2019 Phillips 66 US National Championships Day 4 Prelims: Larson, Bilquist, Benson Earn Top Seeds

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Breeja Larson took the top seed in the 100 breast at U.S. Nationals. Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

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The fourth morning of the 2019 Phillips 66 US National Championships features six events as swimmers will fight to make the finals.

The session starts with the 400 free, then the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke.

Haley Anderson was the top seed in the women’s 400 free, but has Allison Schmitt, Sierra Schmidt, Cierra Runge and Ally McHugh were looking to keep pace. McHugh ended up with the top seed.

The men’s top seed is Australia’s Elijah Winnington, who will be joined by Grant Shoults, Luca Urlando, Brooks Fail and Mitch D’Arrigo, among others.

The 100 breaststroke will see Breeja Larson as the top seed, while Emily Weiss, Miranda Tucker and Madisyn Cox are swimming well this meet.

The men’s event will see top-seeded Devon Nowicki battle Reece Whitley, Ian Finnerty and Jake Foster.

The women’s 100 back will feature top-seeded Kathleen Dawson of Scotland, while Beata Nelson, Claire Adams, Amy Bilquist, Erika Brown and Asia Seidt will look to challenge.

The session ends with the men’s race where Yohon Ndoye Brouard of France will have the top seed. Dean Farris, Bryce Mefford, Ryan Lochte, Austin Katz, Carson Foster and John Shebat will all challenge for finals spots as well, capping an exciting session.

LIVE RESULTS

SWIMMING WORLD’S MEET PAGE FOR 2019 Phillips 66 US National Championships

Women’s 400 Free
Men’s 400 Free
Women’s 100 Breast
Men’s 100 Breast
Women’s 100 Back
Men’s 100 Back

Women’s 400 Free

Ally McHugh continued her strong meet by taking the top seed in the 400 free with a 4:09.85. Her time just edged out Olympian Cierra Runge, who was at 4:09.94.

Michigan’s Sierra Schmidt, who always entertains the crowd with her get psyched dance routine before racing, took the third seed in 4:10.10, just ahead of Claire Tuggle (4:10.37).

Lauren Pitzer of Alto Swim Club took the fifth spot in 4:10.58, ahead of open-water and distance specialist Haley Anderson (4:10.64).

Olympic gold medalist and 200 free national champion Allison Schmitt took the seventh seed in 4:11.09 just ahead of Kensey McMahon (4:11.29).

With less than a second-and-a-half between 1-8, the finals should come down to the final few meters.

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Men’s 400 Free

Several of the top young guns like Luca Urlando and Jake Foster scratched the 400 free, which was not surprising.

Wolfpack’s Eric Knowles took the top seed in 3:49.41 to edge Aussie Elijah Winnington (3:49.63). Winnington won the 200 free in his cross-Pacific trip.

Mitch D’Arrigo took the third seed, not far behind, in 3:49.67, the only other swimmer in the field to break 3:50.

Rose Bowl Aquatics’ Trenton Julian took the fourth seed in3:50.43 ahead of Patrick Callan (3:50.46) and Jake Mitchell (3:50.63).

Bobby Finke, who has won the 1500 free and 400 IM, finished with the seventh seed in 3:50.76.

Zach Yeadon took the eighth seed in 3:51.16.

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Women’s 100 Breast

Breeja Larson held her top entry time in the 100 breast to take the top seed. Swimming with New York Athletic Club, the Olympian finished in 1:07.04.

Zoie Hartman took the second seed in 1:07.67 to hold off Michigan’s Miranda Tucker, who clocked a 1:07.94, the only other swimmer under 1:08.

Kaitlyn Dobler took the fourth seed (1:08.07), followed by last year’s Swimming World High School Swimmer of the Year, Emily Weiss (1:08.11).

Ellie Andrews (1:08.12) grabbed the sixth seed, ahead of 200 breast champion Madisyn Cox (1:08.40) and Tennessee’s Nikol Popov (1:08.43).

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Men’s 100 Breast

In the battle to break a minute, several swimmers were very close during the men’s 100 breast prelims.

Craig Benson took the top seed in 1:00.18, narrowly missing the minute barrier.

Cal’s Reece Whitley used a strong final few strokes to win the last heat and take the second seed overall in 1:00.25.

France’s Theo Bussiere was next in 1:00.40, part of several international swimmers to make the final.

Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics’ Devon Nowicki had the top seed entering the meet and kept pace with Whitley in the final heat to take the fourth seed in 1:00.67.

Australia’s Daniel Cave took the fifth seed in 1:00.70, followed by Samuel Williamson (1:00.72), Caspar Corbeau (1:00.87) and Trent Pellini (1:00.88).

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Women’s 100 Back

After coming back from a broken hand, Scottsdale Aquatic Club’s Amy Bilquist proved her backstroke was up to form, claiming the top seed in 1:00.13.

Fifteen-year-old Claire Curzan took the second seed in 1:00.44, continuing her strong meet.

Tennessee’s Erika Brown took the third seed in 1:00.64, just ahead of Alto’s Lucie Nordmann (1:00.67) and Annabel Crush (1:00.74).

Cal’s Isabel Ivey took the sixth spot in 1:00.87, followed by Caitlin Brooks (1:00.96) and Wolfpack’s Kylee Alons (1:01.03).

Scotland’s Kathleen Dawson, the top remaining seed heading into the meet after scratches, including Olivia Smoliga, was disqualified for a 15-meter violation.

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Men’s 100 Back

Aggie Swim Club’s Shaine Casas dropped more than a second from his entry time to take the top seed in the 100 back, finishing in 53.26 — the only swimmer to break 54 during prelims.

Texas’ Austin Katz took the second spot in 54.46 to hold off France’s Yohann Ndoye Brouard, who finished in 54.62.

Clark Beach had a strong swim to finish in 54.69, followed by Wyatt Davis, who dropped a half second to take the fifth seed in 54.73.

Matthew Klotz dropped nearly a second to take the sixth seed in 54.79, followed by Louisville’s Nicholas Albiero (54.82) and Cal’s Bryce Mefford (54.84).

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