Abbey Weitzeil Hangs onto Top Spot in 100 Freestyle

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Editorial Coverage provided by

This morning short course American record holder Abbey Weitzeil was the top qualifier with a 53.58 in the 100 freestyle. That swim moved her up to ninth in the world this year. Tonight she swam a 53.57, .01 faster.

Coming off her redshirt year at Stanford, Simone Manuel won the first semifinal in 53.64, moving her to 11th in the world this year.

American record holder Amanda Weir swam a second seeded 53.76 this morning. That was her fastest time swum in seven years. Tonight the 30 year old swam a 53.72. She’ll be the third seed for finals.

Dana Vollmer appears on track to earn a second swim in Rio. She touched fourth tonight in 53.74.

2012 Olympian Lia Neal was a 53.87 for the fifth spot. After winning the 100 butterfly, Kelsi Worrell posted a 54.00 to return to tomorrow night’s finals.

After securing 200 freestyle individual swims, Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky brought the distance down and the speed up. For Ledecky, it worked out as she’ll be the seventh seed with a 54.04. Franklin wound up 11th and out of the final in an event in which she had an individual berth in 2012.

Allison Schmitt was the last swimmer into tomorrow night with a 54.07.

Madison Kennedy will now put it all on the line in the 50 freestyle after touching in 54.18 for ninth tonight.

Olivia Smoliga qualified for Rio Tuesday night in the 100 backstroke. Tonight she came up short of a second swim with a 54.21.

Mallory Comerford (54.61), Shannon Vreeland (54.83), Natalie Coughlin (54.87), Margo Geer (54.91), and Kirsten Vose (55.18) also failed to advance.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use