Nationals start this morning in Irvine, and the old thread was getting a bit cluttered, so thought I'd make a new one for our discussions to stay rather orderly.

Dates: Wednesday, July 25 Sunday, July 29, 2018
Location: William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
Time: Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)

Psych Sheet accessible at this link: 2018 US Nationals Psych Sheet

As I've said before, we have a sizable contingent of our usual pros, current swimmers, and baby bears/recruits swimming together at this meet.
2018 commits: Reece Whitley (all breaststroke/2IM), Elise Garcia (50/100 free and fly), Alex Sumner (100/200 back, 2/4IM, 100 fly), Ema Rajic (100 fly, 50/100 breast, 2IM), Chris Jhong (200/400 free, 2/4IM) // (missing Cass (?), Kyle, Galen, Daniel)
2019 commits: Isabel Ivey (100/200 free, 100 fly, 100 back, 2IM), Rachel Klinker (50/100/200 fly, 200 free), Ashlyn Fiorilli (100/200 fly, 800/1500 free, 4IM), Jason Louser (2/4IM, 100 breast) // (missing Calvin, Will, Chloe amongst others). Think the rest of our commits may be swimming at Juniors the week after?

Most of our commits should be eligible to contend for Junior Pan Pac Team spots, while our pros/current swimmers will be fighting for Pan Pacs, WUGS, Worlds, and Pan Am slots.

Here are SwimSwam's Predictions:

DAY 1:
W 200 fly
M 200 fly
W 100 free
M 100 free
W 800 free
M 1500 free

DAY 2:
W 200 free
M 200 free
W 200 breast
M 200 breast
W 200 back
M 200 back
W 50 fly
M 50 fly

DAY 3:
W 400 IM
M 400 IM
W 100 fly
M 100 fly
W 50 breast
M 50 breast
W 50 back
M 50 back

DAY 4:
W 400 free
M 400 free
W 100 breast
M 100 breast
W 100 back
M 100 back

DAY 5:
W 1500 free
W 200 IM
M 200 IM
M 800 free
W 50 free
M 50 free

DAY 1- Here are what our Bears/recruits are swimming:

W 200m Fly
Bears: Klinker, Fiorilli, McL
Uncommitted Recruits: Olivia Bray, Regan, Emma Sticklen, Grace Sheble, Abby Harter amongst others

M 200m Fly
Bears: Seliskar, Shields, Thomas, Julian
Uncommitted: Noah Brune, Gianluca Urlando, Kevin Vargas

W 100m Free
Bears: Madds, Elise, McL, Izzy, Abbey, Billy
Uncommitted: KB3, Tuggle, Alex & Gretchen, Paige Hetrick, Grace Cooper amongst others

M 100m Free
Bears: Josa, Lynch, Jensen, Murph, Nathan, Hoffer
Uncommitted: Michael Petrides, Adam Chaney, Dare Rose

W 800m Free
Bears: Chenoa, Ashlyn Fiorilli
Uncommitted: Mariah Denigan, Ashley Strouse

M 1500m Free
Bears: Norman
Uncommitted: Lleyton Plattel, Arik Katz, Brennan Gravley (didn't he graduate already?), Jake Magahey, Noah Brune amongst others

Prelims and B finals can be streamed on the USA swimming website here https://www.usaswimming.org.

Regan Smith looked really good in her heat. I hope she can take down the Furdie in the final.

Wow, Flickinger takes down Mary T's American record. That record was 37 years old!!!

Katie and Ashlyn Fiorilli make the B final.

swimmer19 said:

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DAY 1- Here are what our Bears/recruits are swimming:

W 200m Fly
Bears: Klinker, Fiorilli, McL
Uncommitted Recruits: Olivia Bray, Regan, Emma Sticklen, Grace Sheble, Abby Harter amongst others

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Klinker hit a best time, C final
Fiorilli- best time (I think)- B final
McL- B final
Bray/Sticklen/Harter: D final
Regan- A final
Grace Sheble DQ

Shields/Trenton- A
Mike Thomas/Seliskar- B

Calling Dave Durden, Gianluca Urlando is the real deal!

Alex Walsh easily wins her heat. Hope she makes the A final.

Wow, little sister is even better!!! Gretchen Walsh!

Abbey second to Comerford, but will definitely be in the A final.

Abbey and Gretchen Walsh in the A final, Katie in the B final, Amy in the C final, and I^2 in the D final.

Izzy out of finals, Cass out of the meet due to an undisclosed injury (?)

Our guys looked solid in the 100 free

Nathan- A final
Ryan/Michael Jensen- B final
Matt Josa/Lynch- out

swimmer19 said:

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Klinker hit a best time, C final
Fiorilli- best time (I think)- B final
McL- B final
Bray/Sticklen/Harter: D final
Regan- A final
Grace Sheble DQ

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Thanks to swimmer19 & tedbear for all the timely updates on Day 1 Prelims!

Here are a few of the more notable best times & achievements by our Bears & prospective recruits that caught my eye in passing:

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• 200m Fly

Ashlyn Fiorilli (2019 Baby Bear) - 2:11.86 (prev PB = 2:12.19 @ 2017 Nationals) -> B Final

Rachel Klinker (2019 Baby Bear) - 2:12.49 (prev PB = 2:12.90 @ 2018 Irish Open Champs) -> C Final

https://instagr.am/p/BlrjKUWhO6A

Regan Smith (2020 recruit) - 2:08.87 (prev PB = 2:10.47 @ 2018 Santa Clara Pro Swim) -> A Final


On the men's side, Trenton Julian laid down a massive PB of 1:56.27 in this morning's heats of this event to make the A final! (prev PR = 1:59.31 @ 2018 Santa Clara Pro Swim)

Not to be outdone, Mike Thomas's 1:56.41 lifetime record is more than good enough for the B final (prev PB = 1:57.61 @ 2015 Jr Worlds)

As tedbear had mentioned, take note of 2020 local recruit Gianluca Urlando (DART)'s 1:56.01 PR, which nets him an A final slot in the 200m Fly tonight (prev PB = 1:58.93 @ 2017 Jr Nationals)


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• 100m Free

Gretchen Walsh (2021 recruit) - 54.38 (prev PB = 55.50 @ 2018 Mel Zajac) -> A Final

Alex Walsh (2020 recruit) - 55.63 (prev PB = 56.67 @ 2017 SE Champs) -> D Final

Claire Tuggle (2022 recruit?) - 56.20 (prev PB = 56.74 @ 2017 NCSA Champs) -> D Final


Michael Jensen - 48.97 (prev PB = 49.22 @ 2017 Nationals) -> B Final


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As previously discussed (quite extensively, may I interject here lol) on the 2018/2019/2020 swim recruiting threads on the board, Regan, Alex & Gretchen should be priority targets for Teri & Sarah - assuming they are good fits with the team, coaching, university academics & culture.

Hey perhaps Abbey can work her Oski mojo on Gretchen if they end up qualifying for the 4x100m Free relay tonight...

btw, v. tough double for Katie McL. this morning. Reckon she acquited herself quite laudably by placing in the B final of the 100m Free not long after that gruelling 200m Fly, her time of 54.55 being her 2nd fastest ever (lifetime best = 54.45 @ 2018 MVN SMOC)

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https://instagr.am/p/BlqYATiBWVs
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swimmer19 said:

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Nationals start this morning in Irvine, and the old thread was getting a bit cluttered, so thought I'd make a new one for our discussions to stay rather orderly.

---

Forgot to mention the following links in my post above:

2018 U.S. NATIONALS: DAY 1 PRELIMS LIVE RECAP

RESULTS (Omega Timing)

HOW TO WATCH THE HIGH STAKES 2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Five Eye-Opening Stats from USA Swimming Nationals Day One Prelims


And just for reference/nostalgia's sake lol, here's the original cluttered thread, starting at Page 2:

• 2018 Swimming (post-NCAAs) - Commies, Pro Series, US Nationals, Pan Pacs, SC Worlds

Regan Smith and Gianluca Urlando onto Pan Pacs in 2 fly!

Impressive swim by Urlando to tie Conger for third in 1:55.21. This kid looks like the real deal. Congrats to all!

swimmer19 said:

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Regan Smith and Gianluca Urlando onto Pan Pacs in 2 fly!

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Ha, I found myself cheering Regan on to pip Drabot for runner-up, which she almost did (sorry not sorry to all the furdettes ) - took down her own newly-minted 2:08.87 PB from this morning too, coming in 3rd with a swift 2:07.42 (what luvly underwaters as well)...

Yay, Katie McL. handily takes the 100m Free B final with a 54.24 PB! Go Bears!

Congrats to Abbey for placing fourth in 53.56, her best in two years!!! (and beating Lia Neal doesn't hurt either )

bearz012 said:

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Congrats to Abbey for placing fourth in 53.56, her best in two years!!! (and beating Lia Neal doesn't hurt either )

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That 53.56 is also Abbey's 5th fastest lifetime - and as bearz012 had noted, she has only been faster than that @ 2016 Olympic Trials & at Rio (PB = 53.28)!



Puts her on the Pan Pacs team, with further opportunities to go even faster

• UPDATE =>

https://instagr.am/p/BlrlehxB8BP

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Congrats to Nathan for taking 2nd in the 100m Free A final.







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Well done also to Michael Jensen for lowering his 48.97 former PB from this morning down to 48.75 in this evening's B final!


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2018 U.S. NATIONALS: DAY 1 FINALS LIVE RECAP


2018 Phillips 66 USA Swimming Nationals: Day One Finals Live Recap





















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Nick Norman 4th for the mile!!

swimmer19 said:

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Nick Norman 4th for the mile!!

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Made all that much "sweeter" by Nick:

1) Laying down a new lifetime best of 15:08.81 here (old PR = 15:16.81 @ 2018 Speedo Grand Challenge)

2) Beating a Furd (True Sweetser) who holds a PB that's 17 seconds faster (14:59.73) than Norman's...

And btw, the magnitude of Nick's achievement isn't necessarily in the above order lol

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Thanks to swimmer19 & tedbear for all the timely updates on Day 1 Prelims!

Here are a few of the more notable best times & achievements by our Bears & prospective recruits that caught my eye in passing:

----

• 200m Fly

Ashlyn Fiorilli (2019 Baby Bear) - 2:11.86 (prev PB = 2:12.19 @ 2017 Nationals) -> B Final

---

Sorry, forgot to mention that Ashlyn smashed her former PB of 2:11.86 achieved just this morning with a very nice new best of 2:11.17 to place 5th in the B final of the 200m Fly tonight...

tedbear said:

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I^2 in the D final

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Another Baby Bear, Izzie, took top honours in the D final of the 100m Free with a 55.10, which was actually faster than the winner of the C final, Missy's 55.33!

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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• 200m Fly

On the men's side, Trenton Julian laid down a massive PB of 1:56.27 in this morning's heats of this event to make the A final! (prev PR = 1:59.31 @ 2018 Santa Clara Pro Swim)

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Trenton's 1:56.20 in the A final was another new PB for him today!

Amy just died on that final 50. She went from second at the turn to seventh at the finish.

Looking a bit ahead to Day 2 Prelims (Thurs), here are what our Bears & some prospective recruits will be racing:


W 200m Free
Bears: McL, Abbey, Izzy, Klinker
Uncommitted: Gretchen Walsh, Claire Tuggle

M 200m Free
Bears: Seliskar, Shields, Trenton, Thomas, Mefford, Jhong

W 200m Breast
Bears: - NONE -

M 200m Breast
Bears: Prenot, Whitley, Arvidsson

W 200m Back
Bears: Thleen, Alex Sumner, Amy, Keeks, Courtney
Uncommitted: Regan, Isabelle Stadden, Alex Walsh, KB3, Phoebe Bacon, Paige Hetrick

M 200m Back
Bears: Murph, Pebs, Mefford, Carr, Young
Uncommitted: Gianluca Urlando

W 50m Fly
Bears: McL, Madds, Elise, Ali, Klinker
Uncommitted Recruits: Olivia Bray, Phoebe Bacon, Gretchen Walsh

M 50m Fly
Bears: Shields, Josa, Lynch, Hoffer, Jensen
Uncommitted: Gianluca Urlando


Please feel welcome to fill in names of interest who are absent from this list - esp recruits on the men's side!

Tomorrow's 200 Back, Heat 8, includes Alex Sumner, Isabelle Stadden, and Katherine Berkoff!!!! Kathleen and Alex Walsh are in Heat 10.

Updated with names that may have been left out:

W 200m Free
Bears: McL, Abbey, Izzy, Klinker
Uncommitted: Gretchen Walsh, Claire Tuggle

M 200m Free
Bears: Seliskar, Shields, Trenton, Thomas, Mefford, Jhong
Uncommitted: Destin Lasco, Will Barao

W 200m Breast
Bears: - NONE -
Uncommitted: Claire Donan, Abby Arens, Meghan Lynch, Janessa Matthews

M 200m Breast
Bears: Prenot, Whitley, Arvidsson
Uncommitted: Ethan Dang

W 200m Back
Bears: Thleen, Alex Sumner, Amy, Keeks, Courtney
Uncommitted: Regan, Isabelle Stadden, Alex Walsh, KB3, Phoebe Bacon, Paige Hetrick

M 200m Back
Bears: Murph, Pebs, Mefford, Carr, Young
Uncommitted: Gianluca Urlando,

W 50m Fly
Bears: McL, Madds, Elise, Ali, Klinker
Uncommitted Recruits: Olivia Bray, Phoebe Bacon, Gretchen Walsh

M 50m Fly
Bears: Shields, Josa, Lynch, Hoffer, Jensen
Uncommitted: Gianluca Urlando

Katie makes B final in 200 Free.