretty sizeable margin. None of the other names in the A-final -- Caeleb Dressel, Townley Haas, Nathan Adrian, Blake Pieroni, Ryan Held, Ryan Murphy, and Michael Chadwick -- come as a surprise. However, these are the top dogs, and two of them are going to be left home. One thing is for sure: the order of finish tonight is unpredictable. Not even going to try. Just enjoy it.
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