Jay Litherland is one of those guys who doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves. The reinging silver medalist from the World Championships in the 400 individual medley, Litherland is often overlooked as attention goes to his teammates on the U.S. National Team. Yet, when Litherland gets his chance to prove himself on the big stage, the University of Georgia product typically gets the job done.
With the 400 IM leading off the final session of Friday night’s US Open action in Greensboro, Litherland prevailed in his best event, clocking a time of 4:22.05. That effort handed Litherland a four-second triumph over Jay Baker. The race was expected to match Litherland with fellow American Chase Kalisz, but Kalisz scratched the event after winning the 200 individual medley earlier in the day.
The last time Litherland raced in global competition, he won silver at the World Champs in 2019 and came up just short of running down Japan’s Daiya Seto on the closing freestyle leg. Litherland also raced the 200 freestyle, where he placed seventh in an event won by Michael Cotter (1:50.72).
While Litherland excelled in the 400 medley, Andrew Wilson turned in a 59.58 marker in the 100 breaststroke. With the United States in need of a steady surge in the breaststroke, particularly for the 400 medley relay, Wilson came up with a promising swim at a point when the majority of competitors at the US Open are working through heavy training.
Justin Wright was swiftest in the 100 butterfly, going 52.92 to the 52.99 of Youssef Ramadan. Will Grant was the winner of the 100 backstroke in 54.69.
In Indianapolis…
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Cody Miller made the most of one of the US Open sites being held in the state where he trains. The two-time Olympic medalist dialed up a winning time of 59.65 in the 100 breaststroke. As was the case with Andrew Wilson at the Greensboro site, Miller’s sub-1:00 clocking was pleasing, given the United States’ need for breaststroke consistency.
Michigan’s Kevin Callan delivered a superb performance in the 200 freestyle, as his winning time of 1:47.38 was just off the 1:47.29 put together by Kieran Smith at the Sarasota site. Callan was followed to the wall by Marwan El Kamash, who touched in 1:48.59. Miles Smachlo went 52.54 to edge Zach Harting (52.62) in the 100 butterfly and Kyle Ponsler won the 400 IM in 4:23.83. Gabriel Fantoni went 54.96 to place first in the 100 back.
In Richmond…
Arsenio Bustos defeated Jack Conger in the 100 butterfly, Bustos’ 52.88 bettering the 53.33 of Conger. In the 200 free, Matt Fenlon for under the 1:50 barrier when he touched in 1:49.75, while Josh Matheny, a rising star on the American breaststroke scene, won the 100 breast in 1:01.26.