2017 Phillips 66 National Championships

Kevin Cordes Swims Fastest 50m Breast On American Soil In 26.89

Kevin Cordes Swims Fastest 50m Breast On American Soil In 26.89

Recap and live results from day three prelims at the 2017 U.S. National Championships and World Championship Trials. Events are the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 50 breaststroke, and 50 breaststroke.

Jun 29, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
Kevin Cordes Swims Fastest 50m Breast On American Soil In 26.89

2017 U.S. National Championships & Worlds Trials

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

Women 400m IM -- FULL RESULTS
World: 4:26.36 -- 8/6/2016 -- Katinka Hosszu
American: 4:31.12 -- 6/29/2008 -- Katie Hoff
U.S. Open: 4:31.07 -- 6/19/2015 -- Katinka Hosszu
LC Nationals: 4:31.12 -- 6/29/2008 -- Katie Hoff
JR World: 4:39.01 -- 8/25/2015 -- Rosie Rudin

1.) Leah Smith -- 4:36.90
2.) Elizabeth Beisel -- 4:38.78
3.) Ella Eastin -- 4:40.56
4.) Brooke Forde -- 4:42.32
5.) Brooke Zeiger -- 4:43.09
6.) Ally McHugh -- 4:43.75
7.) Bethany Galat -- 4:43.81
8.) Madisyn Cox -- 4:44.63

Your top seed in the women's 400m IM is... ​Leah S​mith​? That's right, folks. The freestyle specialist decided to dabble in the 400 IM this morning -- although we are still unsure why anyone would want to "dabble" in anything so tortuous. Then again, Smith is an Olympian for a reason. She takes the top spot with a very solid 4:36.90. The veteran ​Elizabeth Beisel​ -- who is coming off of ​very minimal​ training since Rio -- grabbed lane five for tonight in 4:38.78. The big surprise? ​Madisyn Cox​ -- one of the favorites coming into the meet -- barely snuck in the final in eighth. Watch out for her tonight.​

​The Wildcard: ​Stanford's ​Ella Eastin​. She is sitting in third right now with a 4:40.56, but she is the American record-holder in the short course yards 400 IM so she has some serious chops.


Men 400m IM -- FULL RESULTS
World: 4:03.84 -- 8/10/2008 -- Michael Phelps
American: 4:03.84 -- 8/10/2008 -- Michael Phelps
U.S. Open: 4:05.25 -- 6/29/2008 -- Michael Phelps
LC Nationals: 4:05.25 -- 6/29/2008 -- Michael Phelps
JR World: 4:14.00 -- 6/26/2016 -- Sean Grieshop

1.) Chase Kalisz -- 4:13.34
2.) Jay Litherland -- 4:16.76
3.) Gunnar Bentz -- 4:17.22
4.) Sean Grieshop -- 4:18.40
5.) Charlie Swanson -- 4:19.14
6.) Kieran Smith -- 4:19.89
7.) Curtis Ogren -- 4:20.44
8.) Jonathan Roberts -- 4:20.48

No surprises out of prelims in the men's 400m IM. It is a Georgia 1-2-3 sweep led by 2016 Olympians ​Chase Kalisz​ and ​Jay Litherland​ in 4:13.34 and 4:16.76, respectively. This race ​should​ be all Kalisz tonight as he is the Olympic silver medalist in this race and holds the third fastest time in the world this year in 4:09.43. After Hungary's ​David Verraszto ​and Japan's ​Daiya Seto​ threw down 4:07's at Sette Colli last week, look for Kalisz to post a response to that in tonight's final. The race for second will likely come from Litherland ​and teammate ​Gunnar Bentz​ -- can either of those guys challenge Kalisz and dip under 4:10?​

​The Wildcard: Sean Grieshop​. Grieshop is sitting in fourth right now in 4:18.40 -- not too far behind Litherland and Bentz. The Cal commit was 4:14.00 at Olympic Trials last year, so you know he has something big in him for tonight.


Women's 100m Butterfly -- FULL RESULTS
World: 55.48 -- 8/7/2016 -- Sarah Sjostrom
American: 55.98 -- 7/29/2012 -- Dana Vollmer
U.S. Open: 56.38 -- 1/15/2016 -- Sarah Sjostrom
LC Nationals: 56.42 -- 6/25/2012 -- Dana Vollmer
JR World: 56.46 -- 8/7/2016 -- Penny Oleksiak

1.) Kelsi Worrell -- 57.40
2.) Hellen Moffitt -- 58.24
3.) Sarah Gibson -- 58.41
4.) Mallory Comerford -- 58.61
5.) Katie McLaughlin -- 58.80
6.) Amanda Kendall -- 58.97
7.) Kendyl Stewart -- 59.03
8.) Danielle Nack -- 59.11

The women's 100m butterfly is all ​Kelsi Worrell​. Worrell has officially solidified herself as the undisputed No. 1 in this race for the United States as she took the top seed in 57.40 -- well ahead of second seed ​Hellen Moffitt ​in 58.24. Texas A&M's ​Sarah Gibson​ snagged the third spot out of prelims in 58.41 thanks to some serious closing speed over the final 15 meters. Look for Worrell to be in the 56 mid range tonight and whoever gets their hand on the wall second to put up a 57 at least.​

​The Wildcard: ​Mallory Comerford. Thats right. Comerford can swim butterfly. She is sneakily the fourth seed in 58.61 after a massive time drop. While she isn't a butterflier by trade, she can't be discounted given the meet she is having.


Men's 100m Butterfly -- FULL RESULTS
World: 49.82 -- 8/1/2009 -- Michael Phelps
American: 49.82 -- 8/1/2009 -- Michael Phelps
U.S. Open: 50.22 -- 7/9/2009 -- Michael Phelps
LC Nationals: 50.22 -- 7/9/2009 -- Michael Phelps
JR World: 51.26 -- 8/12/2016 -- Li Zhuhao

​1.) ​Jack Conger -- 51.37
2.) Caeleb Dressel -- 51.38
3.) Tom Shields -- 51.73
4.) Tim Phillips -- 51.76
5.) Matthew Josa -- 52.33
6.) Justin Lynch -- 52.63
7.) Andrew Liang -- 53.08
8.) Zach Harting -- 53.16*
8.) Miles Smachlo -- 53.16*
​*Swim-off required

The circle seeded heats of the men's 100m butterfly saw two great duals. First up, ​Jack Conger​ and ​Caeleb Dressel​ battled it out with Conger touching in 51.37 and Dressel in 51.38 -- a very speedy prelims swim. Next, the 2016 Olympian in this race ​Tom Shields​ went head-to-head with fly-til-you-die ​Tim Phillips​. Phillips had the fastest first 50 of anyone in the field with a blazing 23.70 (​Matthew Josa ​(23.90) was the only other one under 24), but Shields came home like a freight train out-splitting Phillips by 0.76 to touch in 51.73 for the third seed. Bold prediction: it's going to take a 50 point to win this race tonight.​

​The Wildcard: ​Matthew Josa. The Cal Bear has some serious speed. If he can build enough of a lead at the turn, he very well may have a shot to hang on to earn a spot on the team.


Women's 50m Breaststroke -- FULL RESULTS
World: 29.48 -- 8/3/2013 -- Ruta Meilutyte
American: 29.80 -- 8/7/2009 -- Jessica Hardy
U.S. Open: 29.80 -- 8/7/2009 -- Jessica Hardy
LC Nationals: 30.12 -- 8/8/2014 -- Jessica Hardy
JR World: 29.86 -- 8/27/2013 -- Ruta Meilutyte

​1.) Lilly King -- 29.96​
2.) Katie Meili -- 30.47
3.) Molly Hannis -- 30.67
4.) Jorie Caneta -- 30.85
5.) Andrea Cottrell -- 31.13
6.) Breeja Larson -- 31.14
7.) Natalie Pierce -- 31.22
8.) Katharine Ross -- 31.25

​Lilly King​ made quick work of prelims in the 50m breaststroke -- dropping a swift 29.96 to take the top seed. That is second fastest time in the world this year behind... you guessed it... ​Yulia Efimova ​(29.88). That swim also threatened ​Jessica Hardy's​ American record of 29.80, which King ​should​ take down tonight. The question is: does King have enough to challenge ​Ruta Meilutyte's ​world record of 29.48? ​Katie Meili​ bounced back very well after a disappointing finish in last night's 200 to take the second seed in 30.47. ​Molly Hannis​, who also had a disappointing 200 by not even making the final, rounded out the top three in 30.67.​

​The Wildcard
​: ​Since only one swimmer is chosen for Worlds directly from the 50, it is hard to imagine anyone beating King. However, if anyone can do it -- Meili has to get the nod.

Men's 50m Breaststroke -- FULL RESULTS
World: 26.42 -- 8/4/2015 -- Adam Peaty
American: 26.76 -- 8/4/2015 -- Kevin Cordes
U.S. Open: 27.10 -- 8/6/2014 -- Brendan McHugh​ 26.89 (Kevin Cordes, 2017)
LC Nationals: 27.10 -- 8/8/2014 -- Brendan McHugh​ 26.89 (Kevin Cordes, 2017)
JR World: 27.03 -- 6/242017 -- Nicolo Martinenghi

1.) Kevin Cordes -- 26.89 (U.S. Open Record)
2.) Andrew Wilson -- 27.29
3.) Cody Miller -- 27.39
4.) Nic Fink -- 27.41
5.) Michael Andrew -- 27.45
6.) Ian Finnerty -- 27.54
7.) Connor Hoppe -- 27.78
8.) Matthew Anderson -- 27.79

​Kevin Cordes​ is on a roll. After his 2:07.41 in the 200 last night, he completely shifted gears to blow away the field in the 50 this morning with a 26.89. That time by Cordes is the fastest perfomance ever on United States soil and threatened his American record of 26.76 from the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. ​Andrew Wilson​ has a ton of speed, but even with his 27.29 from prelims it's going to be an uphill battle with Cordes. ​Cody Miller​ rounded out the top three with a 27.39.​

​The Wildcard:​ Just like King in the women's 50, it is hard to imagine anybody taking down Cordes tonight. However, if anyone has the speed to hang in the 50 it's Andrew Wilson.

Women's 50m Backstroke -- FULL RESULTS
World: 27.06 -- 7/26/2009 -- Jing Zhao
American: 27.51 -- 6/19/2015 -- Natalie Coughlin
U.S. Open: 27.51 -- 6/19/2015 -- Natalie Coughlin
LC Nationals: 27.68 -- 6/27/2013 -- Rachel Bootsma
JR World: 27.49 -- 2/2/2016 -- Minna Atherton

​1.)​ Ali Deloof -- 27.82
2.) Hannah Stevens -- 27.94
3.) Kathleen Baker -- 28.09
4.) Courtney Caldwell -- 28.39
5.) Grace Ariola -- 28.51
5.) Caroline Baldwin -- 28.51
7.) Amy Bilquist -- 28.64
8.) Katharine Berkoff -- 28.74

This race is wide open tonight. The top two seeds -- ​Ali Deloof​ and ​Hannah Stevens​ -- were the only two to dip below the 28 second barrier this morning with a 27.82 and 27.94, respectively. But ​Kathleen Baker ​is lurking... Last night's champion in the 200 and the 2016 Olympic medalist in the 100 will certainly have an answer tonight.​ Any of these ladies could get their hand on the wall first, but the nod has to go to Baker.

​The Wildcard: ​Cal's Amy Bilquist sitting in seventh. Bilquist did not have a good 200 yesterday, so she could be poised for a breakout tonight in the 50.

Men's 50m Backstroke -- FULL RESULTS
World: 24.04 -- 8/2/2009 -- Liam Tancock
American: 24.33 -- 12/5/2008 -- Randall Bal
U.S. Open: 24.36 -- 8/6/2015 -- Junya Koga
LC Nationals: 24.52 -- 6/27/2013 -- David Plummer
JR World: 24.94 -- 7/9/2016 -- Kliment Kolesnikov

​1.) Matt Grevers -- 24.75
2.) Justin Ress -- 24.96
3.) Michael Andrew -- 24.96
4.) Luke Kaliszak -- 25.06
5.) Taylor Dale -- 25.12
6.) John Shebat -- 25.14
7.) Ryan Murphy -- 25.26
8.) Jacob Pebley -- 25.30*
8.) Bob Glover -- 25.30*
8.) Daniel Carr -- 25.30*
​*Swim-off required

​Matt Grevers​ finally gets his name back atop the board in a backstroke race. Grevers threw down a blistering 24.75 in the 50m backstroke this morning to claim the top seed and seventh fastest time in the world this year. The veteran will have two young guns lurking in the two lanes next to him tonight with ​Michael Andrew​ and ​Justin Ress​ -- who tied for second in 24.96. Both Andrew and Ress were very long on their finishes this morning, so they will have more to give tonight if they can clean up those details. Ultimately, this is really anybody's race as the top eight is all separated by about a half of a second.​

​The Wildcard: ​Ryan Murphy. Murphy -- the world record-holder in the 100 -- is sitting sneakily in seventh. Does he have more in the tank to make a push tonight?
---

The best swimming coverage. Straight to your inbox.

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloSwimming mailing list today.