2017 Futures Championships - Santa Clara, CA

Top 5 Can't-Miss Races At Santa Clara Futures Championships

Check out this preview of the top five can't-miss race matchups at the 2017 USA Swimming Futures Championships in Santa Clara, CA, on August 3-6. We're also taking a look at the psych sheet and other relevant meet information.

Aug 1, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

Top 5 Can't-Miss Races At Santa Clara Futures Championships

2017 USA Swimming Futures Championships -- Santa Clara

August 3-6, 2017
Santa Clara, California
George F. Haines International Aquatic Center
MEET INFORMATION
PSYCH SHEET
PRELIMS TIMELINE (Pre-Scratch)
FRIDAY FINALS TIMELINE
SATURDAY FINALS TIMELINE
SUNDAY FINALS TIMELINE

Scrolling through the psych of the 2017 USA Swimming Futures Championships in Santa Clara, CA, the first thing you will notice is how tremendously deep this meet is across the board. Every event features multiple swimmers separated by mere tenths -- or even hundredths -- of a second.

Take the men's 100m butterfly for example -- the top 10 swimmers are all between 56.0 and 56.6. Or the women's 50m freestyle, in which the top 10 swimmers are all between 26.6 and 26.9. That is unbelievable and a prime example of why USA Swimming needed to -- and did -- expand its Championship Series.

Top 5 Can't-Miss Races

1.) Women's 50m Freestyle

As we mentioned above, there are 10 ladies separated by only 0.3 of a second in the 50m freestyle -- from 26.6 to 26.9. Mya Jackson of Fusion Aquatics is the favorite going into the meet with an entry time of 26.61, but in a race like this anything can happen.

2.) Men's 100m Freestyle

The top seed here is De Anza Cupertino's Felix Chiun with a 51.77 -- the only time under the 52-second barrier. But, don't let that fool you. After Chiun, there are 13 -- THIRTEEN -- guys sitting at 52 who are all capable of fighting for the top spot.

3.) Women's 200m Breaststroke

Arguably two of the most impressive swimmers in the meet are a pair of 14-year-olds in Ana Adame of Canyons Aquatic Club and Grace Lapuz of Davis Aquadarts. Adame and Lapuz are the top two seeds in the 200 breast with times of 2:37.48 and 2:37.90, respectively. Those are great times for anyone -- nonetheless a couple of 14-year-olds.

4.) Men's 100m Backstroke

Led by Ethan Archer of the Aquazot Swim Club in 58.34, the men's 100 back features an astonishing 15 guys seeded below the 1:00 barrier -- along with 12 other swimmers at 1:00 and a handful of guys seeded with short course times that should easily put them under a minute this weekend.

5.) Women's 200m Backstroke

Continuing with the theme of depth, the women's 200 back has five ladies seeded at 2:18 led by 15-year-old Kalli Fama of Rio Salado in 2:18.00. There are a total of nine girls under the 2:20 barrier -- all capable of getting their hand on the wall first.

The moral of the story? All -- and we mean all -- of these swimmers are going to have to bring their A-game in prelims in order to earn a spot in the highly competitive final.

Check out the official psych sheet below for a complete list of entries.